Adolescence and Middle School Science
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Transcript of Adolescence and Middle School Science
Adolescence and Middle School Science
DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS
• Positive social interaction with adults and peers
• Structure and clear limits
• Physical activity
• Creative expression
• Competence and achievement
• Meaningful participation in families, school and communities
• Opportunities for self-definition
Common Knowledge
• “Storm & Stress
• “Upheaval & Trauma”• Only thing normal is “abnormality”
Period of Adolescence
• Vulnerable• Serious Need of help
Adolescence & Puberty
• Negotiate meaning of biological changes
• Awareness of opposite sex
• Sexual experience• Decisions about
contraceptives
Maturation
• Disadvantage for Late maturing boys---self-esteem, popularity & “macho” behavior
• Early maturing girls--small network and poorer emotional habits
Identity: Who Am I?
• Urban middle school kids who drop out say:
• “They don’t tell you anything about yourself.”
• “They don’t tell you about other kids”
Maladaptive Decisions
• 2/3 of the (19 million) have tried alcohol• 1/3 tried illicit drugs• % with AIDS has increased• Recent study of 8th graders
– 26.2% used alcohol– 15% engaged in binge drinking– 11.3% used marijuana– 5.8% used inhalants– 1.3% used cocaine
Teen Health
• Not about disease, but preventable social, environmental & behavioral factors…such as
• Accidents• Homicide• Suicide• Early pregnancy
Teen Sexual Behavior
• “Reproductive maturation most distinctive feature of transescence”
• Traditionally… suppress, ignore or weakly influence sexual behavior of teens
• 560,000 teen births/yr
Peer Groups & Gangs
• Passionate herding instinct?
• Little evidence that peer pressures overpower values of parents
• Try out various identities
Friends
• Someone loyal and “doesn’t talk about you behind your back”
• Enjoy activities with friends more than any other activity
• Few or no friends: aggressive, drop out, criminal behavior
Everyday in America
• Three died from abuse• Six committed suicide• 16 killed with guns• 316 arrested for
violent crimes• 406 arrested for drugs• 466 babies born with
little prenatal care
Everyday in America
• 1,420 babies born to teenagers
• 2,556 babies born into poverty
• 3,533 to unwed mothers
• 3,356 dropped out
• 5,702 arrested
• 13,076 suspended
• 100,000 remain homeless
Number of births to teens ages 15-19 per 1,000 females in this age group
Which Means
• We need a middle school with special curricula
• Close the gaps between early adolescents & their well being
Middle (Junior High) Schools
• Berkeley & Columbus (Ohio) created 7-8-9 schools in 1907
• Functions of JHS– Integration
– Exploration
– Guidance
– Differentiation
– Socialization
Effective School for Early Adolescents
• Vision was not being met
• Lack of qualified teachers
• Curriculum did not match “needs of early adolescents
Ideal “middle” School (1965)
• Focus on needs of early adolescents
• Individualized instruction
• Stress on intellectual components
• Emphasis on inquiry, discovery, learning how to learn
• Exploratory experiences
• Health and PE
Middle vs Junior Highs
• Research revealed they were more alike than different
• Few data to support advocates or critics
• Yet, middle schools flourished from the mid-seventies on
Middle School Science
• Starting in the late 60s• Reformers: Scientists• Content
– Structure of discipline
– A Way of knowing
• Science Activities as motivation (Bruner)
• Goals directly linked to science discipline
• EXAMPLES– Introductory Physical
Science (IPS)
– Earth Science Curriculum Project (
– Intermediate Science Curriculum Study (ISCS)
Middle School Science: Real Curriculum
• General Science replaced with ES, LS, & PS
• Grade 6--PS• Grade 7--LS• Grade 8--ES
Real Science
“Should Be” Curriculum
• Structured more in terms of student interests
• Social concerns• Human agenda• Human ecology
But, the MS Science Curriculum
• Based on academic preparation
• Ignores use of science in everyday life, societal decision making, career choice
• “Turns off” 2/3 of our students
• Teachers uncertain how to change curriculum
Science for the People
• Select those concepts and principles of science relevant to students’ daily life and adaptive needs
• Not to prepare scientists
• Science must be put into service for individuals and society
A New Vision for MS Science
• Connects students with today’s world
• Development of life skills
• Increasing the quality of life
What good is all this to me?
From the Traditional to the “Lived”
• TRADITIONAL
• Textbooks• Principles• Generalizations• Theories• Methods • Specific science areas
• LIVED CURRICULUM
• Foster links between the lives of early adolescents and their quality of life
• Personally oriented• Interdisciplinary• Makes sense of science,
re: everyday life
Life Science Curriculum Topics
• Getting to know ourselves: What kind of a creature are we?
• People have a long history on Earth
• Human life cycle• How we learn about people
& the world• Learning & remembering• Language &
Communication
• Knowing & deciding• Nutrition• Health, Hygiene &
Safety• Human beings as
social animals
Core Themes for MS Science
• Health and Wellness• Stablilizing the Global
Environment• New Energy
Resources• Quality of Life• Quality of Work
New Curriculum focus upon utilization of science/technology knowledge as it enhances adaptive needs of students
Some Examples
• Green Classroom• Project Ozone• Project Water Watch
Adolescents and Science Learning: A Subject Sampler