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How do you conduct a science seminar?

Advanced – Science Seminar Session 3

Session Goals

Teachers will learn 9 strategies for implementing science seminars in their classroom, including:

  1. Allow for awkward silence.
  2. Let students lead the discussion.
  3. Chime in at the right moment.
  4. Make a safe space.
  5. Communicate norms.
  6. Set up chairs in concentric “u-shapes.”
  7. Include mixed ability levels in circles.
  8. Encourage students to project supports.
  9. Establish a hot seat.
Two students are in a classroom

Session Slides

Advanced Science Seminar Session 3 PDF

Agenda

* Extension Discussion

  1. Video: Stepping Back During Science Seminars
  2. Presentation: Roles and Expectations for the Science Seminar
  3. Activity: Science Seminar
  4. Discussion: Reflect on the Science Seminar
  5. Takeaways

* Extension: Try it with your students

Materials

* Teachers will need the 3 Atacama Desert Data Sheets and “Preparing for the Science Seminar” sheet completed in the last session

  1. Detailed agenda for facilitator

*Extension discussion – Try it with your students!

Share your experience:

  • Share your experience using the strategies covered in the last session.

Discussion questions:

  1. What went well?
  2. What was challenging for students? For you?

1. Video: Stepping back during science seminars

Watch the video below, which describes the role of the teacher during the science seminar.

Discussion Questions:

  • What role did the teacher play in the science seminar?
  • What strategies do you notice the teacher using to facilitate the science seminar?
  • What concerns do you have about running a science seminar in your classroom?
  • What do you think students will do well? What challenges do you anticipate students having?

2. Presentation: Roles and expectations for the science seminar

  • Give a brief presentation on the teacher and student roles during the science seminar.
  • Project the seating arrangement and describe that students will be seated in two concentric rows.
  • Review interactional norms and sentence starters.
  • Emphasize the teacher role is to step back and take notes while students lead the discussion. 
  • Explain that during the next activity, teachers will have the opportunity to be the students in the science seminar held during this seminar.
Chart - Science Seminar Roles

3. Activity: Science seminar

Students are sitting in a half circle in a classroom

The task:

  • Participate in the science seminar. There are two options depending on the size of the group:
  1. Have one large discussion if there are 10 or fewer participants.
  2. Have two shorter discussions with approximately half the group. Set up the chairs in a fishbowl pattern.

Claims:

  • Prevailing winds on the Pacific coast cause extremely low precipitation in the Atacama Desert.
  • The location of mountain ranges causes extremely low precipitation in the Atacama Desert.
  • Surface temperatures of the ocean cause extremely low precipitation in the Atacama Desert.

4. Discussion: Reflect on the science seminar

Discussion Questions:

  • As a “student,” what worked well for you? What was challenging?
  • What types of instructional strategies can you see your students needing to interact in a science seminar?
  • How could engaging in a science seminar help students develop a better understanding of the science content?

5. Session takeaways

Reiterate key points from this session:

  1. Allow for awkward silence.
  2. Let students lead the discussion.
  3. Chime in at the right moment.
  4. Make a safe space.
  5. Communicate norms.
  6. Set up chairs in concentric “u-shapes.”
  7. Include mixed ability levels in circles.
  8. Encourage students to project supports.
  9. Establish a hot seat.
Students during a classroom discussion

* Extension – Try it with your students!

The task:

  • Engage your students in a science seminar.
  • For the next session, be prepared to discuss your experience.

View Other Sessions

Advanced Science Seminar Agenda

Session NameDescriptionLength
Session #1: What is a science seminar?This session introduces the science seminar, then explores how the science seminar encourages students to grapple with the four challenging elements of argumentation.
45 minutes
Session #2: How do you prepare students for a science seminar?This session explores how to prepare students for the science seminar and how to support student participation during the science seminar.45 minutes
Session #3: How do you conduct a science seminar?This session introduces teacher and student roles during the seminar, and gives participants the opportunity to engage in a science seminar.45 minutes
Session #4: How do you support students writing a scientific argument after a science seminar?This session explores how the science seminar can be leveraged to support student writing of science arguments.45 minutes