Designing a Lesson

Implementing Inquiry

The 5-E Science Learning Cycle:

Engagement:

For learning to occur, an initial set must be provided through questioning, demonstration, discrepant events, or models.

Exploration:

Learners manipulate materials, make observations, ask questions. This is the engagement stage, used to challenge or encourage the student.

Explanation:

This stage is the guiding stage where teachers assist students in constructing their knowledge to provide a scientific conceptual understanding. Guidance is given toward an “Aha!” rather than telling them what to think, by using prior knowledge and assisting them to construct their own understanding based on patterns and relationships. As much as possible, explanations should be in student’s own words with teacher assistance/ clarification.

Expansion:

This stage seeks to deepen understanding to overcome superficial knowledge that can be mistaken for true understanding. Questions for further exploration and explanation tend to expand understanding and sharpen the skills of scientific thought in relevant, authentic situations.

Evaluation:

Guiding questions throughout the learning cycle inform the teacher of the level of understanding and the direction of further exploration, explanation, and expansion. Good evaluation informs instruction as well as defining the level of understanding of the learner. Informal and formal assessment is tightly linked to stated outcomes at each phase.