5 E Model

The 5 E Model is a useful tool for designing science lessons. According to the textbook, throughout the five phases of the instructional sequence, students engage in science questions, collect and use data to formulate expectations, and evaluate and communicate their explanations. The 5 E model consists of five phases. These phases include engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. The book states that each phase aims at a slightly different purpose for science learning. The first E is Engage. In this phase, students encounter a scientific question, idea, or natural phenomenon. The next phase is the Explore stage. In this phase students have firsthand experiences with a phenomenon. Students that are exploring may carry out investigations using lab equipment or collect data using the Internet. The third phase is Explain. The purpose of the Explain phase is for students to formalize their understanding of the concepts under investigation. The book explains that in this phase, students invent explanations and use evidence from the Explore phase to support their ideas. The fourth phase of the 5 E Model is the Elaborate phase. Students build on their understanding by solving new problems in new contexts. The book explains that in this phase, it is the teacher’s role to design ways for students to extend what they know by transferring their understanding to these problems. The fifth and final phase of the 5 E Model is the Evaluate phase. The book states that this phase provides opportunities for students to reflect on and demonstrate what they know.