JoinArgument-Driven Inquiry in Life Science
By Carole Hayward
Posted on 2015-08-18
In the new NSTA Press book Argument-Driven Inquiry in Life Science: Lab Investigations for Grades 6-8, 20 lab activities present an innovative approach to lab instruction called argument-driven inquiry (ADI). Use of these labs can help teachers align their instruction with current recommendations for making life science more meaningful for students and more effective for teachers.
Authors Patrick Enderle, Ruth Bickel, Leeanne Gleim, Ellen Granger, Jonathon Grooms, Melanie Hester, Ashley Murphy, Victor Sampson, and Sherry Southerland organize the labs around four Life Science core ideas, providing introductory and application labs for each.
- From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
- Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
- Heredity: Inheritance and Variations in Traits
- Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
Section 1 of the book begins with two chapters describing the ADI instructional model and the development and components of the ADI lab investigations. Sections 2–5 contain the lab investigations, including notes for the teacher, student handouts, and checkout questions. Section 6 contains four appendixes with connections to the NGSS timeline, proposal options for the investigations, and a form for assessing the investigation reports.
Here are a few examples of the lab investigations:
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Introduction Lab
- Cellular Respiration: Do Plants Use Cellular Respiration to Produce Energy?
Application Lab
- Osmosis: How Does the Concentration of Salt in Water Affect the Rate of Osmosis?
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Introduction Lab
- Population Growth: What Factors Limit the Size of a Population of Yeast?
Application Lab
- Food Webs and Ecosystems: Which Member of an Ecosystem Would Affect the Food Web the Most if Removed?
Heredity: Inheritance and Variation in Traits
Introduction Lab
- Variation in Traits: How Do Beetle Traits Vary Within and Across Species?
Application Lab
- Mechanisms of Inheritance: How Do Fruit Flies Inherit the Sepia Eye Color Trait?
Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
Introduction Lab
- Mechanisms of Evolution: Why Does a Specific Version of a Trait Become More Common in a Population Over Time?
Application Lab
The ADI instructional model focuses on authentic lab activities so that students have more experiences engaging in scientific practices such as asking questions and defining problems, developing and using models, and analyzing and interpreting data. This type of instruction requires that students receive feedback and learn from their mistakes so they can incorporate their new knowledge and experiences into future labs and investigations. The ADI activities presented in this book are thoughtfully constructed to help students learn science in authentic contexts and also to develop the required knowledge, skills, abilities, and habits of mind to do science.
This book is also available as an e-book. To learn more, visit the Argument-Driven Inquiry Series page.
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In the new NSTA Press book Argument-Driven Inquiry in Life Science: Lab Investigations for Grades 6-8, 20 lab activities present an innovative approach to lab instruction called argument-driven in
Now you see them, now you don’t! By showing the same creatures in two different settings, this book brings out the detective in young readers. They can investigate the role of protective coloration— nature’s own camouflage—for katydids, crickets, bumblebees, beavers, spiders, and spotted green frogs. The vivid examples encourage children to closely examine the characteristics of hidden creatures that may be looking back at them, whether from the pages of this book or in their own backyards.
Now you see them, now you don’t! By showing the same creatures in two different settings, this book brings out the detective in young readers. They can investigate the role of protective coloration— nature’s own camouflage—for katydids, crickets, bumblebees, beavers, spiders, and spotted green frogs. The vivid examples encourage children to closely examine the characteristics of hidden creatures that may be looking back at them, whether from the pages of this book or in their own backyards.
What happens when two friends take an interest in an oak tree? They begin to notice more about the world around them, such as the seasons changing and squirrels making homes. They are inspired to do independent research, from studying acorns to looking up scientific terms, and to be creative by composing pictures and poems. And they discover new things, such as their tree’s structure and characteristics—all because they stopped to look around them. As warm and dreamy as a summer day, Our Very Own Tree will inspire readers to seek out their very own places in nature.
