Private Whys? An Integrated Discovery Unit

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Private Whys? An Integrated Discovery Unit
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Private Whys? Cast of Characters

• Writers
• Deanna Blackmon, retired teacher, writing
  specialist
• Sandy Hughes, retired teacher, Gifted and
  Talented
• Ruthanne Rudi Thompson, EdD, teacher
• Graphic Designer Karen Dorph
• Funded by The Copper Development Association
• Produced by the University of North Texas, Elm
  Fork Education Center

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The Why behind Private Whys?

• Kids love to explore and make discoveries.
• Teachers enjoy teaching kids who are interested
  and excited about learning.
• National and state standard require kids to
  master certain content and process skills.
• K-4 teachers are required to teach all content to
  all students in a very short period of time . . .
  Thus, the development of Private Whys?

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The Why behind Private Whys?

• Private Whys? uses guided inquiry which is
  recommended by the national standards.
• Private Whys? USES the content areas when
  necessary to answer leading questions thus
  achieving a level of true content integration.
• Private Whys? uses the context of minerals as a
  unifying thread, weaving through each of the
  content areas.

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The Why behind Private Whys?

• Private Whys? uses the theme of private
  investigation to gain students interest, provide
  challenge, and create a sense of intrigue, which
  sets the stage for using problem solving skills.
• Private Whys? is both based on and aligned with
  national standards, so that it can be utilized
  throughout the United States.

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The Why behind Private Whys?

• Development of National Standards
• "All states and schools will have challenging and
  clear standards of achievement and accountability
  for all children, and effective strategies for
  reaching those standards."
• -- U.S. Dept. of Education
•  

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The Standards

• National Science Standards K-4
• Science as Inquiry
• Physical Science
• Life Science
• Earth Space Science
• Science and Technology
• Science in Personal Social Perspectives
• History and Nature of Science

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The Standards

• National Language Arts Standards K-12
• Reading for Perspective
• Understanding the Human Experience
• Evaluation Strategies
• Communication Skills
• Communication Strategies
• Applying Knowledge
• Evaluating Data

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The Standards

• National Language Arts Standards K-12, cont.
• Developing Research Skills
• Multicultural Understanding
• Applying Non-English Perspectives
• Participating in Society
• Applying Language Skills

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The Standards

• National Math Standards (Numbers) - PK-5
• Understand numbers
• Understand meanings of operations
• Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates

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The Standards

• National Math Standards (Algebra) - PK-5
• Understand patterns, relations, and functions
• Represent and analyze mathematical situations
• Use mathematical models to represent and
  understand quantitative relationships
• Analyze change in various contexts

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The Standards

• National Math Standards (measurement) PK-5
• Understand measurable attributes of objects and
  the units, systems, and processes of measurement
• Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas
  to determine measurements

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The Standards

• National Math Standards (Data Analysis
  Probability) - PK-5
• Formulate questions that can be addressed with
  data and collect, organize, and display relevant
  data to answer
• Select and use appropriate statistical methods to
  analyze data
• Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions
  that are based on data

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The Standards

• National Math Standards (Problem Solving) - PK-12
• Build new mathematical knowledge through problem
  solving
• Solve problems that arise in mathematics and
  other contexts
• Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate
  strategies to solve problems
• Monitor and reflect on the process of
  mathematical problem solving

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The Standards

• National Health Standards - K-4
• Health promotion and disease prevention
• Health information, products and services
• Reducing health risks
• Health influences
• Using communication skills to promote health
• Setting goals for good health
• Health advocacy

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The Standards

• National Social Sciences (Geography)-K-12
• The world in spatial terms
• Places and regions
• Physical systems
• Human systems
• Environment and society
• Uses of geography

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The Standards

• National Social Sciences (US History) - K-4
• Living and working together in families and
  communities, now and long ago
• The history of students own state or region
• The history of the US Democratic principles and
  values and the people from many cultures who
  contributed to its heritage
• The history of peoples of many cultures around
  the world

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The Standards

• National Social Sciences (World History) - 5-12
• Era 1 The beginnings of human society
• Era 2 Early civilizations and the emergence of
  pastoral peoples, 4000-1000 BCE
• Era 3 Classical traditions, major religions, and
  giant empires 1000 BCE-300 CE
• Era 4 Expanding zones of exchange and encounter
  300-1000 CE

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The Standards

• National Social Sciences (World History) - 5-12
• Era 5 Intensified hemispheric interactions,
  1000-1500 CE
• Era 6 The emergence of the first global age,
  1450-1770
• Era 7 An age of revolutions, 1750-1914
• Era 8 A half-century of crisis and achievement,
  1900-1945
• Era 9 The 20th century since 1945

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We Need You!

• We believe Private Whys? is unique and we believe
  Private Whys? will be a useful tool for teaching
  the process skills kids are required to learn but
  . . . We need to know what YOU think?!?
• Practice with us here today and then take the
  Investigators Kit with you and try it with your
  students. All we ask is that you evaluate
  Private Whys? and share with us your thoughts and
  insights about the discovery unit Private Whys?

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How to Contact Us!

• Contact Deanna, Sandy, and Rudi care of Rudi
  Thompson rudi_at_unt.edu
• UNT/IAS/Elm Fork Education Center
• P.O. Box 310559, Denton, Texas 76203
• 940-565-2994