OpenSciEd Unit 6.3 · Lesson 18 · 18.A
Compare and critique two arguments on the same topic…
From Teacher Edition
Facilitation guidance from the lesson plan — what to notice in student thinking and how to respond while teaching.
Building towards
18.A Compare and critique two arguments on the same topic and analyze whether they emphasize similar or different mechanisms (cause) in their explanations of the patterns in how the weather changed (effect) during the Jan. 19, 2019 storm.
What to do
Listen in on small-group discussions, particularly where you can listen to particular students. Focus on groups that have students who struggled to articulate connections to any new or old science ideas in explanations you collected and reviewed before this lesson. Pose questions such as this: Did you hear anything from Student X’s explanation that you didn't have but think you might want to include?
Pause the small-group discussions. Present slide C. Review the directions on it. Give students two minutes to fill in column B on the related handout.
If you have a class size that is not divisible by three, form either one or two groups of 2 students rather than a group of 4. The discussion requires careful listening to others’ ideas and therefore benefits from a slower-paced discussion rather than faster.