The Scientific Thinking Method: A Guided Process

In order for students to develop the necessary skills to gain a fundamental understanding of physics in elementary grades, science classes must be enriched with multiple opportunities for students to experience physics in the real world. This includes firsthand experience in class demonstrations to help develop conceptual understanding of how the world works. In an elementary setting, students can gain these abilities when they are guided on how to think like a scientist, reason like a mathematician, and design like an engineer. Students can utilize this guided approach to help them think creatively when faced with novel situations. This guided thinking method becomes an instrument that students can draw upon in early grades that can assist them in the problem solving process in an individualized way.

The Scientific Thinking Method begins with key focused concepts like Evaluate, Explain, Predict, and Summarize as multiple entry points that students can choose to begin to problem solve with and multiple channels that work their way to the next key concept. This guided roadmap works dynamically in order to connect student thinking to related approaches that they can learn to use across multiple content areas. As students begin the process of learning how to think about a topic and reason in different ways, they begin to also build a foundational understanding of physics, and of the building blocks of nature, in a challenging and logical way. This manner of thinking allows students to approach every situation with an open mind, but also teaches resilience when faced with difficulties along the way.

In a classroom that seeks to create an environment conducive to the natural acquisition of critical thinking skills, guided roadmaps are an essential component of this effort. This presentation seeks to highlight the different ways that instruction can help to facilitate this manner of thinking utilizing interactive activities, demonstrations, authentic assessments and multifaceted project based units. Ultimately, the end goal becomes, in part, the preparation of students to enter the next grade level as resilient, innovative and confident problem solvers.