Incorporating Socio-Scientific Issues into the 5E Model for Learning: Engaging Students in Science through Emotional Connection, Kinesthetic Movement and Real World Phenomenon.

Abstract

This article presents an argument for the use of socio-scientific issues in the science classroom as a was to make real world connections and engage students in content. This article can work like an active work book for teachers to use as a reference for lesson plans for each of the NYS science standards. Following are 24 activities, one for each of the 24 Next Generation Science Standards as well as supporting research and theories. Each activity introduces students to a socio-scientific issue and acts as an engaging activity to fit with in the 5E model for science learning. Any of these activities can be done at multiple points of the 5E model and can be incorporated into lessons surrounding the standard in many unique ways, but all are intended to be ENGAGING. All activities include a fully engaging, multimodal activity that must be followed up by a class discussion of the issue. These activities are intended to grasp the interest of the students and act as a gateway into the depth and content of the topic. These activities cover the Life Science standards, which include four broad topics broken into 24 standards. There is one SSI for each standard at the high school level totaling 24 activities. These activities are intended for use with 9th and 10th grade living environment students. All socio-scientific issues are applicable at the middle school level or at the 11th/ 12th/ AP levels, content and depth may need to be revised. If the activities presented are not suited for your classroom, you may use this as a reference book for socio-scientific issues related to the Next Generation Science Standards for Life Science. Given the changing nature of education merged with the growth of technology, each activity page is equipped with an online adaptation for remote learning.