GED Science - Yola



GED Science

The GED Science Class uses Steck-Vaughn’s GED Science as its primary text. There is a lot of material to cover, so you may choose to assign some of the readings as homework so that classes can focus more on skills and how to answer the questions rather than silent reading time.

An important classroom ritual to develop is asking students to design three reading comprehension questions after each reading (whether before or during class). These questions should aim to mimic the questions from the workbook, which reflect test questions. When students develop such questions, they become more adept at answering them.

Week One: Introduction to the GED Science Test

This lesson will acquaint learners with the GED Science Test and what they will need to pass it. Learners should be given an opportunity to discuss experiences they’ve had taking tests, both successful and frustrating. The lesson will also introduce important test-taking and study skills before issuing the first official GED practice test. Be sure to explain that the test is a way for them to see where they’re at, and to know the types of questions that are going to be asked of them. At the end of the quarter, students will have the opportunity to take the test a second time to see how they’ve improved.

Objectives:

-develop personal test-taking strategies

-develop personal study strategies

-demonstrate understanding of the GED test expectations through discussion

-demonstrate understanding of classroom expectations through discussion

-practice taking tests in a comfortable environment

-share test-taking stories and strategies in group discussion

|Content |SV 5-8, Classroom Expectations and Syllabus |

| |GED Practice Test |

|Test-Taking |Discuss reactions to test |

Notes:

Week Two: Introduction to Life Science - Cells

Objectives: Increase familiarity with cellular structures

Demonstrate knowledge of photosynthesis

Identify main ideas

Restate information

Practice answering GED-style questions

Identify part of diagrams

Read diagrams

Design reading comprehension questions

|Content |SV 34-39, 42-47, Current science articles from internet or magazines |

|Reading Comprehension |Identify the main idea in workbook passages, Discuss and identify main ideas in current science |

| |articles, Discuss personally-designed reading questions in small groups |

|Critical Thinking |Restate information in workbook activity, Summarize and restate information from current event articles|

| |in group activity and discussion |

|Graphic Literacy/ Critical |Identify parts of diagram from workbook and/or articles in group activities |

|Thinking | |

|Test-Taking |Answer and discuss questions from workbook |

|Vocabulary |Organism, Nucleus, Tissue, Parts of a Cell, Cellular Respiration, Molecule |

Notes:

Week Three: Life Science - The Human Body

This week students will explore faulty logic and make personal connections to science. Have students take the test in the computer lab and print the results. Ask “right” and “left” brained people to sit in two different groups to discuss if the results are rational or if there is faulty logic.

Objectives: Discuss functions of the human body

Discuss human body systems

Discuss the human brain

Recognize unstated assumptions

Identify faulty logic

Read maps

|Content |SV 58-63, 66-71, “One Brain or Two?”, Right/Left Brain Test with students printed results |

| | |

| | |

|Reading Comprehension |Discuss content of workbook, Discuss “One Brain or Two” in group discussion and activity, Discuss |

| |self-designed reading comprehension questions |

|Critical Thinking |Discuss assumptions in life situations, Discuss types of faulty logic in small group activities by |

| |coming up with life examples of each, Discuss whether or not people are “Right or Left Brained” by |

| |identifying faulty logic |

|Graphic Literacy/ Critical |Analyze map in workbook page 63 |

|Thinking | |

|Test-Taking |Discuss answers to workbook questions |

|Vocabulary |Body systems, body parts, portions of brain |

Notes:

Week Four: Life Science - Genetics and Evolution

Objectives: Demonstrate knowledge of genetics in class discussion

Demonstrate knowledge of evolution in class discussion

Determine fact from opinion

Summarize information

Read tables

|Content |SV 50-55, 74-79, Recent articles on genetics from internet |

|Reading Comprehension |Discuss reading comprehension questions in small groups, Practice summarizing information in workbook, |

| |Summarize and present information in internet articles in small group activities |

|Critical Thinking |Generate a student list of facts and opinions on the board and discuss the differences between the two,|

| |Students write list of several facts about themselves and several opinions they hold and share with |

| |partners who call out “Fact” or “Opinion” |

|Graphic Literacy |Discuss the elements and content of the table on 76 |

|Vocabulary |Genetics, Dominant and Recessive Traits, Hereditary, Natural Selection |

