Daily Science Conversations Through ELA Integration (Including Picture Books!)

In Daily Science Conversations, you will learn how science and reading comprehension are inextricably linked and be empowered with the skills to address your “science time crunch” by making scientific thinking part of your daily routine. Using small bits of meaningful time, you will learn how to: integrate ELA and science authentically and effectively; use picture books to emphasize the nature of science; conduct notice and wonder routines and data discussions before read alouds, and develop center and bell ringer activities that support your science instruction.

This class is designed to help you meet Iowa Core science and reading standards (or NGSS and Common Core) by equipping you with the latest science and reading comprehension research along with practical classroom applications, so you can incorporate more scientific thinking into your daily schedule.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will…

• Explain at least four research-based reasons to integrate science and ELA, and identify at least two places in your curriculum where ELA could integrate with science
• Describe at least two ways vocabulary instruction in science is different than in ELA and apply one instructional strategy for addressing science vocabulary
• Explain at least two research-based reasons to read aloud, and design and implement two read-aloud plans that integrate science and ELA
• Explain the characteristics of the Nature of Science (NOS), why the NOS is important, and why the NOS must be taught with an explicit/reflective strategy
• Design and implement a read-aloud plan that emphasizes one NOS characteristic

Required Texts & Materials: 

1. Barber, J., Cervetti, G., Cruz, M. C., & Duke, N. K. (2019). No More Science Kits or Texts in Isolation: Teaching Science and Literacy Together. Heinemann. 
2. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2023). Rise and Thrive with Science: Teaching PK-5 Science and Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. (Free .pdf download: https://doi.org/10.17226/26853)
3. Muir Laws, J., Tan, A., & Lygren, E. (2020). How to Teach Nature Journaling: Curiosity, Wonder, Attention. Berkeley, California Heyday. (Free .pdf download: https://johnmuirlaws.com/product/how-to-teach-nature-journaling)

Also, students are expected to read relevant journal articles and engage with videos assigned throughout the course as needed.

Course Details:

Date: Available for registration anytime
Instructor: Emily Starr (emily@growprofessionally.com)
Number of Graduate/License Renewal Credits:  2
Higher Ed Partner for Graduate Credit: Morningside University