Metaphors in ScienceMetaphors in Science

88thth Int. Grade Science Int. Grade Science

Science MetaphorsScience Metaphors

The Earth is like a The Earth is like a “Ball”.“Ball”.

The Wetlands are like The Wetlands are like a a “Sponge”.“Sponge”.

Chemical Bonding is Chemical Bonding is like a like a “Magnet”.“Magnet”.

What is a Metaphor ?What is a Metaphor ?Same words & phrases in creative ways to Same words & phrases in creative ways to explain things to one another. explain things to one another.

Encourages the listener to think - more creative or Encourages the listener to think - more creative or strange it is - more interesting it is. strange it is - more interesting it is.

More direct & uses less words to describe things. More direct & uses less words to describe things.

Establishes a relationship of likeness. Establishes a relationship of likeness.

Fills in the Gaps in language, could be used to Fills in the Gaps in language, could be used to create new meanings to difficult new concepts. create new meanings to difficult new concepts.

Metaphor UsesMetaphor Uses

Common & well understood experiences for Common & well understood experiences for complex & abstract information. complex & abstract information.

Lectures, creative writing, reviewing information, Lectures, creative writing, reviewing information, & to teach new difficult concepts. & to teach new difficult concepts.

Everyday conversation uses of at least 4 Everyday conversation uses of at least 4 metaphors per minute. metaphors per minute.

Many are “hidden” or “embedded” into our Many are “hidden” or “embedded” into our language.language.

Prompts original thoughts, creative thinking. Prompts original thoughts, creative thinking.

Wetlands MetaphorWetlands Metaphor

Antelope Island & the Antelope Island & the Great Salt Lake are Great Salt Lake are surrounded by Wetlands surrounded by Wetlands that are very Valuable that are very Valuable (“Priceless”) to the area.(“Priceless”) to the area.

(Wetland Metaphor Handout / Video)

Commonly Used Metaphors - 1Commonly Used Metaphors - 1

““Quiet as a Mouse”Quiet as a Mouse”

““Red as a Cherry”Red as a Cherry”

““Strong as a Tree”Strong as a Tree”

““Round like a Ball”Round like a Ball”

(Engine running)(Engine running)

(Santa’s Nose)(Santa’s Nose)

(Elephant’s Leg)(Elephant’s Leg)

(Earth)(Earth)

Science Common Metaphors - 2Science Common Metaphors - 2

““Acts like a Sponge”Acts like a Sponge” (Wetlands) (Wetlands)

““Clear as Glass”Clear as Glass” (Atmosphere) (Atmosphere)

““Formed like a Snowball rolling down a hill”Formed like a Snowball rolling down a hill” (Oolitic Sand)(Oolitic Sand)

““Slippery like Ice”Slippery like Ice” (Electrons on Copper Wire) (Electrons on Copper Wire)

““Stuck-Up”Stuck-Up” - doesn’t need anyone (Noble Gases) - doesn’t need anyone (Noble Gases)

““Magnetic Connections”Magnetic Connections” (Chemical Bonding) (Chemical Bonding)

Metaphor TypesMetaphor TypesVisual AidVisual Aid – Object – Object

Visual DrawingVisual Drawing – Cartoon / Picture – Cartoon / Picture

Written MetaphorWritten Metaphor – Poem / Story – Poem / Story

VerbalVerbal MetaphorMetaphor – Saying / Phrase – Saying / Phrase

Acting / Role PlayingActing / Role Playing – Synectics / – Synectics /

GamesGames

Metaphor TransferMetaphor Transfer

Taking a Familiar or Common Trait and Taking a Familiar or Common Trait and used it to describe a New Ideas or Form of used it to describe a New Ideas or Form of Information.Information.

