BSCS Science Tracks: Connecting Science And Literacy: Designing Environmental Solutions Student Guide

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY-In this module, students examine possible solutions to environmental problems, such as water pollution from oil spills, solid waste, and destruction of wildlife habitat. Students evaluate proposed solutions to such problems by using the IDEA Method--identifying the problem, describing possible solutions, evaluating the risks and benefits of each possible solution, and arriving at a solution. In this process, students become acquainted with the constraints and trade-offs involved in proposing solutions to environmental problems. They apply the processes of technological problem-solving as they investigate a local environmental problem and propose possible solutions.

BSCS Science TRACKS includes a comprehensive Student Guide and resource book at every level, 1-5. The Student Guide is not a "read-about-science" book; rather, it serves as a guide to help students learn to do the following things.

• Conduct scientific inquiries within a collaborative team and on their own
• Become more responsible for their own learning
• Manage the hands-on activities themselves
• Structure collaborative learning tasks
• Develop science and technology concepts and skills
• Reflect on their learning and assess their own conceptual and skill development
• Conduct independent inquiries related to questions or topics of personal interest
• Develop skills for reading in the content areas
• Follow and interpret directions

In addition, the Student Guides reinforce components of basic literacy, including shared reading and writing, guided reading and writing, continuous assessment, skills instruction, reading procedural text, listening and speaking skills, journal writing, record keeping, hints and reminders, reading and writing in a social context, and reading and writing in a content area.