Conference Presentation: Making Invisible Science Concepts…Visible: “Hands-on” Investigations Are Not Enough

Elementary school students cannot see electrons flowing through a closed electric circuit or the forces acting on a floating boat. When elementary school students participate in “hands-on” investigations regarding these two phenomena, it is very hard for a teacher to know what concepts students have assimilated.

This presentation described how teacher candidates planned, taught, and analyzed three science lessons intended to improve elementary students’ conceptual knowledge of electricity and forces.

Presenters:  Kelly Beller, Natalie Galvin, Jenna Murphy, and Dr. Chris Shively

4th Grade Student and Natalie Construct a Physical Circuit
[link to presentation]

Important Website

[PhET Circuit Construction Kit]