Science Lesson Plans: BSCS 5E Model

There are loads of models to create lesson plans.  One I especially like is the BSCS 5E Model.  The five 'E's are Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend or Elaborate, and Evaluate.  The Crumpled Paper Watershed lesson uses this model for instruction.  My own lessons are looser.  For example, I borrowed an Enviroscape model to 'engage' the kids and introduce the concept.  Next, I use different activities to both explain and extend: Color Me a Watershed, Dragonfly Pond, Cacapon Institute's Virtual Streams, and Lamotte Water Quality tests.  I use the activities that are part of Cacapon Institute's e-school to elaborate on the watershed concept.  One way to evaluate the kids is to do a stream assessment.  Can the kids identify the benthic macroinvertebrates or test the water successfully?  The kids can take photos and create a slideshow on a blog for assessment.  The class might want to improve the stream site by planting trees or scrubs along the riparian buffer.  Please note that these lessons dovetail well with projects and project-based learning.  5E is just a framework for hands-on instruction.