Session 1: What is EnergyEvery interaction involves energy. The word itself is everywhere in our day-to-day lives — energy conservation, clean energy, and simply not having enough energy to wash the dishes after a long day.

But what exactly is energy? This session seeks to answer that question and explores the various kinds of energy that keep our world going.

Session 2: Potential EnergyAll objects — big and small, hot and cold, moving and stationary — have potential energy. But the principle of having energy can lead to logical but incorrect assumptions of what this means.

This session identifies the various types of potential energy and helps to clarify what it really means to have potential energy.

Session 3: Heat EnergyWe instinctively all know something about heat just from our daily life. And we all know that global warming is a hot topic. But an understanding of the energy of heat is not exactly commonplace.

This session explores the various ways in which heat energy is misunderstood and the ways in which scientists define and talk about heat energy, how it’s transferred, and how it affects our world.

Session 4: Conservation of EnergyThe law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed — it is always conserved. But how? And why do our experiences often lead us to believe otherwise? It sure seems like energy is lost when our morning coffee cools before we can drink it, children tire after a hard day at play, and our cell phone batteries die at the most inconvenient moments.

This session provides a systematic explanation for how and why conservation of energy is possible.

Session 5: Energy in EcosystemsAll organisms, no matter where they are on the food chain, require a source of chemical potential energy to survive — food! Sounds simple, right? But do all organisms acquire food in the same way? And how do they harness the energy in that food?

This session explores the complex interactions between food and organisms.

Making Sense of SCIENCE

ENERGYfor teachers of GRADES 6–8

COURSE OVERVIEW

teacher Book

Making Sense of Science™

ISBN 978-0-914409-80-9

9

780914 409809

90000

EDUCATION

GRADeS 6–8

for teachers of grADEs 6–8

teach

er B

oo

k

teacher Book

Daehler Folsom

shinohara

Cover printed on 30% recycled paper

Text printed on sFI certified paper

Product # Mss-11-04

Published in partnership with NsTA

Kirsten r. Daehler, Director of Understanding Science for teaching, is a chemist for sport, a lover of physics, and always a teacher at heart. her driving passion is to share rewarding and respectful science learning with teachers.

Jennifer Folsom, curriculum Writer and Staff Developer with Understanding Science for teaching, has an ever-inquiring mind and a knack for figuring things out. her passion for writing about science and teaching is rivaled only by her love of backpacking.

Mayumi shinohara, former co-Director of Understanding Science for teaching, is the rare physicist who is fluent in kid speak, research talk, and teacher professional development. She is currently studying children’s mathematical and scientific reasoning at Vanderbilt University.

ABOUT THE AUTHOrs

Makin

g Sense of Scien

ce™

GRADeS

6–8

Kirsten r. Daehler

Jennifer Folsom

Mayumi shinohara

WestEd.org

Published in partnership with

LaY-FLat BinDinG

This Making Sense of Science course for teacher learning builds on more than a decade of research and development led by the Understanding Science for Teaching™ project at Wested. The materials are research-based, nationally field-tested, and support the use of existing standards-based curricula. The course is designed to help teachers:

• Learncoreconceptsrelatedtoforceandmotion,includingparticularly vexing and hard-to-teach ideas

• Examineandcometounderstandhowchildrenmakesense of concepts related to force and motion

• Analyzetheartofteachingscienceandimprovetheir teaching practices

• Supportevidence-baseddiscussionsamongstudentsandstrengthenstudents’literacyskillsinscience

RigorousrandomizedcontrolledstudiesshowMaking Sense of Science improves the science achievement of K–8 students, especially the achievement of diverse students, including english learnersandstudentswithpoorliteracyskills.

More information about Making sense of sCIENCE courses and facilitation academies is available online.

WestEd.org/mss

ENERGYfor tea

chers of G

ra

DeS 6–8

ENERGYENERGY

for teachers of grADEs 6–8

Making Sense of Science™

PLACEHOLDEr

“ these materials provide an intellectually rewarding

professional learning experience that is standards-

aligned and research-based. By weaving together

important threads of science content, student thinking,

reading strategies, and instruction, the Making Sense

of Science materials demonstrate measurable benefits

to teacher knowledge and classroom practice through

rigorous, quality professional development.”

– Page Keeley, former President of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and author of the Uncovering Student ideas in Science series

“ What more could you ask for in a professional

development experience? i learned new ways to get

kids talking about science, ways to analyze student

work, and ways to improve my lessons. i also came face

to face with some of my own science misconceptions.

