IB+in+Science+Lab

=== I'm so thankful to work for a school recognized as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. There are 12 Houston ISD elementary IB schools and 6 of those have Science Labs like mine. What an honor it is to be in the select few!! Here are a few ways I have transformed my Science Lab into an IB focused one. === = IB SLIPS = After being inspired by a sermon from Beth Moore in the Spring of 2013, I created IB Slips! With IB, students learn about the Learner Profile and Attitudes. Words such as caring, principled, and respectful (among others) are used by EVERY teacher in EVERY classroom. My idea of IB Slips makes the Learner Profile and Attitudes practical and relevant for the entire school. Any time I notice a student exhibiting these positive behaviors, they earn an IB Slip. Thankfully, my team (PE, Art, Computer, and Mandarin) were all on board so students can earn slips every day. The class with the most IB Slips at the end of each nine weeks gets a PIZZA PARTY! = __//**CENTRAL IDEAS**//__ = The central idea is one sentence grade level teams come up with to help focus each planner. I have a separate central idea just for the Science Lab, which is "Through observation, questioning, and reflecting, science can help explain and improve natural laws and patterns around the world." I also post central ideas from every grade level, whether it's focused on science or not. = __//**WONDERWALL**//__ = Another component of IB is to have a Wonderwall. Here, students write a question on a sticky note and put it on the wall for me, or other students, to answer. = __//**INQUIRY STEMS**//__ = IB is all about inquiry and so is science. I have students in 1-5th grade glue an "Inquiry Stem" template in their science journals to refer to when it's time to reflect at the end of class. = __//**KEY CONCEPTS**//__ = Each planner is designed around Key Concepts. I incorporate key concepts with vocabulary. For example, instead of having students memorize or write down just the definition, they write about the form, connection, or function. While there are more key concepts on the back, I have students choose 3. This allows students to really internalize the vocabulary word and connect it in ways on a much deeper level. Thanks to Maxine Adams, our IB Coordinator, for the awesome idea! = __//**UNIT OF INQUIRY**//__ = My Science Lab Unit of Inquiry will always be a work in progress.