TEACHING SCIENCE IN THE ELEMENTARY GRADES

Physics, Earth and Space Science

MODULE 1: Teaching Science in the Elementary Grades:

AN OVERVIEW
2nd Semester
A.Y. 2021-2022
Course Code: TEAPHY
Course Description:
The course includes understanding of spiraling basic science concepts and application
of science inquiry in Physics, Earth and Space Science and the use of teaching strategies in
elementary science, development of instructional materials and assessment.

INTRODUCTION
Welcome Asianista!
This is the very first module in the Asianista Flexible Learning Modalities (AFLM) for this course.
Since learning never ceases even in the time of a pandemic, ACT AFLM will ensure that Asianistas
are given every opportunity to continue this pursuit in a modality that suits their realities.
In this module, you will journey to the very heart of this course: science and technology in the
context of the larger society we live in. Through the activities prepared, you will look into the
various processes of society and culture that played a crucial role in societies’ scientific and
technological progress. Equally worthy to look into is the shaping power of scientific and
technological advancement in societal processes. It is hoped that you take time to get acquainted
with the concepts and terminologies which will help you navigate throughout the course

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

• Define Science
• Characterize Scientist
• Discuss steps in the scientific process
CONTENT

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 scientific 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 21st 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 ("Importance of Science.. 2017). 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 science 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 broad body of knowledge - Physical sciences consist of disciplines 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 skills form 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 structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through
observation and experiment.

• Science as a social activity- Science is a social activity 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 others.

• 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.

What is the Scientific Method?

The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and
answer questions. Does this mean all scientists follow exactly this process? No. Some areas of
science can be more easily tested than others. For example, scientists studying how stars change
as they age or how dinosaurs digested their food cannot fast-forward a star's life by a million
years or run medical exams on feeding dinosaurs to test their hypotheses. When direct
experimentation is not possible, scientists modify the scientific method. In fact, there are
probably as many versions of the scientific method as there are scientists! But even when
modified, the goal remains the same: to discover cause and effect relationships by asking
questions, carefully gathering and examining the evidence, and seeing if all the available
information can be combined in to a logical answer.
Scientists use a dynamic, open-ended process to investigate questions.

Here are the five steps.

1. Define a Question to Investigate

As scientists conduct their research, they make observations and collect data. The observations
and data often lead them to ask why something is the way it is. Scientists pursue answers to these
questions in order to continue with their research. Once scientists have a good question to
investigate, they begin to think of ways to answer it.

2. Make Predictions
Based on their research and observations, scientists will often come up with a hypothesis. A
hypothesis is a possible answer to a question. It is based on: their own observations, existing
theories, and information they gather from other sources. Scientists use their hypothesis to make
a prediction, a testable statement that describes what they think the outcome of an investigation
will be.

3. Gather Data
Evidence is needed to test the prediction. There are several strategies for collecting evidence, or
data. Scientists can gather their data by observing the natural world, performing an experiment
in a laboratory, or by running a model. Scientists decide what strategy to use, often combining
strategies. Then they plan a procedure and gather their data. They make sure the procedure can
be repeated, so that other scientists can evaluate their findings.

4. Analyze the Data

Scientists organize their data in tables, graphs, or diagrams. If possible, they include relevant data
from other sources. They look for patterns that show connections between important variables
in the hypothesis they are testing.

5. Draw Conclusions
Based on whether or not their prediction came true, scientists can then decide whether the
evidence clearly supports or does not support the hypothesis. If the results are not clear, they
must rethink their procedure. If the results are clear, scientists write up their findings and results
to share with others. The conclusions they draw usually lead to new questions to pursue.