My teaching practice is changed forever.”

– Vicki Baker, National Board Certified teacher

“ this course does a fantastic job exploring the nature

of energy and the challenges of teaching about this

difficult and essential science concept. its use of systems

as a tool for understanding energy is commendable.”

– Barry Kluger-Bell, physicist, science educator, and former Assistant Director of the Exploratorium Institute for Inquiry

Making Sense of Science™

GRADeS

6–8

for teachers of grades 6–8ENERGYfor tea

chers of G

RA

DES 6–8

daehler Folsom

shinohara

Cover printed on 30% recycled paper

Text printed on sFI certified paper

Product # Mss-11-001

Published in partnership with NsTa

FAcilitAtoR GuiDE

FAcilitAto

R G

uiD

E

FAcilitAtoR GuiDE

edUCaTION

ISBN 978-0-914409-85-4

9

780914 409854

90000

Makin

g Sense of SciEn

cE™

GRADeS 6–8

Kirsten r. daehler

Jennifer Folsom

Mayumi shinohara

Wested.org

Published in partnership with

lAY-FlAt BinDinG

This Making Sense of SciEncE course for teacher learning builds on more than a decade of research and development led by the Understanding Science for Teaching™ project at Wested. The materials are research-based, nationally field-tested, and supportive of existing standards-based curricula. The course is designed to help teachers:

• Learncoreconceptsrelatedtoenergy,includingparticularlyvexing and hard-to-teach ideas

• Examineandcometounderstandhowchildrenmakesense of concepts related to energy

• Analyzetheartofteachingscienceandimprovetheir teaching practices

• Supportevidence-baseddiscussionsamongstudentsandstrengthenstudents’literacyskillsinscience

RigorousrandomizedcontrolledstudiesshowMaking Sense of SciEncE improves the science achievement of K–8 students, especially the achievement of diverse students, including english learnersandstudentswithpoorliteracyskills.

More information about Making sense of sCIeNCe courses and facilitation academies is available online.

Wested.org/mss

ENERGYENERGY

“ At last we have an outstanding professional development resource that makes a measurable difference in science teaching and student achievement. By engaging in collaborative sense making and using well-developed teaching dilemmas, teachers can better understand their own students’ ideas and take deliberate actions to address them through their own improved understanding of the science and knowledge of how to teach that science.”

– Page Keeley, former President of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and author of the uncovering Student ideas in Science series

“ this was the most powerful professional development i’ve experienced in my 28 years. the teaching cases helped me address students’ misconceptions and an added bonus is learning ways to strengthen students’ skills in expository reading and writing. Every teacher should have this opportunity.”

– Nancy rankin, classroom teacher

“ Making Sense of SciEncE is phenomenal! We’ve learned so much about science, literacy, and facilitating adult learning. As a result, our science teachers have grown tremendously. these courses have been instrumental in improving student achievement in our district.”

– Kathy Huncosky & Lesli Taschwer, science instructional resource teachers

for teachers of grades 6–8

Making Sense of Science™

Kirsten r. daehler, Director of understanding Science for teaching, is a chemist for sport, a lover of physics, and always a teacher at heart. Her driving passion is to share rewarding and respectful science learning with teachers.

Jennifer Folsom, curriculum Writer and Staff Developer with understanding Science for teaching, has an ever-inquiring mind and a knack for figuring things out. Her passion for writing about science and teaching is rivaled only by her love of backpacking.

Mayumi shinohara, former co-Director of understanding Science for teaching, is the rare physicist who is fluent in kid speak, research talk, and teacher professional development. She is currently studying children’s mathematical and scientific reasoning at Vanderbilt university.

aBOUT THe aUTHOrs

MASTERS & RESOURCESTEACHER VERSION

WestEd.org

ENERGYfor teachers of GRADES 6–8

Making Sense of SCIENCE™

ISBN: 978-0-914409-83-0©2011 WestEd

What you’ll fi nd on this CD:

• Looking at Student Work™ Guide masters

• Information sheets• End User License

Agreement

MASTERS & RESOURCESFACILITATOR VERSION

ENERGYfor teachers of GRADES 6–8

Making Sense of SCIENCE™

WestEd.org

ISBN: 978-0-914409-84-7©2011 WestEd

What you’ll fi nd on this CD:

• Teacher Book masters• Handout masters• Chart masters• Information sheets• End User License

Agreement

Visit our website for information about Making Sense of SCIENCE

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