This unit focuses mostly on the mechanics of creating
posters.<span>&nbsp; </span>But it is important to place
all of this poster activity in a broader context:<span>&nbsp; </span>The goal of this activity is to engage
students in scientific discussion and argument.</p>
<p>For most students the word “argument” means a fight—a
disagreement. It is <i>really important</i>
– a learning objective – to help them understand that scientific argument is
something different.<span>&nbsp; </span>There is an
excellent discussion of this objective in <i><a href="http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11882" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ready, Set, Science!<span style="font-style: normal;">,</span></a></i> published by the National Academies
Press – in fact there is a whole chapter titled “Making Thinking Visible: Talk
and Argument.”<span>&nbsp; </span>You can read the chapter
for free online <a href="http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11882&amp;page=87" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">by clicking
here</a>.</p>

<p>One of the <b>key
ideas </b>from this book is that you should begin by establishing the norms for
scientific discussion in your classroom.<span>&nbsp;
</span>This is not just a matter of good classroom control—it reflects what
really happens in the profession of science.<span>&nbsp;
</span>There are “rules of the road” that scientists follow as they critique
each other’s work.<span>&nbsp; </span>Your class, too,
should have clearly defined rules for its scientific discussion.<span>&nbsp; </span><i>Ready,
Set, Science’s</i> suggestions about establishing classroom norms is <a href="http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11882&amp;page=95" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">available
online by clicking here</a>. </p>
<p>Poster presentations can be done in a variety of settings.

</p>
<p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span><span>1.<span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span>Students
can make presentations to other science classes. Once school arranged for
students to present to middle school science classes in the same district.</p>
<p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span><span>2.<span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span>Have
a parents’ night where family and community members can come to the school to
see the posters and hear the students make presentations.</p>
<p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span><span>3.<span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span>Schedule
a poster session at a school board or parent-teacher organization meeting.</p>
<p>The creation of a poster involves a great deal of material
that is normally covered in an English class. Think about the possibility of
team teaching this unit with an English teacher, possibly as a project that
would receive both English and science credit. The same is true for math. </p>