Argument Based Science

Washington Township is taking part of the University of Iowa's Science Writing Heuristic (SWH). The SWH is an argument based approach to science.  We are in our second year of this grant.  In this grant, there is an emphasis on writing and speaking skills.

On Friday, we had our first claims and evidence session.  Groups came up to the front of the classroom to explain how they conducted their experiments, share their claim (what answer they believe to be true from their test), and evidence (data from their tests plus prior knowledge) with their peers.  All students were active participants in the discussion.  I was very pleased to see the vast amount of learning taking place.  I see many future scientists in this class!