Agenda | Teaching Notes |
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Total Time: 2 hours of instruction Section 1 1. Opening A. Introducing Learning Target and Focusing Question (10 minutes) 2. Carrying Out Investigation A. Demonstrating Energy (45 minutes) Section 2 1. Obtaining Information A. Close Reading: "The Law of Conservation of Energy" (45 minutes) 2. Engaging in Argument A. Scientists Meeting: Building Understanding (20 minutes) |
Purpose of lesson sequence and alignment to NGSS standards:
How it builds on previous work in the Life Science Module:
How it connects to the CCSS Standards and EL Education's Language Arts Grade 5 Module 2:
Possible student misconceptions:
Possible broader connections:
Areas where students may need additional support:
Down the road:
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Lesson Sequence 4: Overview
Total Time: 2 hours of instruction (divided into two sections)
In this lesson sequence, students build a basic understanding of the idea of energy. They view demonstrations of energy transformation and complete a close reading of some of the investigations scientists have used to prove theories of energy conservation. They then participate in a Scientists Meeting to build understanding around the idea that energy is the ability to do work and can be transferred between objects and changed from one form to another but not lost--it is conserved.
Long-Term Learning Addressed (Based on NGSS)
Construct an argument based on evidence that energy is neither created nor destroyed, but flows throughout living systems. (Based on NGSS 5-PS3-1)
This lesson sequence explicitly addresses:
Science and Engineering Practices:
- Engaging in Argument from Evidence: Compare and refine arguments based on an evaluation of the evidence presented. Students construct their understanding of the law of conservation of energy by observing energy demonstrations and reading about the experiments conducted by historic scientists. Note: This Science and Engineering Practice is not explicitly aligned with 5-PS3-1.
- Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information: Read and comprehend grade-appropriate complex texts to summarize and obtain scientific ideas and describe how they are supported by evidence. Students read and summarize grade-appropriate text about the law of conservation of energy to gather evidence to support their argument. Note: This Science and Engineering Practice is not explicitly aligned with 5-PS3-1.
Crosscutting Concepts:
- Energy and Matter: Energy can be transferred in various ways and between objects. Students observe that as energy is transferred between objects, it changes form. They read about investigations by historical scientists to prove that energy is not created or destroyed; it is always conserved.
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
- PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life: The energy released from food was once energy from the sun that was captured by plants in the chemical process that forms plant matter (from air and water). Students build their understanding of energy and how it can flow between organisms through an investigation and reading.
Lesson Sequence Learning Target
- I can evaluate the argument that energy is neither created nor destroyed, but flows.
Ongoing Assessment
- Scientists Meeting: Building Understanding
- Participation in Back-to-Back and Face-to-Face protocol
- Student science notebook: Flow of Energy entry
Agenda
In Advance
- Read each section and complete the Preparing to Teach: Self-Coaching Guide.
- Continue to establish expectations of behavior during group discussions and pair work.
- Gather materials necessary for the energy demonstrations in Section 1:
- The water and electric kettle should be set up so that students can easily view boiling water.
- Please search for a video of Newton's Cradle online and prepare technology necessary to play for students.
- Review the Back-to-Back and Face-to-Face and Think-Pair-Share protocols (see the Classroom Protocols pack).
- Post: Lesson sequence learning target, lesson sequence focusing question, Scientists Do These Things anchor chart, and Concepts Scientists Think About anchor chart.
Optional extensions:
- Additional Energy Demonstrations: Show students more energy demonstrations. Go here for some ideas.
Vocabulary
energy = the ability to do work
evaluate = determine how good, useful, or successful something is
transfer = to move from one thing to another
law of conservation = energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can be transferred
photosynthesis = the process of plants using solar energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen
Materials
General Materials
- Student science notebook (from Lesson Sequence 1; one per student)
- Flow of Energy entry (page 16 of student science notebook)
- Anchoring Phenomenon entry (from Lesson Sequence 1; page 2 of notebook)
- Drawing of boiling water (one to display)
- "Newton's Cradle" (video; play in entirety; optional; see Teaching Notes)
- Scientists Do These Things anchor chart (begun in Lesson Sequence 2; added to during Section 2; see supporting materials)
- "The Law of Conservation of Energy" (one per student)
- Concepts Scientists Think About anchor chart (begun in Lesson Sequence 2; added to during Section 2; see supporting materials)
Science-Specific Materials (gathered by the teacher)
- Teacher science notebook (from Lesson Sequence 1; for teacher reference)
- Materials for demonstrating energy (used in Section 1, see Teaching Notes)
- Boiling water
- Electric tea kettle
- Ball (soccer, or smaller)
- Newton's cradle (optional; if not available, play "Newton's Cradle" video)
Materials from Previous Lessons
New Materials
Opening
Section 1: Opening | Preparing to Teach: Self-Coaching Guide |
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A. Introducing Learning Target and Focusing Question (10 minutes)
"We have discussed matter quite a bit. We started by discussing what matter is and what is made of matter. We are currently doing an experiment to figure out where plants get the matter they need to grow. Plants also interact with another variable, sunlight. Sunlight is not matter; it is energy. To really understand how both plants and ecosystems function, we need to know more about energy."
"How would you define energy? What are some examples of energy?" (Responses will vary, but may include: Energy is the ability to do work, and examples of energy are heat, light, chemical, and mechanical energy.)
