In phenomena based instruction, students are given a phenomena and the teacher asks a question- “what would happen if…..”  Students use their prior knowledge to draw a conclusion and answer the question. Then the phenomena is shown. Students discuss and decide what caused ___________ to happen. Students would be so much more excited about the phenomena based approach. It gets them thinking and wondering what will happen beforehand. Then, they get to watch the phenomena and decide why they were correct or incorrect with their prediction.

The traditional style would start with reading about what kinetic energy is in a text book. The students would focus on the vocabulary and then be shown some pictures displaying kinetic energy. The teacher may have an experiment set up to show kinetic energy, but she will be doing the experiment while the students watch.

If kinetic energy was traditionally taught, it would probably be with an article or two containing important vocabulary and some images to try to explain the concept. I think about how I learned about kinetic energy, the traditional approach, and I'm not sure I fully understand the concept without looking it up and watching videos to explain the idea. There is no way to engage in the science, and typically students would not be able to connect background knowledge with the idea of kinetic energy through reading about it.

Starting with this phenomena based video would be a great jumping off point to get student excited about their noticings and wonderings. This would create a lot more interest than just reading about the different types of energy or introducing vocabulary in the traditional lesson model.

1. I would have never understood it as well

2. I would have been bored to start with

With this example of phenomena based approach I am immediately intrigued with what will happen next and where this lesson is going.

When we use traditional lessons, book and facts, there is NO thinking going on for the students. They just KNOW what they are reading or told is the fact and they move on. The traditional way of teaching/learning does not allow the learning to explore nor discover on their own and with their peers.

I do not have to teach kinetic energy in our units in 5th grade, but this video and discussion made me realize that even though it is not in our standards, our students need to be aware of all of the energy sources that surround us to view science around them.

In conclusion, the phenomena based lesson, the impact on learning and discovery for our students is WAY greater, than the "old" traditional-based lesson way of learning.

1. I think students would not be engaged with a traditional approach to this lesson. I also feel my 5th graders may even become confused with trying to understand this concept.

2. With the phenomena based approach students would definitely be more engaged because of the real world approach taken to learning about kinetic energy. Students would also be able to collaborate with one another about their predictions as to the height of the block.