What happens when two friends take an interest in an oak tree? They begin to notice more about the world around them, such as the seasons changing and squirrels making homes. They are inspired to do independent research, from studying acorns to looking up scientific terms, and to be creative by composing pictures and poems. And they discover new things, such as their tree’s structure and characteristics—all because they stopped to look around them. As warm and dreamy as a summer day, Our Very Own Tree will inspire readers to seek out their very own places in nature.
Children who love both animals and a rousing game of I Spy will have fun with this book. To give kids practice identifying similarities and differences, the book starts by pairing easy-to-distinguish animals, such as zebras and horses. Then it moves on to duos that are more difficult to tell apart, such as turtles and tortoises and seals and sea lions. Reading Animals Two by Two is like taking a walk through the zoo with an eagle-eyed friend—one who wants to know if you can spot the differences between a frog and a toad or a mole and a vole!
Children who love both animals and a rousing game of I Spy will have fun with this book. To give kids practice identifying similarities and differences, the book starts by pairing easy-to-distinguish animals, such as zebras and horses. Then it moves on to duos that are more difficult to tell apart, such as turtles and tortoises and seals and sea lions. Reading Animals Two by Two is like taking a walk through the zoo with an eagle-eyed friend—one who wants to know if you can spot the differences between a frog and a toad or a mole and a vole!
This book about life cycles and the food chain begs to be read out loud. Written in the rhythm of “The House That Jack Built,” The Tree by Diane’s House tells the story of a budding tree and a growing girl. As the tree grows from seed to sycamore, its leaves become meals for caterpillars, which become food for birds. Diane witnesses what happens when living things depend on one another—until they can’t do so anymore. This bittersweet tale provides a thought-provoking ending for young readers about the circle of life in the natural world.
This book about life cycles and the food chain begs to be read out loud. Written in the rhythm of “The House That Jack Built,” The Tree by Diane’s House tells the story of a budding tree and a growing girl. As the tree grows from seed to sycamore, its leaves become meals for caterpillars, which become food for birds. Diane witnesses what happens when living things depend on one another—until they can’t do so anymore. This bittersweet tale provides a thought-provoking ending for young readers about the circle of life in the natural world.
Chris Lehmann Talks Technology and Teaching Revolutionary Science in the Digital Age
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Posted on 2015-08-16
“You stood in front of your community and said, ‘This is the scholar I have become. This is what I can do.’ And in doing so, you reminded all of us of what young people can do when given the freedom and the support to dream big.”
–Chris Lehmann, Graduation Speech to the SLA Class of 2015,
Chris Lehmann motivates students every day as the founding principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. This November 12-14, he’ll be doing the same for teachers. Lehmann will be a featured speaker at the 2015 Area Conference on Science Education in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he’ll be encouraging science teachers to think in new ways about how they engage students. Don’t miss “Beyond Googling—Building the Conditions for Structured Inquiry,” on Friday, November 13 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Ballroom A, when Lehmann will discuss what he sees as the five core values of Inquiry, Research, Collaboration, Presentation, and Reflection, which are at the heart of the inquiry process.
What else will you learn about teaching revolutionary science in the digital age? Below is a small sampling of other sessions on this topic:
- Sustainability and Storytelling: iPads in the Outdoors
- ASTE Session: Science and Literacy—The 50-Cent Microscope/Foldscope
- Nature’s Notebook: A Modern Spin on an Age-old Process
- Leveraging Technology to Provide Students with the Autonomy to Differentiate Their Own Learning
- NASA’s “Eyes on the Solar System”: Bringing Planets into Your Classroom
- Technology as a Tool: Increasing Engagement in Science Classrooms
- Teaching Science Completely Online
Want more? Check out more sessions and other events with the Philadelphia Session Browser/Personal Scheduler. Follow all our conference tweets using #NSTA15, and if you tweet, please feel free to tag us @NSTA so we see it!
The mission of NSTA is to promote excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.
Future NSTA Conferences
2015 Area Conferences
2016 National Conference
2016 STEM Forum & Expo
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- Read more about Chris Lehmann Talks Technology and Teaching Revolutionary Science in the Digital Age
“You stood in front of your community and said, ‘This is the scholar I have become. This is what I can do.’ And in doing so, you reminded all of us of what young people can do when given the freedom and the support to dream big.”