LAP Code: No.

of Hours: 3 hours/meeting
LAP Subject Title: Teaching Strategies for Elementary Science

LAP 1
The Elementary Science Curriculum
((Physics, Earth, and Space Science)
A. Topic Outline

Content
Unit Learning Objectives Activities Assignment
Standard
Unit 1: LAP 1: - Defined science. Sample Word
What is Science? - Characterized scientists. Cloud
- Discussed the steps in the scientific process. Characterizing
- Explored why some students, love science an Inspiring
and others do not. Science
- Brainstormed ways on how teachers can Teacher
make the teaching and learning of science
engaging for students; and
-Characterized features and elements of an
engaging science classroom.

B. Introductory Activity: (15 points) Create a word cloud to illustrate/show how these definitions or
keywords define science. Be guided by the sample word cloud below. Use a box type image for your
answer.

C. Abstraction

Science is valued because it has helped in satisfying many basic human needs and improving
living conditions. Advances in technology and science are transforming our world at an incredible and
unimaginable pace. We cannot escape from, and we cannot measure the significance of science. Science
has shaped the world. Technology and the products of scientific knowledge surround us every day.
Public and private policy decisions that impact every aspect of our lives are driven by scientific process
and evidence. The enormously complex physical world around us illustrates boundless scientific
concepts. Being “science literate” has become not just an advantage but an absolute necessity in the 21 st
century.

Science is our way of understanding the world- its wondrous structure, natural events,
interrelated elements and systems and processes. It is an exciting and at the same time, a useful
endeavor that benefits our community and society at large. Another important goal of science has
emerged during the past decades: to find a way to responsibly and ethically use natural resources to
guarantee their continuity and that of humanity itself; an endeavor and advocacy that is referred to as
“sustainability”.

Aside from sustainability movement, education could become the most important application of
science in the next decades. It is crucial to provide humanity with a basic understanding of how science
has shaped the world and human civilization. It is for this reason that education institutions need to
constantly equip educators with the tools and competence to advance science education and to engage
the learners in the love for learning and doing science.

The word “science” is derived from the Latin word scientia meaning knowledge. Science is
commonly referred to as a systematic and organized body of knowledge in any area of inquiry that is
acquired using the “scientific method”. Science has many facets and definitions that can be summarized
into the following:

 Science as a body of knowledge – Physical sciences consist of discipline such as physics (the
science of physical objects); chemistry (the science of matter); and astronomy (the science of
celestial objects). Earth sciences consist of disciplines such as geology (the science of the earth).
 Science as a set of skills – the science process from the foundation of scientific methods. There
are six basic science process skills: observation, communication, classification, measurement,
inference, and prediction. These basic skills are integrated when scientists design and carry out
experiments. All six basic skills are important individually as well as when they are integrated.
 Science as an intellectual activity – science is the intellectual, practical, and systematic study of
the behavior and structure of the physical and natural world through observation and
experiment.
 Science as a social activity – it is shaped by history, institutions, beliefs, and values. Society
shapes science and vice versa.
 Science as problem solving – problem solving skills are necessary in all areas of life, and the
science class provides the students opportunity to develop and utilize their problem-solving
skills, which include the ability to critically analyze a problem, determine all its elements and
prepare a feasible solution. These are valuable skills one can acquire in life.
 Science as a career - Individuals who have devoted themselves in studying and doing science
have established careers in science such as biologists, chemists, environmentalists, astronomers,
medical practitioners, among other.
 Science as a global human endeavor – science is a result of human imagination, ingenuity, and
creativity. Individuals and teams from many nations and cultures have contributed to science
and to advances in technology.
  Science as a process – the scientific method is a set of steps for verifying and building scientific
knowledge. When performing this process, one employs skills necessary to research a topic,
develop a plan and timeline, and draw conclusions from research results.

The Scientific Method

It refers to a set of steps for verifying and building scientific knowledge. Steps include making
valid observations, interpreting, and generalizing results. It allows researchers to test preexisting
knowledge and prior findings and subject independently and impartially them to scrutiny and
enhancements.

The Scientific Irony

Science is a very exciting subject and process, but why to teachers have difficulty engaging all
the students in learning and doing science? Reflect on this question. Write the reasons why the students
love learning and doing science in the first column and the reasons for their disinterests in the third
column. In the second column titled BUT write the manifestations of the students’ disinterest in the
subject.

Students love Science BUT they hate science class

D. Analysis: Characterizing an Inspiring Science Teacher (15 points)

Questions:

1. Do you embody these traits? What steps do you undertake to develop them?
2. Your goal as a future science teacher should be to engage your students to love learning and
doing science. What are the features of an ideal science class? Characterize each of the
 following elements: a) teacher; b) curriculum; c) students; d) classroom; e) other support
systems.

E. Application: (25 points) Characterizing an Engaging Science Class

1. Interview your bother/sister about their previous science classes. List down below the topics
that the students find most interesting to learn. Ask also how the teacher taught them effectively in the
classroom.

Favorite/Most Interesting Lessons in Science Teaching and Learning Strategies

2. What should be the purpose for every science class?

3. What makes an engaging and inspiring science class? An effective science teacher?