Reflection Paper on Strategies in Teaching Science in the Elementary
Grades
Name: Sweetheart R. Cañete
Date: February 22,2025
Base my understanding about science learning skills , they are very
essential as they enable students to learn about the environment around
them. Science is all about knowing, questioning, and inducing presence for
me memorization is nothing but a part of science. While it guides students
to learn different ideas in order problem-solving activities, and applications,
this includes three major segments in terms of classification for science
skills-basic science learning skills, integrated science process skills, and
higher order thinking skills. For all three-categories of science skills, each
held a significant role to help the student to develop a very scientific
mindset.
According to what I have read, basic Science Learning Skills form the
foundation for scientific thinking. They are observing, classifying,
communicating, inferring, and measuring. Observing the process when one
uses the senses to heed details, such as the color of a leaf or the smell of a
flower. Classifying unhelpful organization of things in groups founded on
similarities grouping objects by their size or shape. Communicating the
ability to share findings through words, drawings, or charts. Inferring
concluding based on observations,the ground is wet, so it probably rained.
Measurement is important as it permits students to compare size, weight.
As taking a bachelor of elementary course, integrated science process
skills helps engage in deeper thinking. Some of these include variable
control, predicting, defining operationally, carrying out experimentation,
interpreting data, and model formulation. Controlling the variables is well
understood in experimental cases where students get to test one factor at a
time to see what changes happen. Predicting is very important because it
enables students to guess what will happen next based on their past
experiences. The part of defining operationally is explaining how something
is measured or observed in the experiment.
What I understand is that doing an experiment would be the center of
scientific learning because it is experimentation between ideas and
gathering evidence for such a thing. Students do experiments by going
through some steps that may give them the answers or prove their
predication-right or wrong. Interpreting data makes students understand
results through looking at patterns and differences. Modeling would be
when a student builds a representation, such as a diagram or physical
model, to explain a scientific concept. These skills teach students to
approach problems in a structured manner.
Higher-order thinking skills are the other types that I believe are of great
importance because they teach students to go beyond merely observing
and memorizing. Skills of creative thinking and problem-solving fall under
this category. Creative thinking makes a student generate ideas so new
that the student explores many alternatives outside the norm. For example,
when students might think of a new way to recycle waste, that student
engages with creative thinking. Problem-solving is then how a student
would be finding a way to figure out a puzzle by analyzing the situation and
coming up with the best means to fix it.
I think that inquiry-based science pedagogy is the most appropriate and
best way to teach science. Such education has incentive to develop
intrigue in students, seek, and discover answers through engaging practice.
Students do not simply read about science concepts they experience
investigations through which students learn by doing. Making learning more
interesting and meaningful because actively involved in the process.
For what I have read, inquiry-based learning fosters curiosity and love for
science among students. If why and how are good questions for students to
be encouraged to ask, then they will be invested even more heavily into
learning. They also learn to think critically be examining evidence as they
have to analyze information, test ideas, and reflect on their findings.
Moreover, teamwork is enhanced since they usually conduct their
experiments and discuss their observations together.
Science learning skills are, in my opinion, not only applicable in schools but
also in real life. Development of these skills increased the chances that
students would make informed decisions, solve everyday problems, and
understand how the world operates. Be it reading medicine labels, repairing
gadgets, or predicting the weather, science skills all come together to help
people navigate the world.
In conclusion, students need to learn science skills so as to be curious,
critical, and creative thinkers. Basic skills in science lay a very solid
foundation, integrated science process skills develop a much deeper
understanding, and higher order thinking skills prepare students to address
real-world problems. Inquiry-based learning places science in context,
making it more engaging and effective. I feel these skills are not only useful
for scientists but for all humans because they help make sense of the
world, enhancing our daily lives.
