Standard 1 of the NC Professional Teaching Standards requires Teachers
Demonstrate Leadership in their classrooms, their schools, and the profession,
and as advocates for schools and students. The clarification provided for
“Teachers advocate for schools and students” says,“Teachers advocate for
positive change in policies and practices affecting student learning. They
participate in the implementation of initiatives to improve the education of
students.” You can write a position paper (3-5 pages), in which case your audience
would be the broader education community (and you do not actually have
to share this paper with this audience either). If you are unsure what a
position paper looks like, you can find some samples on the National
Science Teachers Association (NSTA) website at:
http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/.
For whichever option you choose, you are to explain/advocate for why and
how you believe science should be taught in the elementary classroom. In
developing your PowerPoint presentation or position paper, consider the
audience, and use terminology appropriate for the intended audience.
Consider the background information provided in this document, including the
NC Elementary School STEM Rubricbeing piloted by DPI, the Next Generation
Science Standards (NGSS), the NSTA Position Statement on the NGSS,
the 5Es Instructional Model, and the information you gleaned from the NSF
Monograph on Inquiry-Based Instruction.
You may also consider/include any other information you believe is relevant to
supporting your position (e.g., you may find useful information in the BSCS
report, or the STEM plans from other states, or the NC Essential Science
Standards, or the NC Released 5th Grade Science EOG, or the document on levels
of inquiry-based instruction on the Course Content page). Remember, you are
trying to convince the audience of your position. You are advocating, trying to
bring the audience to your point of view, not just reporting information.
Here is a project that you can use also:
https://www.mobileedproductions.com/blog/how-to-make-a-water-cycle-in-a-bag
