MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCEBy: Katie Napier and Wesley Price

CHARACTERISTICS/DESCRIPTION

Promotes inquiry among students

Fosters innovation and creativity

Focuses upon the development of skills

(rather than the rote memorization of facts)

Enables learning through experiences

Encourages collaboration among peers

IMPORTANCE OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE

Science and Math provide a foundation for success in the 21st Century. These areas encourage critical thinking skills and autonomy through experimentation, journaling, data analysis (charts/graphs), and science projects. Thus, rather than merely promoting the memorization of facts, the instructor should coach the children to develop actual skills that will prepare each child for life in the 21st Century.

ROLE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

The acquisition of math skills increases personal development in the workplace and enhances mental abilities (such as logical reasoning).

In addition, science is present in daily life through the application of the scientific method, which allows individuals to make sensible and safe decisions.

Overall, Math and science promote literacy and numeracy skills and enhances essential technical skills.

TECHNOLOGY

WebQuest: to take a journey through the solar system to learn more about the sun and our planets

Digital Stories: to complete lab reports (such as demonstrating how to create a series circuit).

Podcasts: to describe how they solved a particular math problem utilizing the order of operations

Voki: to create an avatar that resembles Galileo which will describe why heavy objects fall at the same rate as light objects when in free fall.

QR Codes: to post assignments or links to interactive websites (such as Phet Tutorials)

Blogs: to write about experiments in which they used the scientific method (such as testing rocks)

STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE

Discuss three major types of rocks: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous

Participate in a “wonder wander” to collect rocks

Take pictures of collected rocks to upload onto class blog

Make an educated guess (hypothesis) Tests to identify rocks:

• Calculate density using graduated cylinder• Attempt to fracture rock• Use a magnifying glass to determine

texture/composition• Scrape against white tile to determine rock’s

streak

PROCEDURE, CONTINUED

Work in groups to research information regarding discovered characteristics

Record test results and researched data in graphical form

Create a podcast explaining their application of the scientific method (post on class blog)

Create a Prezi to display data

ASSESSMENTo Podcasts must include:

• Hypothesis• Methods of testing• Conclusion

o Prezi Presentations must include:• Hypothesis• Methods of testing• Results of testing/observations• Researched information• Graphical data• Conclusion

CONCLUSION Reality Check: In a recent international

assessment of 15-year-old students, the U.S. ranked:• 28th in math literacy• 24th in science literacy• 20th among all nations in the proportion of 24-

year-olds who earn degrees in natural science or engineering

Overall, the goal of the Twenty First Century Skills Movement is to prepare our students for their futures within an increasingly competitive global economy and to inspire the students to become lifelong learners.

WORKS CITED GeoMan's Rock Identiication. (2013, November

14). Retrieved from http://jersey.uoregon.edu/~mstrick/MinRockID/RockID/RockIDChart.html

Rocks and Minerals. (2013, November 14). Retrieved from Discover Education: https://www.etap.org/demo/grade4_science/lesson5/instructiontutor_last.html

Kuenzi, J. (2013, November 14). Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education: Background, Federal Policy, and Legislative Action. Retrieved from University of Nebraska Lincoln: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/crsdocs/35/