S&S Lesson 1: Talk and Writing

At this stage in the unit, the students will be Expressing Ideas and Questions. The table below shows specific talk and writing goals for this phase of the unit.

Talk and Writing Goals for Expressing Ideas and Questions Phase

Teacher Talk Strategies That Support This Goal

Curriculum Components That Support This Goal

Treat this as brainstorming and elicitation of student ideas.

Remember, there are no “right” answers at this point. We want to hear all ideas.

Unit Pretest

My Students’ Answers

Listen for student ideas about matter and energy at different scales, but do not correct wrong ideas.

Where did the energy come from?

Where does the matter go next?

Are you talking about matter or energy?

What about the atomic-molecular scale?

Unit Pretest

Expressing Ideas and Questions Tool

Elicit a range of ideas. Press for details. Encourage students to examine, compare, and contrast ideas with the ideas of other students.

Who can add to that?

What do you mean by _____? Say more.

So I think you said _____. Is that right?

Who has a different idea?

How are those ideas similar/different?

Who can rephrase ________’s idea?

Unit Pretest

Expressing Ideas and Questions Tool

Encourage students to provide evidence.

How do you know that?

What have you seen in the world that makes you think that?

Expressing Ideas and Questions Tool

Document student ideas so they can be revisited later.

Let’s record our ideas so we can come back to them and see how our ideas change.

Sticky notes on class poster or Activity 1.2 Presentation

Expressing Ideas and Questions Tool