Application of Iowa Core Curriculum Science Standards

Iowa Core Curriculum Standard: Identify gravity as a force and weight as a measure of force.

(1) Abstract idea: The heavier the weight of a mass, the more force of earth's gravity exerted on a mass. Concrete experience: Students will weigh themselves on a scale to represent a mass (body) and the measurement differences of the force of earth's gravity. This is a concrete representation of mass (their body) exerting force (their weight). The heavier the mass (body) the greater force of earth's gravity.

(2) Five questions to move students from concrete to abstract:

1. What does the number on the scale mean?
2. What are some explanations that cause the weight to change from one person to another?
3. If we tried to weight ourselves on a scale on Mars, what would happen?
4. What causes us to float on Mars and stay on the ground on Earth?
5. How does gravity keep objects of all sizes on the ground on Earth?

Achieving The SATIC Pattern

Here are some of the strategies to achieve the 3c/4, 6, 11/12 SATIC Pattern:

3c/4 (Thought-provoking short-answer question/Extended answer question:
Ask students:

• open ended and reflective questions
• about their background knowledge
• to make connections
• explain and elaborate

6 (Acknowledges student comment):

Be an active listener and respond to students by:

• nodding your head
• saying "okay"
• making eye contact
• writing their response for the class to see
• using a non-verbal such as counting on your finger the number of responses received

11/12 (Ask student to clarify of elaborate/Uses student question or idea):

• (11) Ask students: "Why? How? Explain. What do you mean? Can you repeat that? How would a scientist explain that?"
• (12) Ask students: "What do you think about what _____ said? How does what _____ said relate to what we are talking about in class? Lets talk about that. Do you agree or disagree with what _____ said?"