This strategy helps students construct meaning and demonstrate their understanding of science concepts, processes, or applications. Teacher observes students and records data. Students use journals to record observations and ideas. Evaluation of journal entries can reveal the complexity of student thinking and understanding. Analysis of the plan created will indicate the logical reasoning, critical and creative thinking, and planning ability of the student.
Students independently create concepts maps.
Concept maps can either be constructed individually or with another person. The student looks for concepts that go together in some way and draw a line that connects the two concepts. A linking word which clearly explains the relationship between the two concepts is then written on the connecting line. The finished concept map will indicate how well students understand the concepts in the unit. The model differentiated lessons are tiered for use with regular and highly able science students within a heterogeneous classroom.