|
Instructional models |
Constancy & change, Current events, Ecosystem health, Ecosystems, Scientific inquiry |
Findings From the Field Volume 0: Spring 2017 |
The pilot issue of Findings From the Field. Articles cover beach profiling in Old Orchard Beach, investigations of chestnut blight, and explorations of the factors that impact maple syrup production. |
Middle school (grades 6-8) |
gmri |
2017-10-17 |
|
Rubrics and Assessment Tools, Units of study, Learning activities, Field work resources, Analysis resources, Instructional models |
Biodiversity, Constancy & change, Current events, Ecosystem health, Ecosystems, Invasive species, Scientific inquiry |
Findings from the Field: A Middle School Journal of Science Research |
Now Accepting Submissions for Volume 1!
Findings from the Field is a journal of scientific research produced exclusively by Middle School students. Help us to get this journal off the ground by submitting to the first issue! Participation will elevate student learning through writing about investigations, engage students in a community of student scientists through peer review, and provide an authentic audience for students’ work.
Timeline for Volume 1:
Submit articles for peer review: September 2017 through March 2018 |
Middle school (grades 6-8) |
gmri |
2017-09-12 |
|
Rubrics and Assessment Tools |
Biodiversity, Constancy & change, Current events, Ecosystem health, Ecosystems, Invasive species, Scientific inquiry |
Formal Science Writing Tools: Science Article Overview and Checklist |
Use this checklist as a quick reference for the components of a science article. For more complete descriptions and resources see other Formal Science Writing lesson plans and handouts in the Vital Signs curriculum bank. |
Middle school (grades 6-8) |
gmri |
2017-09-12 |
|
Rubrics and Assessment Tools, Units of study, Learning activities, Field work resources, Analysis resources, Tutorials, Instructional models |
Biodiversity, Constancy & change, Current events, Ecosystem health, Ecosystems, Invasive species, Scientific inquiry |
Independent Ecology Investigation |
This full unit of study structures a student-driven learning experience that has students defining a research question, planning a Vital Signs data investigation, analyzing and interpreting their data, and communicating their findings. Students are guided through group activities designed to develop background knowledge in relationships in ecosystems and skills around data collection and analysis. Students extend this work by applying the newly developed skills and concepts to a student-driven investigation which culminates in creating a product to share their results. |
Middle school (grades 6-8) |
gmri |
2017-09-12 |
|
Rubrics and Assessment Tools, Learning activities, Analysis resources |
Biodiversity, Constancy & change, Current events, Ecosystem health, Ecosystems, Invasive species, Scientific inquiry |
Formal Science Writing and Revision Tools: Results |
Representing and describing data are challenging tasks. The tools included here support students in pulling together their results section, including choosing a graph and writing a results narrative. Resources include organizers, handouts to prompt student writing, and peer review forms for a results section of a science article. |
Middle school (grades 6-8) |
gmri |
2017-08-24 |
|
Rubrics and Assessment Tools |
Biodiversity, Constancy & change, Current events, Ecosystem health, Ecosystems, Invasive species, Scientific inquiry |
Formal Science Writing and Revision Tools: Student and Teacher Rubrics |
Here are rubrics in both student and teacher-friendly formats that can be used to monitor progress towards and final assessment of science articles. |
Middle school (grades 6-8) |
gmri |
2017-08-24 |
|
Rubrics and Assessment Tools, Learning activities, Analysis resources |
Biodiversity, Constancy & change, Current events, Ecosystem health, Ecosystems, Invasive species, Scientific inquiry |
Formal Science Writing and Revision Tools: Abstracts |
Abstracts are often the unfamiliar to students who have not written formal science articles. This minilesson breaks down the information in an abstract into clear, manageable components and provides tools for students to review and strengthen their work. |
Middle school (grades 6-8) |
gmri |
2017-08-24 |
|
Learning activities |
Biodiversity, Constancy & change, Current events, Ecosystem health, Ecosystems, Invasive species, Scientific inquiry |
Formal Science Writing and Revision Tools: Titles |
The titles of science research articles have particular components that make them different from titles of other forms of writing. These fun and quick minilessons will help students understand the parts of a title and support them in creating their own. |
Middle school (grades 6-8) |
gmri |
2017-08-24 |
|
Rubrics and Assessment Tools, Learning activities, Analysis resources |
Biodiversity, Constancy & change, Current events, Ecosystem health, Ecosystems, Invasive species, Scientific inquiry |
Formal Science Writing and Revision Tools: Discussion and Conclusions |
These writing and revision tools are designed to support scientific argumentation. Beginning with the conventional claim, evidence, and reasoning structures, these tools push beyond to encourage students to incorporate discussion of the certainty of their findings and alternative explanations. Resources include a graphic organizer and a new addition of the Vital Signs Scientific Conclusion Peer Review Tool. |
Middle school (grades 6-8) |
gmri |
2017-08-24 |
|
Learning activities |
Biodiversity, Constancy & change, Current events, Ecosystem health, Ecosystems, Invasive species, Scientific inquiry |
Analyze Vital Signs Data Using Tuva--Japanese Knotweed Example |
Tuva is an online tool that involves students in manipulating data to create meaningful visualizations. This lesson guides students through making meaning of the Japanese knotweed data from the Vital Signs database. There are also instructions including for exporting Vital Signs data and importing into Tuva so that it can be adapted for use for a variety of topics, provided there is enough data to work with. Teacher instructions and student handouts are included in the attached file. |
Middle school (grades 6-8) |
gmri |
2017-08-24 |
