Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Methods 4 teach sci, health,PE (Online)

EDPD 5495-491

Course: EDPD 5495-491
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: TED
CRN: 33654

Course Description

This course is designed to explore the significance and importance of science, physical education, and health education in the elementary school. It provides the philosophies and methodologies to help successfully teach a hands-on dynamic science program and how to effectively teach the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

Required Texts

Resources:
NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) Reston, Virginia
Utah State Board of Education Core Curriculum/Science, Science and Engineering Education Standards (SEEdS)
Utah State Board of Education Core Curriculum/Health, Healthy Lifestyle and Physical Education Standards


Textbook: (Recommended, but not required)
Muschia, Gary Robert, Muschla, Judith, Muschla, Erin (2016).  The Elementary Teacher’s Book of Lists (1st Ed.) Jossey-Bass A Wiley Imprint, San Francisco CA, 978-0-470-50198-6

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Investigate personal knowledge and experiences when learning key science concepts

  • Describe what teachers of science at all grade levels should know and be able to do:
    1. Plan inquiry-based science lessons
    2. Actions taken to guide and facilitate student learning
    3. Assess student learning
    4. Develop an environment that enables students to learn science
    5. Planning and developing a grade level science program

  • Participate and explore professional development of science knowledge and skills as a teacher

  • Create criteria to evaluate the quality of science  assessment practices:
    1. Assess both achievement and opportunity to learn science. 
    2. Create equitable assessment practices for curriculum activities

  • Describe what elementary teachers of physical education  and healthy life-styles at all grade levels, should know and be able to do:
    1. Plan physical education lessons
    2. Plan healthy life-style lessons
    3. Actions taken to guide and facilitate student learning
    4. Assess student learning
    5. Develop an environment that enable student to learn physical education skills
    6. Develop an environment that enables students to learn healthy life-styles


Course Requirements


The assignments for this course are designed to help you dive into teaching science, math and PE, while using the Utah Core Standards as a roadmap for teaching. You will be asked to keep a reflective journal to guide your thinking about these subjects, and to best analyze your teaching skills and lesson planning. You will become highly knowledgeable with all the vocabulary associated with teaching elementary science, STEM, PE, Engineering, and health. You will discover the importance of "doing" science, and not just learning about it. You will broaden your lesson planning to include mini lessons and a science unit for the grade in which you are teaching. You will share ideas and explore how all these subjects can be integrated throughout your teaching day

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction
  • Overview of course objectives and expectations
  • Introduction to the importance of science education in contemporary classrooms
  • Discussion on current trends and challenges in science education

Module 2: What is a Scientist and What Does a Scientist Do?
  • Defining the role of a scientist in society
  • Exploring the differences between S.T.E.A.M. and S.T.E.M.
  • Understanding the relationship between science, technology, engineering, art, and math

Module 3: Science Process Skills: The “Doing” Parts of Science
  • Key scientific skills: observing, predicting, experimenting, analyzing, and concluding
  • Teaching strategies for developing scientific thinking and inquiry in students
  • Activities and practical applications for fostering science process skills

Module 4: 3D Science Teaching & Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
  • Introduction to 3D science teaching: Disciplinary Core Ideas, Crosscutting Concepts, and Science and Engineering Practices
  • Aligning instruction with the NGSS framework
  • Approaches for integrating the 3D model into classroom teaching

Module 5: Utah SEEd Standards: Science Unit & Adding Engineering
  • Understanding the Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards
  • Developing a science unit plan aligned with SEEd standards
  • Incorporating engineering principles into science teaching

Module 6: Researching Healthy Lifestyles and Physical Education
  • Exploring the intersection of science education and physical health
  • Examining research on healthy lifestyle practices in children and adolescents
  • The role of physical education in promoting holistic development

Module 7: Final Reflection
  • Reflecting on the course content and personal growth as an educator
  • Final assignments and projects: Synthesizing learning from all modules
  • Discussion of practical applications for teaching science and physical education in the classroom

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Assignments
Late assignments will be accepted up until the last day of the semester without penalty unless otherwise noted for specific assignments. No late work will be accepted after the final day of the semester. It is the student's responsibility to communicate with the instructor and ensure that all work is submitted by this deadline.

Grading Scale
The following grading standards will be used in this class:
GradeRange
A | 100 % to 94.0%
A- | < 94.0 % to 90.0%
B+ | < 90.0 % to 87.0%
B | < 87.0 % to 84.0%
B- | < 84.0 % to 80.0%
C+ | < 80.0 % to 77.0%
C | < 77.0 % to 74.0%
C- | < 74.0 % to 70.0%
D+ | < 70.0 % to 67.0%
D | < 67.0 % to 64.0%
D- | < 64.0 % to 61.0%
F | < 61.0 % to 0.0%

Attendance Policy

It is the student’s responsibility to attend class, stay engaged with course materials, and complete all assignments and assessments throughout the semester. Regular participation is essential for success in this course. Students are expected to manage their time effectively, seek clarification when needed, and stay informed about deadlines and course expectations.

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.