5 E Lessons and Why They Work (208)

What is 5E Model of Instruction?- The 5E learning cycle is an instructional design model that defines a learning sequence based on the on the experiential learning philosophy of John Dewey and the experiential learning cycle proposed by David Kolb. The 5E Model focuses on allowing students to understand a concept over time through a series of established steps, or phases. These phases include Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.

Why use the 5E for Lesson Planning? -The 5E Model of Instruction is a way to streamline the process of planning and implementing a student-led inquiry-based learning method. It is not necessarily in order. But it tends to be. You do not necessarily go one step per day. It is flexible. It also provides a template, a pattern for lesson planning, something that guides teachers in creating lessons both engaging and active.

What is Inquiry-Based Learning? -Inquiry-based learning is student-centered in nature. It puts students in the drivers’ seat. It leads students through a discovery process by investigation, experience, and research. The role of the students is to be the detective, to explore and let their curiosity be their map. The role teachers is to act as facilitator, providing encouragement and support. To ask questions and challenge their thinking about the subject.

Through experimentation and self-analysis, students learn at their own pace. They reflect and seek feedback they need to help them determine what is needed in order to find answers. Then teachers point them in the right direction to find the next steps, by providing hands-on experiences that engage the student’s mind, helping them examine the concepts from several angles.

Inquiry is all about independence and discovery- not lectures, specific directions and cookie cutter worksheets. So how can 5E lessons bring inquiry front and center into a classroom- both virtual and in person?

5E Lesson Building- There are five phases in a 5E lesson plan. Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration and Evaluation. I also add Enrichment as a 6^th. These phases for me do not necessarily go in a certain order, at times I have flipped the order around a bit. But it always needs to start with engage. A hook. A discrepant event.

It can be a video clip, a lab demo or even just a graphic that makes them go hm.

If you explain before you engage- the lesson loses its umph. It falls flat because you have removed the curiosity phase. Elaborate needs to come after explaining, for obvious reasons.

But before any real analysis can occur, teachers need to let go of the reigns and let student explore and investigate. This can be a lab or nature walk. Stations or jigsaws with articles.

To me the explore phase needs to not be reading or a WebQuest. It needs to be active learning with manipulatives, makerspace supplies and designing, tinkering, building, engineering. The STEAM in the activity.

Articles for me are more of an explain not an explore but I no people who use articles for the explore. Or card sorts. But to me, they are games like Gizmos and scavenger hunts where they find examples of parts of a cell in their house etc.

After they explore, they will have questions, connections that will need to be made. This is when explanation, vocabulary and bridges appear- the smaller date should now start to begin to fit into the larger picture.

More dots added into the pointillism portrait of learning. Explanation can be a bit of conversation between peers or a quick discussion with the teacher. But keep it short and simple.

After they have added more depth to the portrait- then we add layers, more colors, and shades to the perspective. We elaborate with a video clip, debate, or Socratic Seminar. I like my own lesson elaboration to be collaborative and visual if possible.

A way to connect everything into a cohesive painting. This is when the frame gets added. This is when the questions are answered, and more questions are asked. Elaboration is review and assimilation of information.

If the lesson began with a hook of engagement, then an active, inquiry based activity, discussions with their peers, a burst of direct instruction, maybe a card sort or makerspace build- then when you organically reach the elaboration phase- all the dots become aligned. If they have not this is when we discover we need to add some more oils to their palettes

Why I use 5E?- For me, the elaboration can take a bit of time to make sure there is time for synthesis, analysis and understanding. I might add enrichment – a podcast or stop-motion video. A puppet show or graffiti wall vocabulary scramble. Then after I have had 1-minute check-ins with every student, I evaluate.

The 5E lesson template is a reminder to me to make sure I pause and allow the progression to be more natural and organic. When I rush, the portraits smear and drip. If I pause and wait for them to have time to collaborate and share ideas with one another- the portraits tend to dry to perfection.

Why they work- it is a path that helps teachers stay focused on the goal- the standard, the TEK. It is a checklist of sorts. Reminding us to pause and let students move through these phases- as much as it is a template for us to use to plan them. It is a way to make sure your lessons are engaging and relevant. Purposeful and productive. Fun, student-led, and inquiry based.

I have included below a graphic (from nextgenerationscience,weebly.com) about the phases of 5E in case anyone needs more clarification. There are templates on Pinterest and most educator sights you can download for free. 5E works great for both virtual and in person lessons and as we move forward- as we are getting bogged down with designing lessons for both formats- let 5E be your guide, it will never lead you astray.