Notes:

Week Five: Life Science - Exploring Ecosystems

Objectives: Demonstrate understanding of ecosystems

Demonstrate understanding of life cycles

Discuss how organisms are interconnected

Identify supporting details

Identify conclusions

Applying ideas to new contexts

Read flow charts

Read and design trophic pyramids

|Content |SV 82-87, 90-95 |

|Reading Comprehension |Identify supporting details in workbook, Students write down details about themselves and let partners |

| |draw a conclusion (“I like music, I paint, I visit art museums” Partner conclusion: “You like the |

| |arts), Discuss student-designed comprehension questions |

|Critical Thinking |Discuss applying ideas to new contexts in workbook and in life (“What if we ate all of the rabbits in |

| |the state?” Predators would run out of food), Students work in groups to draw trophic pyramids for a |

| |region they choose (see 86) on large newsprint to share with the class |

|Graphic Literacy |Discuss reading the flow chart diagrams in the workbook (84, 91, 92), Discuss and design trophic |

| |pyramids |

|Vocabulary |Nitrogen fixation, Nitrification, Dentrification, Carnivores, Omnivores, Herbivores, Decomposers, |

| |Ecosystems, Dependency, Interconnectedness |

Notes:

Week Six: Life Science Labs

Students will explore Life Science information through other media in this lesson. It is best to divide the class into small groups that can move from one station to another. You can design experiments and activities that relate to Life Science or use some of the following suggestions:

Watch a movie for the first hour about microorganisms or insect ecosystems: The Unknown World (available from Rondo Library), Microcosmos (reserve from St. Paul libraries)

After the movie: A station where students use the microscope (located at Rondo)

Have student groups act as explorers who have discovered a new ecosystem; create trophic pyramids, energy flow charts, drawings, and descriptions of the new creatures they’ve discovered and how they are interconnected

Design questions about a topic related to life science and have students research it online, or have students search for a current topic in Life Science to share with their groups/class

Week Seven: Introduction to Earth and Space Science – The Earth’s Structure

Objectives: Demonstrate understanding of the Earth’s structure

Demonstrate understanding of plate tectonics

Demonstrate understanding of seismic activity

Identify implications

Recognize cause and effect relationships

|Content |SV 110-115, 118-123 |

|Reading Comprehension |Discussion of content and student-designed comprehension questions |

|Critical Thinking |Use life statements and ask students to state implications (“I spent all my money at the casino.” |

| |Implication: I won’t be able to pay my bills this month), Generate a list of student-generated cause |

| |and effect statements on the board, Have students write a list of causes on a sheet of paper and share |

| |them with a partner who supplies an effect |

|Graphic Literacy |Discuss reading the flow chart diagrams in the workbook (84, 91, 92), Discuss and design trophic |

| |pyramids |

|Vocabulary |Layers of the earth, Tectonic plates, Convection, Magma, Seismic waves |

Notes:

Week Eight: Earth and Space Science – Climate and Resources

Objectives: Demonstrate an understanding of weather and climate

Demonstrate knowledge of the Earth’s resources

Demonstrate understanding of Human Impact

Discern the adequacy of facts

Use evidence to support a conclusion

Determine the values of a writer

|Content |SV 126-131, 134-139, a few conspiracy theories from the internet that may appeal to student interests |

|Reading Comprehension |Discussion of student-generated comprehension questions, Determine the values of a writer using the |

| |workbook and conspiracy theories |

|Critical Thinking |Determine the adequacy of facts in workbook and with conspiracy theories in workbook activities |

|Vocabulary |Weather vs. Climate, Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources |

Notes:

Week Nine: Earth and Space Science – Discover Space

This week students will give presentations on the planets of the solar system. Divide the students into groups and each group read about one (or more, depending on the size of the class) of the planets. Supply large newsprint and markers and give students time to create a presentation. It should include basic details of the planet, like temperature and size, a few facts the group found interesting, and they should draw one chart or graph to display information.

