ERIC Number: EJ1161553
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Nov
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8148
EISSN: N/A
A Cucurbit Ripe for Building Vocabulary
Stansbury, Kristin; Rye, James; Luna, Melissa; Lutz, Aaron
Science and Children, v55 n3 p51-58 Nov 2017
The authors describe how grade 4 students carried out an investigation about growing cucumbers (members of the curcurbit or gourd family) where they read information sources about seed variety; germinated seeds under different conditions; measured and partitioned growing spaces; collected and analyzed data on germination, true leaf growth, and fruit production; and developed a capstone event for parents. Although the full investigation spans four months, teachers can choose to conduct only the "germinating seeds" portion and/or embedded activities such as zooming GigaPan images to locate and describe plant structures, measuring and partitioning growing spaces, and designing structures to support plant growth. This article responds to the need for students to build and use science vocabulary while engaging in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) science and engineering practice (SEP) of Planning and Carrying Out an Investigation in which students are: observing and recording data in science notebooks; learning vocabulary terms after engaging in inquiry; using vocabulary in communicating with peers, teachers, and parents; and writing and reasoning about scientific phenomena (NGSS Lead States 2013; Rupp-Fulwiler 2011).
Descriptors: Vocabulary Development, Science Instruction, Plants (Botany), Science Experiments, Grade 4, Elementary School Students, Elementary School Science, Horticulture, Gardening, Vocabulary, Investigations
National Science Teachers Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: http://www.nsta.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Grade 4
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A