Deck 9: The Elementary Science Classroom

Question 1

Which of the following activities would be most effective in helping science students begin to participate fully in a constructivist environment?

A) Perform a demonstration to show the effect of adding salt and ice to water on the temperature of the water.
B) Have the students pursue a WebQuest on the causes and nature of thunderstorms.
C) Show an Internet video clip on the effect of adding yeast to sugar water and ask the students to summarize the main points in their science journals.
D) Take the class outdoors for a walk around the school and ask them to record their observations and the questions suggested by these observations in their science journals.
E) Any of the above
F) None of the above

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following would best be accommodated in an outdoor setting?

A) Investigating the growth patterns of the underbrush in a thicket of trees
B) Examining brachiopod fossils
C) Studying the life cycles of frogs and toads
D) Investigating the chemical reaction between copper and oxygen
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of cooperative teaching?

A) Teachers form teams in which different teachers teach the same lesson to several classes depending on their expertise.
B) Teachers close their classroom doors and teach science the way they want to.
C) Teachers leave science teaching to other teachers better prepared in science.
D) Teachers assign reading and written exercises to their students in preparation for performing demonstrations in their individual classrooms.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

When a constructivist science teacher begins a class of students whose prior experience in learning science has consisted of the textbook, teacher demonstrations, some directed hands-on activities, and teacher explanations, how can the teacher encourage these students to participate fully in a constructivist environment?

A) Start by exposing the students to a few constructivist activities.
B) Continue lecturing but include class discussions.
C) Present demonstrations in a way that all students can see.
D) Use the Internet.
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 5

W One way for constructivist elementary science teachers to achieve effective time management while also ensuring that the science program is rich and challenging is to

A) Leave the lesson planning to a parent volunteer.
B) Reduce the number of inquiry activities.
C) Talk more.
D) Use cooperative teaching techniques where each member of the grade level team assumes responsibility for teaching one lesson to all students in the grade level team.
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 6

Why is it desirable for constructivist science teachers to develop trust with their students?

A) So the students will know what the classroom rules are
B) So the students will know what they can get away with
C) So the students will be comfortable forming their own valid conclusions
D) So the student will know the conclusions the teacher wants them to form
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 7

What hazardous materials might elementary teachers be using with the students?

A) Vinegar
B) Baking soda
C) Salt
D) Sugar
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 8

What are the essential elements of an outdoor learning area?

A) It must be a fenced-in area designated as an outdoor classroom.
B) It must have a place for students to gather with places for students to work on their activities.
C) It must contain a garden with flowering plants to attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
D) It must be enclosed and covered to protect students and the teacher against inclement weather.
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 9

W Why would a kindergarten teacher want to establish an outdoor garden?

A) So the children will have a place to play
B) So the children can witness the growth of seeds into plants
C) Because it looks pretty
D) So the children will have a place to take out their frustrations

Question 10

What is a science center?

A) A place in the classroom where students and the teacher can display science-related items not covered in the regular curriculum
B) A place in the classroom where students can continue the inquiries they began in their science class
C) A classroom museum of science-related things the students bring in
D) A place in the classroom where science-related materials are made available for students to experiment with
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 11

Which of the following attitudes do constructivist teachers have toward their students?

A) The students are capable.
B) Student thinking is important even if it is different from the teacher's thinking.
C) Students will construct their ideas in ways that are unfamiliar to the teacher.
D) Students are interested in learning.
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 12

a safety precaution, science teachers should include which of the following safety items in the introduction to every hands-on science activity?

A) Tell the students where the materials and equipment are so they can get the materials needed for the activity themselves.
B) Tell the students the specific safety precautions to take.
C) Tell the students that they can wear goggles or not, depending on their preferences.
D) Nothing - safety will take care of itself.

Question 13

In a well-run constructivist science classroom, what does the teacher do before students pursue hands-on investigations?

A) The teacher introduces the investigation and describes ways the principle to be investigated can be applied in real life.
B) The teacher provides directions for students to follow in getting started.
C) The teacher has the materials ready to distribute when it is time for students to begin their inquiries.
D) The teacher demonstrates one way of getting started on the inquiry.
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 14

Which of the following activities involving goldfish would be acceptable under federal guidelines?

A) Watch their behavior when they are fed.
B) Swirl the fish bowl to set up a whirlpool and see how the goldfish react.
C) Add ice to the water in the fish bowl to see how the fish react.
D) Poke the fish gently with a stick to see whether repeated poking results in a change in their reflexes.
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 15

guidelines do the professional science education organizations provide about keeping animals and plants in the classroom?

A) They encourage science teachers to keep animals and plants in the classroom providing the pets and plants receive proper care and the pets are handled humanely.
B) They discourage teachers from keeping animals and plants in the classroom because there are long periods of time when school is not in session.
C) They suggest limiting classroom pets and plants to one animal and one plant because that is about all that can be cared for properly.
D) They encourage keeping as many animals and plants as will fit in the classroom.

Question 16

According to the text, cooperative learning groups in a constructivist science class have which of the following characteristics?

A) All students in the group participate in the activities.
B) All students in the group interact with the teacher.
C) All students in the group contribute to the final conclusions.
D) All students in the group question other students about the validity of their thinking.
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 17

In a quality elementary science program, the teacher encourages family members to

A) Try out various things at home.
B) Come to school to help in the science lessons.
C) Donate expendable materials.
D) Participate in special science events such as a classroom science fair and "Science Evening."
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 18

W How can an administrator tell that learning is going on in a constructivist science classroom?

A) Students are quietly reading and writing in their science journals.
B) There is a din of noise as students discuss the inquiry activities with each other.
C) One or two students spontaneously stand up during an activity and announce their findings in an inquiry activity loudly to the class.
D) All students are seated at tables and are quietly performing the required activity.
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 19

W What is a successful way of getting family members involved in the science education of their children?

A) Hold a family night where you explain the science program.
B) Hold a family night where students present interesting activities for the parents to try.
C) Send newsletters home describing the science unit about to be started and suggesting ways parents can get involved.
D) Ask for family volunteers to help set up equipment and materials for activities.
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 20

W According to the text, what is a disadvantage of traditional cooperative learning groups?

A) All students in the group are required to do all aspects of the assigned activity.
B) Only one student of the group is assigned to do the required activity; the other students watch and provide input.
C) All students are required to verbalize their thinking, so the final conclusions represent the thinking of all members of the group.
D) All students are required to interact with the teacher so the thoughts of each individual can be challenged by the teacher.
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 21

W What would be the best reason for a constructivist science teacher to take a class of students on a field trip?

A) For students to get away from school
B) For students to hang out with their friends
C) For students to have a day without homework
D) For students to have new experiences that deal with the topic being studied

Question 22

W Field trips do not require much in the way of planning because the students are going to do what they want to do anyway when they get to the destination.

Question 23

Why would a constructivist science teacher take a class of students to a museum?

A) To give the students a chance to explore new experiences
B) To give the students additional experience in the topic being studied
C) To give the students the opportunity to ask questions of people who are knowledgeable about the exhibits in the museum
D) To give the students the opportunity to explore topics they might not otherwise be able to explore
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 24

It is not possible for a teacher to run a field trip in a constructivist manner.