Objectives: Demonstrate understanding of the solar system

Identify various bodies in space

Demonstrate understanding of revolutions and orbits

Identify implications in a text

Present information on a topic

|Content |SV 142-147, printed information on each of the planets as handouts |

| | |

|Reading Comprehension |Discuss student-generated reading comprehension questions, determining information relevant to the |

| |class |

|Critical Thinking |Discuss making inferences (Suggestion) Walk into class clearly displaying the traits of an emotion, but|

| |do not tell students what it is. Once they are wondering what you’re up to, stop abruptly and ask, |

| |“What can you say about me by the way I was behaving? How did I feel?” After students give answers, |

| |explain that they’ve just made an inference. Afterwards, have student pairs do a similar activity with|

| |one another, either through miming or with words |

|Vocabulary |Draw a graph or chart on presentation papers |

Notes:

Week Ten: Introduction to Physical Science – Matter and Atoms

Objectives: Demonstrate understanding of matter

Demonstrate understanding of atoms and molecules

Compare and Contrast information

Apply ideas to new contexts

Read a Venn diagram

Read a Bar graph

Read the Periodic Table

|Content |SV 158-163, 166-171, RGO 20 (blank Venn diagram) |

|Reading Comprehension |Discuss reading student-generated comprehension questions, Compare and contrast personal information |

| |with partners on a Venn diagram (We both have kids, but I have three and she has one; We both like |

| |spaghetti; She prefers ham, but I prefer turkey for Christmas, etc…) |

|Critical Thinking |Name categories of things with different but recognizable traits to apply ideas to new contexts |

|Graphic Literacy |Discuss and practice reading the Periodic table of elements, Discuss the bar graph on page 162, Discuss|

| |and create Venn Diagrams |

Notes:

Week Eleven: Physical Science – Motion and Energy

Objectives: Demonstrate an understanding of the Laws of Motion

Solve problems relating to force and acceleration

Demonstrate an understanding of energy

Recognize unstated assumptions

Assess the adequacy of visual information

|Content |SV 182-187, 190-195, teacher-created assumption exercises based on student interests |

|Reading Comprehension |Discuss student-generated reading comprehension questions |

|Critical Thinking |Discuss unstated assumptions in workbook exercise, Give simple scenarios to make assumptions accessible|

| |to life experience (“The President lives moved into the White House.” Assumptions: The author assumes|

| |you know it is the US President, who the President is, and what or where the White House is) |

|Graphic Literacy |Practice assessing the adequacy of visual data in the workbook |

Notes:

Week Twelve: Post-Testing and Evaluation

Allow students to compare their scores from the beginning and end of the class, and pass out evaluation forms afterwards.

Syllabus and Classroom Expectations

Welcome to the GED Science class! There is a lot of information to know about science for the GED Test, and your teacher may ask you to complete homework. If so, please have it completed before class.

After you read for each class, please write three questions about the material to ask the class. You can know the answers to the questions, or you can learn from them. Try to make your questions like the ones in the workbook. When you practice writing questions, you’ll improve at answering them.

Week One: Introduction to the GED Science Class

Learn what to expect on the test and take a practice test to see where you’re at.

Week Two: Introduction to Life Science

Learn about cells, the basic unit of life.

Week Three: Life Science – The Human Body

Learn about the systems that keep your body working.

Week Four: Life Science – Genetics and Evolution

Learn about genes and how organisms adapt over time.

Week Five: Life Science – Exploring Ecosystems

Learn about how organisms large and small are all connected.

Week Six: Life Science – Learning Labs

Discover more about Life Science outside of the workbook.

Week Seven: Introduction to Earth and Space Science

Learn about the Earth’s structure

Week Eight: Earth and Space Science – Climate and Resources

Learn about climate, weather, and the resources that we use.

Week Nine: Earth and Space Science – Discover Space

Learn about outer space and the solar system.

Week Ten: Introduction to Physical Science

Learn about matter and atoms.

Week Eleven: Physical Science – Motion and Energy

Learn about the Laws of Motion and energy.

Week Twelve: Practice Test and Evaluation

Minnesota Literacy Council

GED Science Curriculum

January 7th- March 20th 2008

Abbreviations for Materials

SV- Steck-Vaughn’s GED Science

RGO- Reading Graphic Organizers

|Questions about the Curriculum? Please Contact |

|Tina Hyland – thyland@ |

|MLC Learning Center Rondo: 651-266-7421 |

|MLC Learning Center North Side: 612-377-7421 |

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