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Learning Scientific Language with a Graphic Organizer

Three overlayed scientific term organizer templates titled Term, Theory and Autotroph.  The Autotroph organizer has four quadrants labeled: definition, properties, examples and picture.

Topic

  • Scientific Skills & Literacy
  • Visual & Physical Models
  • Evaluation & Communication of Information

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Skill Builders

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
5 Users
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Description

This activity guides students through learning and using key scientific terms, culminating in the creation of a customizable diagram.

Scientific language instruction can help students deepen their understanding of scientific concepts, strengthen their scientific literacy and communication skills, and engage with scientific sources. The “Student Handout” for this activity guides students through learning and using a given scientific term (e.g., technical or specialized vocabulary) and  culminates in creating their own graphic organizer from a template. 

Templates and examples are provided in these formats: cards (PDF), poster (PDF), and slides (Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides). The “Educator Materials” include more information about how to use these templates and other implementation suggestions.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.
 

Student Learning Targets

  • Develop multiple representations of a scientific term.
  • Connect scientific language to everyday language, prior knowledge, and science concepts. 
  • Create a graphic organizer to make thinking visible and present key information.
     

Estimated Time

Within one 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

Frayer Model, language learning, science communication, scientific term, template, vocabulary
 

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria. Other file types meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 01.05.23

NGSS 2013

SEP8

AP Biology 2019

SP1

AP Environmental Science 2020

SP1

Common Core 2010

ELA.RST.6-12.4, ELA.RST.6-12.7, ELA.RST.6-12.10

Vision and Change 2009

DP5

Materials

Resource Google Folder (Link)
Educator Materials (PDF) 609 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 472 KB
Templates and Examples (ZIP) 7 MB

Additional Materials

  • a science text (e.g., textbook chapter, scientific paper, video transcript, etc.)

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