"Let's look at the phrase evaluate the argument. What does it mean to evaluate something?" (Evaluate means to determine how good, useful, or successful something is.)
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(1) This is a good chance to formatively assess students' background knowledge of energy. How can I track how students respond? Are there specific students I want to check in with? |
Work Time
Work Time | Preparing to Teach: Self-Coaching Guide |
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Section 1: Carrying Out InvestigationA. Demonstrating Energy (45 minutes)
"What do you see happening?" (Bubbles are rising to the surface.) "What do you think allows this to happen?" (The water is really hot.) "What energy do you think is causing this to happen?" (Electricity is passed to the electric kettle and then the kettle heats up, which then heats up the water.) "What can we name these types of energy?" (electrical energy and heat energy)
"Where did the energy come from? Where do you think the energy is going? How can we explain that in our model?" (label the energy and add arrows) "How would someone know what this is? (by reading labels) "How would someone know which way this is going?" (by following arrows) "The energy is doing different things to the bottom of the kettle and to the water. How can we explain this?" (add bubbles to show the water is boiling; add explanations)
"What did you see happening?" (The ball flew across the room.) "What do you think allows this to happen?" (the force from the student's leg/arm) "What energy do you think is causing this to happen?" (Energy stored in the student's muscles allows them to move, and then the ball has energy as it moves across the room.) "What can we name these types of energy?" (stored energy and movement energy)
"What do you notice? What do you feel?" (hands got warmer) "What do you think caused this to happen?" (the friction of hands moving) "What energy do you think allowed this to happen?" (Energy stored in the human body allows for muscles to move the hands.) "What can we name these types of energy?" (heat energy, moving energy)
"What do you see happening?" (The ball on the end is bouncing out and then hitting the rest of the balls to cause the ball on the other end to bounce out.) "What do you think allows this to happen?" (A human's energy started the first ball moving and then all the other balls keep bouncing back and forth, passing their energy back and forth.) "What energy do you think is causing this to happen?" (Energy stored in the human's muscles causes the first ball to move and then the energy keeps getting passed back and forth among all the other balls.) "What can we name these types of energy?" (stored energy and movement energy)
"Do we have enough 'sufficient and relevant evidence' to support or challenge the claim that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but flows?"
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(1) What do my students already know about energy? (2) After previewing the demonstrations, what are the potential problems? How will I avoid these problems? (3) I should allow students to come up with their own names for energy. Although movement energy is actually called kinetic energy, at this point the scientific term is less important than the concept. (4) These models can help me see how much experience my students have with modeling. They will create a model for the summative assessment. How can I use these models for formative assessment? (5) What experience do my students have with evaluating evidence? What examples can I bring in to demonstrate the difference between sufficient and insufficient evidence? |
Section 2: Obtaining InformationA. Close Reading: "The Law of Conservation of Energy" (45 minutes)
"What gist notes or vocabulary words did you write down? What similarities and differences are there between our notes?"
"What is one piece of evidence that supports or challenges the claim that energy is neither created nor destroyed, but flows?" (Energy from a bow and arrow changes forms when the arrow is released.)
"Do you think you have observed enough sufficient and relevant evidence in the article and in the demonstrations to make the claim that energy is neither created nor destroyed, but is transferred?"
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(1) Will my students be familiar with close reads from the Language Arts module? (2) How can I support my readers who need additional support? Perhaps there is a small group I should work with at this time. (3) Are my students familiar with the Back-to-Back and Face-to-Face protocol? Do they need more time here? |
Section 2: Engaging in ArgumentA. Scientists Meeting: Building Understanding (20 minutes)
"What are the norms of a Scientists Meeting?" (take turns talking, build on one another's ideas, disagree respectfully, ask questions to clarify information)
"Why do you think...?" "What is your reason...?" "What is your evidence for saying that...?" "What made you change your explanation?"
"Why do you think you have different conclusions?" "What in 'John's' argument do you disagree with?" "What evidence do you have?" "What points do you agree on?"
"What are some examples of energy changing or being transferred that we saw or read about?" (Insert examples from the reading and demonstrations.) "Can you think of possible examples of energy being transferred in the ecosystem we have been discussing?" (sunlight to food for plants; from plants to animals) "Can you think of examples where energy seems to be created or destroyed? What transfer may have happened?" (Animals eat food for energy, and some of that energy is transferred to the atmosphere as heat energy. It isn't captured and used by anything, but it isn't "lost.")
"What might you see in an ecosystem where the energy is flowing?" (plants using sunlight to grow; animals eating the plants; animals eating other animals) "How might energy flowing be important to a healthy ecosystem?" (Energy is necessary for all organisms to survive. There is only a finite amount of usable solar energy converted by plants. So it needs to be passed from plants to animals and then from animals to other animals.)
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(1) The focus of this exercise is evaluating evidence. How can I further reinforce my students' understanding of this important part of the argument process? (2) What sentence stem may be helpful for my students as they politely disagree? (3) What are some examples, perhaps from the slideshow in Lesson Sequence 1, which may make this principle more clear? (4) Students will add this thinking to the Criteria for Healthy Ecosystems anchor chart during the Scientists Meeting in Section 3 of Lesson Sequence 3. (5) How can I encourage my students to return and revise their notebook from time to time? |
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