Week 4 Blog - Elementary Science Methods (Addyson Junge)

Week 4 Blog - Elementary Science Methods (Addyson Junge)

February 16, 2025

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1. What did you learn this week?
• This week, I learned about the 5 Modeling Activity (5E Model) and what it stands for. The 5 Modeling Activity is a research-based model that helps students engage in the material by thinking through it with the 5 Es: engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. I also learned how you can connect the 5E Model with the correlating standards. 
2. How can you apply what you've learned to your teaching in the future?
• I can apply this to my future teaching when my students are doing research-based projects, especially for science. I learned I can use this method across many other subjects so my students can really grasp the given content. 
3. What are new or remaining questions? 
• A couple remaining questions I have are how can I make each section sound equally important to one another and how will this support my diverse learners' needs?

Reflection questions:

a. What happens during the engage phase of this lesson? How do these activities relate to the function of the engage phase?

During the Engage phase of this lesson, the teacher asks a provoking question to interest the students. The provided question asked the students to reflect on what they already know about anthills and beehives. This relates to the function of the engage phase because the students can show what they already know, which makes them excited and ready to learn. 

b. What happens during the explore phase of this lesson? How do these activities relate to the function of the explore phase?

Throughout the Explore phase of this lesson, the teacher splits students into two groups, providing two different articles, one about anthills and one about beehives. During this time, students get to learn about their assigned colonies. These activities relate to the function of the explore phase because the students are exploring information about the given content. 

c. What happens during the explain phase of this lesson? How do these activities relate to the function of the explain phase?

In the Explain phase of this lesson, students come back together to discuss and talk about their assigned article. This allows the students to compare and contrast their findings. The activities relate to the function of the explain phase because the students are explaining and demonstrating the information they found on their topic. 

d. What happens during the elaborate phase of this lesson? How do these activities relate to the function of the elaborate phase?

During the Elaborate phase of this lesson, students come back together in their groups and discuss ways to present their research to their peers. This type of collaboration requires good speaking and listening skills. This relates to the function of the elaborate phase because the students are elaborating and talking about the next steps in their research project. 

e. What happens during the evaluate phase of this lesson? How do these activities relate to the function of the evaluate phase?

Finally, the Evaluate phase of the lesson is where students present their work, and the teacher looks over and evaluates everything. This activity relates to the function of the evaluate phase because the teacher is evaluating and checking the quality of work presented by the students. 

f. Is the lesson “How do the social interactions and group behavior of ants and honey help to maintain their colonies?” a good example of a 5E lesson? Why or why not?

I believe that the lesson above is a great example of a 5E lesson. Because this question can be a lot to process for some students, breaking the lesson/question up into smaller sections can help students be more efficient in their work. This lesson provides many great opportunities for students to engage in, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate their work.