Matching Similarities between ThingsMatching Similarities between Things

Making Emotion ConnectionsMaking Emotion Connections

Use Language at Learners LevelUse Language at Learners Level

Develop Common Uses & DescriptionsDevelop Common Uses & Descriptions

Add CreativityAdd Creativity

Characteristics of MetaphorsCharacteristics of Metaphors

Metaphors should include:Metaphors should include:

VividnessVividness

CompactnessCompactness

ExpressibilityExpressibility

(Andrew Ortony) (Andrew Ortony)

Designing Metaphor ExamplesDesigning Metaphor Examples

Similarities to: Similarities to: Structure / StyleStructure / Style Uses / PerformanceUses / Performance Habits / WorkHabits / Work SizeSize ColorColor MaterialMaterial Relates to another Relates to another

Concept / IdeaConcept / Idea

Visual MetaphorsVisual Metaphors

Words Words

Objects Objects

PostersPosters

SignsSigns

CartoonsCartoons

PicturePicture

Written MetaphorWritten Metaphor

Puns / Play on wordsPuns / Play on words

Descriptive AdjectivesDescriptive Adjectives

Rhyming / PoetryRhyming / Poetry

SequencingSequencing

HumorousHumorous

AbstractAbstract

SimilaritiesSimilarities

““Sayings”Sayings”

““Masterpiece” / “Acorn” / “Mountain”Masterpiece” / “Acorn” / “Mountain” Articles Articles

Verbal MetaphorsVerbal Metaphors

Computer works like a Computer works like a “Brain”“Brain”

Nervous System looks Nervous System looks like a like a “Tree”“Tree”

Solar Systems looks like Solar Systems looks like a a “Mobile”“Mobile”

Eyes work like an Eyes work like an “Camera”“Camera”

Birds Birds “Zipper”“Zipper” up their up their Feathers Feathers

Role Playing MetaphorsRole Playing MetaphorsSynectics - Uses ANALOGIESSynectics - Uses ANALOGIES

Process:Process: Be Creative – New ideas, music, inventionsBe Creative – New ideas, music, inventions Self Expressive & PersonalSelf Expressive & Personal Add Emotional ConnectionAdd Emotional Connection Must be UnderstandableMust be Understandable Connections between Old & New KnowledgeConnections between Old & New Knowledge

Creative Analogies:Creative Analogies: Personal ExpressionsPersonal Expressions Acting Out Concepts, Objects, etc…Acting Out Concepts, Objects, etc…

Synectics Analogy SamplesSynectics Analogy SamplesCreate an “Analogy” with these topics. Create an “Analogy” with these topics.

Act it out.Act it out.

““A Car Engine is like ………..”A Car Engine is like ………..”

““Erupting Volcano is like ………..”Erupting Volcano is like ………..”

““Electricity flowing through a wire is like ………..”Electricity flowing through a wire is like ………..”

““Chemical Explosion is like ………..”Chemical Explosion is like ………..”

““Roller Coaster Ride is like ………..”Roller Coaster Ride is like ………..”

““Computer Processing is like ………..”Computer Processing is like ………..”

““Television is like ………..”Television is like ………..”

““Old Shoe is like ………..”Old Shoe is like ………..”

Teacher ObjectivesTeacher Objectives

Teacher Teacher will demonstratewill demonstrate visual styles, written, visual styles, written, visual aids, games, and role play uses for visual aids, games, and role play uses for metaphors in learning new science concepts. metaphors in learning new science concepts.

Teacher Teacher will give examplewill give example notes and picture notes and picture reviews using visual metaphors.reviews using visual metaphors.

Teacher Teacher will instruct the studentswill instruct the students on the steps on the steps and designs to create metaphors in science.and designs to create metaphors in science.

Teacher Teacher will give evaluations and feedbackwill give evaluations and feedback to to students progress and completed projects.students progress and completed projects.

Teacher Instructed Teacher Instructed DemonstrationsDemonstrations

Metaphoric Examples:Metaphoric Examples:Sample Visual Aids Sample Visual Aids Picture Page ReviewsPicture Page ReviewsGames of “Win, Lose, and Draw” / “Charades”Games of “Win, Lose, and Draw” / “Charades”Role Playing - Synectics Role Playing - Synectics Chemistry Demonstrations Chemistry Demonstrations Sayings, Vivid Descriptions Sayings, Vivid Descriptions

Final outcome:Final outcome: Student Created Visual Aids Student Created Visual Aids

– – Metaphoric ProjectsMetaphoric Projects

Student ObjectivesStudent Objectives

Students will be Students will be introduced to new conceptsintroduced to new concepts and terms in this Chemistry unit.and terms in this Chemistry unit.

