OpenSciEd Unit 8.6 · Lesson 15 · 15.A
Look for: We can clearly answer many of the questions t…
From Teacher Edition
Facilitation guidance from the lesson plan — what to notice in student thinking and how to respond while teaching.
Building towards
15.A Ask questions that arise from careful observation of phenomena, models, or unexpected results to clarify and/or seek additional information regarding cause and effect relationships and stability and change in lines of evolutionary descent.
What to look / listen for
- We can clearly answer many of the questions through ideas learned throughout the unit.
- Some questions we can partially answer with some of our ideas learned, but they require more information or evidence.
What to do
If students struggle to answer questions from the DQB, place them in partners or small groups with one question or cluster of similar questions assigned to each group. Have them (1) locate where the questions most closely relate to the class’s consensus models from Lesson 4 (Penguin Timeline with Cards) or Lesson 8 (General Model for Natural Selection) and then (2) examine their science notebook and other documents to search for evidence that could answer or partially answer the question. Ask the group to co-construct, in writing or orally, an explanation to the question(s) using evidence from their previous work. Remind students what makes a good explanation is a how or why causal account that can be supported with evidence.