CHAPTER 4 – SCIENCE SEMINAR
NS 4.2.1 WARM-UPRevisiting the Evidence
Organize your thoughts and decide which evidence cards offer the strongest support for each
claim.
You will utilize student sheets and evidence cards collected at the end of Lesson
4.1 to complete the Warm-Up.
Through individual and partner work, you will strengthen your arguments in preparation for
the Science Seminar. (15 min)
You will be participating in a
student-led, whole-class
discussion called a Science
Seminar.
You will share your claims and
evidence as you work together
to answer the Chapter 4
Question.
NS 4.2.2 STUDENT DISCUSSION
What caused the stickleback population to have less
armor and become faster?
You can refer to these sentence
starters to connect your ideas
and articulate your sentences
more clearly.
When scientists are speaking,
they use these types of questions
and statements to explain their
thinking, make their arguments
more convincing, and respectfully
agree and disagree.
NS 4.2.2 STUDENT DISCUSSION
It is acceptable to change your minds. As you discuss the evidence, you might be
convinced by your partner’s argument. you may change your minds about which claim
is the most convincing. This is fine; scientists often change their minds as well.
You will prepare for the whole-class discussion by first sharing your ideas with your partners.
You will take turns sharing your ideas as well as listening to your partners' ideas.
NS 4.2.2 STUDENT DISCUSSION
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
Science Seminar Expectations.
A Science Seminar is a scientific
discussion in which ideas are
shared and students can
question and challenge one
another.
The purpose of the Science
Seminar is to use everyone’s
knowledge to come to a deeper
understanding of something.
Today’s Science Seminar is specifically about why the sticklebacks now have less armor and
more speed.
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINARThe group of students in the
outer semicircle will listen and
take notes.
The group in the inner
semicircle will share and discuss
their ideas about the evidence.
Halfway through, students will
switch positions and switch
roles.
Students who were in the outer
semicircle will now be in the
inner semicircle and will share
and discuss.
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
The group of students in the
outer semicircle will listen and
take notes.
The group in the inner semicircle
will share and discuss their ideas
about the evidence.
Halfway through, students will
switch positions and switch roles.
Students who were in the outer
semicircle will now be in the
inner semicircle and will share
and discuss.
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
When you are
sitting in the outer
semicircle, you will
use this sheet to
take notes as you
listen to the
discussion.
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINARTeacher role in the Science Seminar.
I’ll start the conversation and offer prompts when
needed, but, otherwise, I’ll just be observing and taking
notes.
As much as possible, I want you to run the discussion.
It’s okay if things are quiet for a few minutes while we
think about our ideas.
This is your time to come together as a team of student
biologists and build the best explanation for why a
change in environment would cause the stickleback
population to change.
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
Remember to refer to the question and claims as you participate in the Science Seminar.
You should also use the language of scientific argumentation.
You and your classmates are responsible for presenting ideas and evidence, discussing one
another’s ideas, and asking questions.
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
Take your seats in the
semicircles.
- Group 1: Discussions
- Group 2: Observations
Bring your folders:
- Argument Organizer
sheets,
- Stickleback Evidence Cards,
- Science Seminar
Observations sheets, and
- a pencil or pen
Remember to take notes on
Observation Sheets
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
What does Evidence Card C show and why does this evidence matters? Look at
your Argument Organizer sheets to see which claim Evidence Card C supports.
What caused the stickleback population to have less armor and become faster?
Claim 1: The sticklebacks have less
armor so that they can escape predators.
Claim 2: The sticklebacks have less armor
so that they can catch prey.
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
Take your seats in the
semicircles.
- Group 1: Observations
- Group 2: Discussions
Bring your folders:
- Argument Organizer
sheets,
- Stickleback Evidence Cards,
- Science Seminar
Observations sheets, and
- a pencil or penRemember to take notes on
Observation Sheets
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
What this evidence card can tell them about the stickleback prey in their current and
previous environments.
What caused the stickleback population to have less armor and become faster?
Claim 1: The sticklebacks have less
armor so that they can escape predators.
Claim 2: The sticklebacks have less armor
so that they can catch prey.
4.2.3 SCIENCE SEMINAR
What caused the stickleback population to have less armor and become faster?
Claim 1: The sticklebacks have less
armor so that they can escape predators.
Claim 2: The sticklebacks have less armor
so that they can catch prey.
Concluding the Science Seminar
Congratulations on your work today. Participating in the Science Seminar will help you build a
more complete explanation to send to Dr. Alex Young.
Like scientists, we did not all agree on the claims presented in the Science Seminar. However,
listening to one another’s ideas about the evidence that supports the claims helped us deepen
our understanding. Disagreements help us explain our thinking and consider new ideas. This
kind of discussion helps us to construct better explanations for scientific questions.
4.2.4 HOMEWORK
Reflecting on the Science Seminar: You will reflect on how the
Science Seminar affected your thinking about the claims.
Now that the Science Seminar is over, think back on the claim you selected. After
participating in the discussion, you may have changed your mind about which claim is
best. Describe your current thinking by answering the questions below.
What caused the stickleback population to have less armor and become faster?