Students will Students will create new “visual aids”create new “visual aids” or/and or/and written metaphors examples that could be used written metaphors examples that could be used to explain other key science concepts or terms to explain other key science concepts or terms in Chemistry. in Chemistry.

Students will Students will learn to write and connect learn to write and connect metaphorsmetaphors to new terms and concepts in the to new terms and concepts in the Chemistry unit with applied knowledge from their Chemistry unit with applied knowledge from their English Metaphor unit. English Metaphor unit.

Student Objectives - con’tStudent Objectives - con’t

Students will Students will use visualuse visual aidsaids to experiment to experiment writing metaphors and brainstorming connected writing metaphors and brainstorming connected to science concepts. to science concepts.

Students will Students will demonstrate their metaphoric demonstrate their metaphoric knowledgeknowledge by participating in Role Playing and by participating in Role Playing and “Win, Lose, and Draw” games as teams.“Win, Lose, and Draw” games as teams.

Students will Students will designdesign a Metaphor form that a Metaphor form that explains a Concept in Science.explains a Concept in Science.

Student’s Metaphors will be Student’s Metaphors will be used for teaching used for teaching and reviewing a conceptand reviewing a concept. .

Project AssignmentProject Assignment

SelectSelect 1 Metaphor Type to design: 1 Metaphor Type to design:

““Picture Page”Picture Page” - Review Handout - Review Handout““Picture Notes”Picture Notes” - Teaching Handout - Teaching Handout““Poster Illustration”Poster Illustration” - Poster - Poster““Visual Aid”Visual Aid” – Model or Object – Model or Object ““Game”Game” – “Win, Lose, or Draw” or “Password” – “Win, Lose, or Draw” or “Password”““Written Saying”Written Saying” – Mnemonics – Mnemonics““Role Playing”Role Playing” – Synectics / Charades – Synectics / Charades

Metaphor AssignmentMetaphor Assignment

1.1. Finding OutFinding Out the Definition / Concept the Definition / Concept

2.2. BrainstormingBrainstorming all the Possibilities you all the Possibilities you can usecan use

3.3. ““Play”Play” with you ideas – Finalize on one with you ideas – Finalize on one

4.4. DesignDesign the connections the connections

5.5. DevelopDevelop a metaphor form to illustrate the a metaphor form to illustrate the new concept. (Chose 1 form)new concept. (Chose 1 form)

6.6. PresentPresent metaphor to Class metaphor to Class

BrainstormingBrainstormingConcept Mapping IdeasConcept Mapping Ideas

Venn DiagramVenn Diagram

– – Similarities / DifferencesSimilarities / Differences

Different Large Cats – like Lions have a male leader and Different Large Cats – like Lions have a male leader and female hairium female hairium

Like a Cheetah the mother does the raising of the offspring's Like a Cheetah the mother does the raising of the offspring's (single parent)(single parent)

Concept MappingConcept Mapping – Webbing – WebbingConnections to conceptsConnections to concepts

Student MotivationStudent Motivation

Peer Review / Peer RecognitionPeer Review / Peer RecognitionPeer Support – “Scaffolding”Peer Support – “Scaffolding”CompetitionCompetitionChallenge / CompetitionChallenge / CompetitionPositive FeedbackPositive FeedbackCandy / RewardsCandy / RewardsGrade / Teacher RecognitionGrade / Teacher RecognitionZone of Proximal LearningZone of Proximal Learning

Final AssessmentsFinal Assessments

Peer Understanding of Created MetaphorsPeer Understanding of Created MetaphorsParticipation in Activities / DiscussionsParticipation in Activities / DiscussionsPop Quizzes / TestPop Quizzes / TestResearch / Brainstorming / Concept Research / Brainstorming / Concept Mapping activitiesMapping activitiesCreation of a Metaphor for a ConceptCreation of a Metaphor for a ConceptRubric for Metaphor ProjectRubric for Metaphor ProjectSelf Assessment Self Assessment