LAP Code: No.

of Hours: 3 hours/meeting
LAP Subject Title: Teaching Strategies for Elementary Science

LAP 4
The Elementary Science Curriculum
(Physics, Earth, and Space Science)
A. Topic Outline

Content
Unit Learning Objectives Activities Assignment
Standard
Unit 1: LAP 4: -To familiarize yourself with the principles of -Memory
Constructivist constructivist teaching. Recall
Theory in -To describe how one wishes to be taught in a science -Theoretical
Teaching Science class. Comparison
- To classify teaching strategies as constructivist or
non-constructivist.
- To select appropriate teaching strategies to match
target topics and competencies; and
- To examine the effectiveness of constructivist
teaching approaches.

B. Introductory Activity: Memory Recall (10 points)

Recall the best moments you had in your science class. What were you doing? What was your
lesson? Who was your teacher? What made it the best moment?

C. Salient Concepts

Constructivist teaching is anchored on the fundamental belief that learning occurs as individuals
are actively involved in meaning-making and knowledge construction processes. Dewey’s idea of
transformative education suggests that education must foster the development of critical thinking
among the learners via reflection, exploration of the environment, and hands-on experiences. Piaget’s
role in the constructivist teaching highlights that we learn by expanding our knowledge through
experiences. These experiences are generated through playing from infancy to adulthood, which is
necessary for learning.

In the constructivist classroom, the teacher’s role is to prompt and facilitate the meaningful
exchange of ideas and learning. The teacher’s mean focus is guiding the students by asking questions
that will lead them to develop their own insights and conclusions on the subject. Constructivist teaching
is governed by the following principles:

 Engage the students in the discovery and examination of relevant and meaningful problems
 Organize curriculum into activities and broad primary concepts
 Explore and value the students’ perspectives
 Encourage the students to investigate and challenge their assumptions
 Use assessment to diagnose and guide the student learning.
D. Evaluation Activity: Analyzing Concepts (30 points)

1. Base your answers on the comparison between the traditional and constructivist learning theories.

a. How would you like to be taught in science?

b. Ask your classmates the same question and tabulate your answers.

c. Find out patterns and themes.

d. Categorize your responses as constructivist or nan-constructivist teaching and learning approaches.

2. Try out your knowledge and understanding of constructivist teaching strategies by selecting
appropriate strategies that will complete the table of alignment below. Make sure that the teaching
strategies match the target topic and competencies.

Topics Competencies Constructivist Teaching


Characteristics of solids, liquids,
and gases
Human sense organs
Animals
Heat and electricity
Proper disposal of waste
Strategies
Describe different objects based
on their characteristics (e.g.
shape, weight, volume, ease of
flow)
Enumerate healthful habits to
protect the sense organs
Describe animals in their
immediate surroundings
Describe sources of light, sound,
heat and electricity
Identify the effects of decaying
materials on one’s health and
safety

3. Come up with your personal definition of constructivist teaching.

4. Are there downfalls in using constructivist teaching approach?

5. When does constructivist teaching strategy work best?