Teaching of Science in Elementary Grades

“Principles Underlying Science Teaching”

#What’sExpectedOf You?

At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

a. be familiar with the various principles of teaching and learning, and principles for
teaching science effectively; and
b. realize the importance of the various principles of teaching and learning through film
viewing.

#WhatYouNeedToLearn?

Principles are general truth or guiding norm by which a process (teaching/learning) is

carried on; these are psychological laws of learning, important educational theories, governing
laws or rules of facts and generally accepted tenets (Dela Rosa, R. I., Mendoza, F. B., & Torres, J.
M., 2015)

Top 20 Principles from Psychology for PreK–12 Teaching and Learning (APA, 2015)

Principle 1: Students’ beliefs or perceptions about intelligence and ability affect their cognitive
functioning and learning.

Principle 3: Students’ cognitive development and learning are not limited by general stages of
development.

Principle 4: Learning is based on context, so generalizing learning to new contexts is not

spontaneous but instead needs to be facilitated.

Principle 5: Acquiring long-term knowledge and skill is largely dependent on practice.

Principle 6: Clear, explanatory, and timely feedback to students is important for learning.

Principle 7: Students’ self-regulation assists learning, and self-regulatory skills can be taught.

Principle 8: Student creativity can be fostered.

Principle 9: Students tend to enjoy learning and perform better when they are more intrinsically
than extrinsically motivated to achieve.

Principle 10: Students persist in the face of challenging tasks and process information more
deeply when they adopt mastery goals rather than performance goals.

Principle 11: Teachers’ expectations about their students affect students’ opportunities to learn,
their motivation, and their learning outcomes.
Principle 12: Setting goals that are short term (proximal), specific, and moderately challenging
enhances motivation more than establishing goals that are long term (distal), general, and
overly challenging.

Principle 13: Learning is situated within multiple social contexts.

Principle 14: Interpersonal relationships and communication are critical to both the teaching–
learning process and the social-emotional development of students.

Principle 15: Emotional well-being influences educational performance, learning, and

development.

Principle 16: Expectations for classroom conduct and social interaction are learned and can be
taught using proven principles of behavior and effective classroom instruction.

Principle 17: Effective classroom management is based on (a) setting and communicating high
expectations, (b) consistently nurturing positive relationships, and (c) providing a high level of
student support.

Principle 18: Formative and summative assessments are both important and useful but require
different approaches and interpretations.

Principle 19: Students’ skills, knowledge, and abilities are best measured with assessment
processes grounded in psychological science with well-defined standards for quality and
fairness.

Principle 20: Making sense of assessment data depends on clear, appropriate, and fair
interpretation.

12 Must Follow Principles for Teaching Science Effectively (Monica, 2018)

Address Every Relevancy in What is

Vary Strategies Elicit Thinking
Student’s Needs Being Taught

Supply Tangible
Allow Them Control Experience for KWL Method Field Trip
Abstract Theories

Integrating Science Strategies that

Audiovisual Removing the
Technology and Focus on Every
Learning Aids Misconception
Society Aspect
 #WhatHaveYouLearned?

Activity 1. Watch and analyze the film “Every Child is Special/Like Stars on Earth.” Take note of
the strategies and principles applied and utilized by the teacher and be ready to discuss these in
class.

Notes: From this movie, there are many strategies and principles that we can learn. First, individual
curriculum should be prepared because the education of children how have learning disorders cannot
be achieved with the curriculum of normal classes. Second, we should dismantled the mental concept
that struggling students are helpless and doomed in life. Third, offering an outdoor activity in which we
could use spatial and creative skills of the students. Fourth, use a sensorial diversified approach  that
made reading and writing active and concrete by the use of writing sand, clay, chalk, touch, and
movement. Fifth, we should build interrelationship to the young ones because it greatly affects how
students perceive themselves and what they will become. Sixth, use of positive approaches in dealing
and addressing students’ concerns. Seven, teachers should look into the child’s potentials as a learner
and of what motivates a child and what does not. Eight, consider and understand the individual
differences of our learners. Ninth, we have to be very flexible and expect that not all students or pupils
are toppers in academic matters. Lastly, we should embrace the child’s whole world, and that includes
his family and community because the family and community are important factors that can influence
the child’s behavior.

Activity 2. Explain the importance of teaching-learning principles.

The principles of teaching is really important for us as teacher and in education. This principle serves
as chief guides to make teaching and learning intelligent and productive. This principle is important
because this is fundamental through which we proceed from one situation to another. Principles are
important for the governing of actions and the operation of techniques in any field of education. For
us as teacher, if we understood and accept this principles it will reflect to decision in making our
evaluation, learning activities and even managing our classroom. In the field of education, it serves as
not only principle but a philosophy also because it serves to determine the educational goals,
approach, and educational practices.

Activity 3. Self-Assessment

Put a check if the following are met.

✔ I am now familiar with the various principles of teaching and learning, and
principles for teaching science effectively.
✔ I realized the importance of the various principles of teaching and learning
through film viewing.
 #WhatElseCanBeLearned?

Read the suggested material(s) as additional source(s) for learning. Happy reading and learning!


American Psychological Association, Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education. (2015).
Top 20 principles from psychology for preK–12 teaching and learning. Retrieved from
http://www.apa.org/ed/schools/cpse/top-twenty-principles.pdf

Monica. (2018). 12 Must Follow Principles for Teaching Science Effectively.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.care.com/c/stories/12797/12-must-follow-principles-
for-teaching-scienc/amp/

Bazghandi, P., & Hamrah, S. Z. (2011). The principles of teaching science based on the ideas of
Feyerabend regarding the nature of science and the manner of its expansion. Elsevier
Ltd. doi:doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.11.330

Note: You might also want to explore other references for additional information.

***

Source(s)

American Psychological Association, Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education. (2015).
Top 20 principles from psychology for preK–12 teaching and learning. Retrieved from
http://www.apa.org/ed/schools/cpse/top-twenty-principles.pdf

Dela Rosa, R. I., Mendoza, F. B., & Torres, J. M. (2015). Elements of Teaching and Learning. In R.
I. Dela Rosa, F. B. Mendoza, & J. M. & Torres, Manual in Principles of Teaching 1 (pp. 13-
14). Science City if Munoz: CLSU-Center for Educational Resources Development and
Services.

Monica. (2018). 12 Must Follow Principles for Teaching Science Effectively.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.care.com/c/stories/12797/12-must-follow-principles-
for-teaching-scienc/amp/