Up to Our Knees in Inquiry: A Course for Pre-Service Teachers on "Physical Science of the Earth System"
Abstract
A novel science course targeting undergraduates planning to be elementary school teachers addresses the physical science principles behind important environmental phenomena observed on a variety of spatial and temporal scales. The course is inquiry-driven and data-rich, emphasizing skills in observation, data interpretation, and communication alongside conceptual understanding of key physical and Earth science concepts these future teachers will encounter in the K-5 curriculum. Students interpret the spectra of stars based on their laboratory observations of light, color, and atomic spectra, consider plate tectonics and the rock cycle in relation to field and lab observations of Rocky Mountain geology, and examine atmospheric and oceanic influences on climate through computer modeling, laboratory observations, local meteorological measurements, and online data sets. A field project focusing on a local stream or pond provides the opportunity to develop a research question, conduct field measurements, compare results to on-line regional data sources and global satellite data, and interpret findings within a broader systems perspective. The presentation will highlight selected links between local and global phenomena as studied through a rich array of classroom inquiry methods.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002AGUFMED52C..07L
- Keywords:
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- 6605 Education