Round Table Discussions

STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
-Articulate and share results, thoughts, and questions.
-Understand that discussing ideas and findings is an integral part of science.
-Identify key areas of progress and formulate a plan for continued research.

GUIDING QUESTIONS:
What is science?
Why is it important to share information?
(Each Round Table should also include Guiding Questions specific to the unit.)

MATERIALS: none

CLASS ACTIVITIES:
1. Every Friday that the students are not teaching, they will have a Round Table. This structured venue for discussions is designed to encourage students to share information and ideas. It demonstrates to students that science is a dynamic process and makes scientific dialogue a routine part of their studies.
2. At the opening of class, have students rearrange seats into a circle. While this classroom setup enables discussion, the creation of a set routine and visual setup differentiates Round Table days, thereby helping students get into the appropriate mindset.
3. The exact format of the Round Table will differ based on the week's activities. However, the basic goal is for students to assess what they have learned in the past week, discuss any extensions of that information, and formulate any ongoing questions. This dialogue may take a number of forms:

• Defined questions - A number of the lesson plans include specific questions to pose to the class. Discussion should sum up the week, encourage students to consider the ramifications of what they have learned, and bridge to the next week's topic.
• Formal student presentations - Many lessons require students to develop posters, presentations, or other materials, which can be shared at this time.
• Informal sharing - Students can report on progress in ongoing projects, as well as share any really exciting things they have learned that week, pose questions, etc.