Digital Learning Guidance for Elementary School Science

As you develop digital lessons for students, please be sure to consider the essential standards for the subject you teach.  Whenever possible, create lessons that incorporate scientific literacy, critical-thinking and problem-solving activities.

Professional Learning Opportunities for Teachers

• The GaDOE Science specialists have created a variety of resources to help science educators provide effective virtual learning that meets the needs of all learners.
• Check out the many excellent resources for science teachers of all levels:
• https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Science.aspx
• Virtual Supports for Struggling Learners
• Video:  https://tinyurl.com/VirtualSuppStrugglingLearner
• Handout to accompany video: https://tinyurl.com/VirtSuppHandout
• Slides of the video: https://tinyurl.com/VirtualSupportSlides
• ​This document has choice boards with low-to-no technology options for teaching integrated lessons (K-5) in a distance format. It also provides family connections to keep students practicing skills at home. https://tinyurl.com/SWDdistancelearning
• GSE Essential Toolbox
• What do I Teach? How do I Teach? Did They Learn?
• https://app.gadoe.org/TRLPublic
• Science EOGs and EOCs information: https://tinyurl.com/MilestoneBlueprints

• Georgia Virtual Learning
• Just in Time for Teachers: Digital Learning
• In this FREE course learners, will identify the characteristics of effective digital learning days, recognize how digital learning days are a viable solution for schools and districts, explore best practices for planning, communication and implementation of digital learning. Learners will also consider open educational resources, shared content and web tools, acknowledge considerations for extended digital learning days and discover additional digital learning day resources.
• https://gavirtualpd.catalog.instructure.com/courses/just-in-time-for-teachers-digital-learning-days

• KSU Professional Development Resources
• Check out the wonderful KSUiteach collection of resources:
• https://www.ksuiteach.org/
• Screencasting: https://tinyurl.com/KSUscreencasts
• Flipgrid: https://tinyurl.com/KSUflipgrid

Great Articles

• “Best Practices: Online Pedagogy”
  • https://teachremotely.harvard.edu/best-practices
• “Teaching Remotely: Science Labs”
  • https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/remote-labs
• “How to be a Better Online Teacher: Advice Guide”
  • https://www.chronicle.com/interactives/advice-online-teaching

• “Tips for Rigor, Relevance and Relationships with Online Learning”
• https://tinyurl.com/RRRforDLD
• “Why We Need Differentiation Now More Than Ever”
• https://tinyurl.com/DLDdifferentiation

• “Making a Case for Science and Social Studies Through PBL in Distance Learning”
  • https://www.gettingsmart.com/2020/05/making-a-case-for-science-and-social-studies-through-pbl-in-distance-learning/
• “Dialogic Learning”
  • https://www.edutopia.org/article/lesson-planning-framework-leads-productive-struggle
• “Five Tips for Designing Remote Learning”
  • https://corwin-connect.com/2020/03/5-tips-for-designing-asynchronous-or-remote-learning/

Science DLD Resources

• STEMscopes is the adopted curriculum in PCSD for K-5 science. It supports the Science GSE and our focus on 3D learning, Claim-Evidence-Reasoning science literacy and is an excellent resource for DLD instruction.
  • For students to access STEMscopes from home (must use Google browser)
    • Go the PCSD Website
    • Go to the Student Dashboard
    • Click on Elementary or Middle & High School Dashboard
    • Click the STEMscopes Icon
    • If students are prompted for a login, they will use their PCSD login credentials. 
  • Teachers can also access STEMscopes in the same manner as students
  • STEMscopes provides:
    • integration of science into different subject areas
    • connections to Georgia Standards of Excellence and Three-Dimensional Learning
    • 5 E lessons
    • Literacy Connections
    • Math Connections
    • Real World and Career Connections
    • Problem-Based Learning activities
    • Assessments

• The Science S’mores contain links to a multitude of science instructional resources:
  • Winter 2019 S’more: https://www.smore.com/rd8uh
  • Spring 2020 S’more: https://www.smore.com/ngztf
  • Summer 2020 S’more: https://www.smore.com/r7hvz

• Math Science Music uses music as a tool to teach math and science to students. The activities incorporate music to encourage students to gain skills and acquire knowledge in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects and learn to think creatively. 
  • https://mathsciencemusic.org/

• Flinn Scientific has launched a website with resources specifically developed to help

5^th – 12^th grade teachers, students and parents continue their science education journey – even if that learning is taking place outside the classroom or laboratory environment.  The resources are searchable by grade and discipline.

• Flinn Science at Home – Labs, activities, “The Science Behind…”
• Project Zero Ideas and Distance Learning: Visible Thinking and Teaching for Understanding
  • A multitude of instructional strategies for synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning
  • https://tinyurl.com/ProjectZerostrategies
• NSTA has excellent elementary and secondary lessons, as well as professional learning resources, at https://www.nsta.org/
• Open Culture
  • This site has links to more than 200 free DLD resources, including video lessons, websites, books, and apps.
  • Scroll down to find science-specific resources
  • http://www.openculture.com/free_k-12_educational_resources

• GYSTC Recommended Resource Websites for K-8 Teachers:
  • https://us19.campaign-archive.com/?e=&u=61e699691eef976b12ee232b6&id=6a8e9c6f81
• The Lawrence Hall of Science offers in-school and out-of-school instructional materials and links to hundreds of resources: https://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/
• School districts in many states are utilizing Digital Learning Days. Here is a link to shared lessons from teachers across the country: https://sharemylesson.com/
  • The lessons are categorized by grade level and content area

• Some companies have been offering free use of their resources and many teachers are generously sharing their own resources.
  • Mystery Science (limited number of free accounts): https://mysteryscience.com/?g=75044349&r=75039357&s=internal-email-forward

            https://mysteryscience.com/school-closure-planning

• Georgia Public Broadcasting: https://www.gpb.org/education/resources/subject/all
• Get Georgia Reading: http://getgeorgiareading.org/georgia-summer/
• Smithsonian Open Access: https://www.si.edu/openaccess
• GaDOEResources for Online Science Teaching: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18yg4T4-iGQrNoa2weikCZIrpN9_zqJxlh0GAQaWZKoc/edit#gid=0
• Symbaloo: https://www.symbaloo.com/home/mix/science1899
• Innovate 2 Educate: http://www.innovate2educate.co/covid-19-support.html
• Science Meets Technology: http://sciencemeetstechnology.weebly.com/
• Twig education – sign up for a free trial: https://www.twigsciencetools.com/