The 5E model in science is an inquiry-based instructional method that puts students in the driver’s seat as they explore, investigate and come to conclusions supported by evidence. It consists of a 5-stage flow of instruction:  Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.    The 5E model of instruction spans out over a period of time.  Below are 4 easy steps to rock the 5E model in science.

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Achieve Excellence with the 5E Model: In-Depth Instructional Guide

Step 1:

Understanding the 5E model of science instruction

Engage:

The 5E model of science instruction is spread out over a period of time which means that several days are devoted to one scientific concept. Start off the week (aka Monday) with “Engage” and use this time to “hook” the students on the new concept.  Examples of some “hooks” are yellow “CAUTION” tape hung up outside the classroom, lab bins stacked on the counter with all kinds of goodness to pique their curiosity or a pitch-black room with the windows blacked out by big ugly black trash bags. Lure students in with an engaging real-world text where they can use close reading strategies to interact with the text.  

Explore:

“Explore” is always a favorite!  After giving explicit instruction on the particular 5E model activity, the job of a teacher then turns to that of a facilitator.  Work the room and listen to students as they explore the phenomena.  You may need to clear up some misconceptions during this time so students can move forward.  Other than minor clarifications, allow the students ample time to explore.  This stage can begin one day and spill over to the next (see the Sample 5-Day Lesson Sequence below).  Students need time to work through the exploration and find solutions to what they might encounter.

Explain:

During the “Explain”  stage, teachers will move back from facilitator to teacher.  Introduce focus words and definitions.  Expect students to talk about the phenomena using these scientific terms during team discussions.  Additionally, this is also when you will give explicit instruction on the phenomena.  Examples of explicit instruction include mini-lessons/lectures, taking notes, watching videos, completing graphic organizers, labeling diagrams, etc.  This stage will take up an entire class period.

Elaborate:

During “Elaborate”, you want students to take what they have learned and then apply it to a real-world scenario.  The goal here is for students to expound on their knowledge.  Again, expect correct usage of scientific terminology during this stage.  “Elaborate” can take an entire period and spill over into homework.  Examples of “Elaborate” include student presentations, annotated illustrations, news report video recordings, create-a-lab, etc.

Evaluate:

Finish up the week with “Evaluate.”  Lori and I like to set aside the entire class period to review what students have learned.  We guide teams to talk with each other because research has shown that when students interact with the content via discussion, their retention is much better.  To help facilitate this, we have developed some discussion cards that we keep at each table.   After team discussions, we have each team’s “Reporter” (see our Lab Team Role cards here)  tell the class what they discussed.  Following a quick review game, students will then take the previously designed assessment.

Step 2: 

Know why the 5E model is important

The 5E model is a proven model of instruction that has a ton of benefits for students.  Here are but a few of those benefits (which we think are pretty darn convincing):

• Activities are student-centered, which allows students to build a strong foundation of the scientific concept
• Elicits active student participation and ups student engagement, which leads to less time off-task (aka the hidden secret to classroom management).
• Knowledge retention is better.
• Understanding is improved.
• Those with attention struggles stay more focused.
• Achievement increases (when implementing the 5E science model of instruction in our classrooms, we saw an increase in assessment scores anywhere from 20-40% over the previous year).
• A hands-on approach to learning, where students are learning for understanding and not just regurgitation facts and statistics soon to be forgotten.
• Superior processing skills are developed that also double as life-long skills!
• Students are actively engaged in their own learning and the teacher acts more as a facilitator or guide.

Step 3:

Teacher and student roles 

Within the 5E model of instruction, both the teacher and students have varying roles.  Grab these role cards Teacher and Student Role in the 5E Model Cards here for FREE.  We are all about setting you up for success, and these cards can help you keep teacher and student roles clear.  They are beneficial in planning out 5E model activities as well as carrying out these activities in class. Seriously, go grab them.  No strings attached.  Pinky promise.

Step 4:

Planning Science lessons using the 5E model

When using the framework of the 5E instructional model, teachers have a clearer vision when designing a lesson.  This instructional model naturally lends itself to more meaningful and purposeful 5E model activities.  For instance, before we began teaching with the 5E model, our lesson planning was all over the place.  First, we would look for cool science activities.  Then we would try to figure out where they fit.  After we would get into the experiment, we’d realized that what we thought was a good idea, was sorely lacking in substance.  Not only that,  we were not covering the required standards.  Sound familiar?  No?  Just us?  Didn’t think so… 

A simple way to begin using the 5E Model of Instruction is to just divide your paper into 5 sections.  This will serve as a graphic organizer where you can begin to organize your lesson.  Use the information given here as a guide.

5 Challenges in Implementing the 5E Model and Strategies to Overcome Them

The 5E model of instruction, consisting of Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate stages, can pose some challenges for teachers. However, here are some strategies to overcome them include:

1. Engage:
   • Challenge: Gaining student interest.
   • Strategy: Use real-world problems, multimedia, or hands-on activities to captivate their attention. Our Digital and Print Interactive Notebooks come with an Engage section. They include a real-world literacy read about the science concept and close reading strategies where students can engage with the text.
2. Explore:
   • Challenge: Managing various exploration paths.
   • Strategy: Set clear guidelines, encourage teamwork, and set boundaries to keep students on track.  Here are some free lab sheets you can incorporate into your explore stations.
3. Explain:
   • Challenge: Addressing misconceptions.
   • Strategy: Use formative assessments to identify misconceptions and facilitate open discussions to correct them.  Click here to see how our differentiated Cornell Science notes can help clear up misconceptions for all learners.
4. Elaborate:
   • Challenge: Applying concepts to new situations.
   • Strategy: Assign tasks requiring application in different contexts, where students can gain a  deeper understanding. Within each of our Digital and Print Interactive Notebooks, we have included a step-by-step Elaboration project so you don’t have to come up with one on your own.
5. Evaluate:
   • Challenge: Assessing varied learning outcomes.
   • Strategy: Utilize a mix of assessments (quizzes, projects) aligned with learning objectives. Our Digital and Print Interactive Notebooks not only come with an assessment, they also include a quick remediation for students who score less than 80% on the assessment, and an extension activity for those who scored at or above 80% on their assessment.

Remember, flexibility, differentiation, and formative feedback are key to successful implementation at each stage. Collaborate with colleagues and seek professional development for continuous improvement.

In Summary…

We defined just what the 5E Model of instruction is, and how to use it as a framework to guide your lesson planning.  We gave you 4 steps to rock the 5E model in your classroom.  Those steps include:  understanding the 5E model of instruction, knowing why the 5E model is important, defining the teacher and student roles within the 5E model, and planning science lessons using the 5E model of instruction.

As an added bonus to the very cool science teachers out there (yes, we are talking to YOU 😉), we compiled the mother-load of links to online science resources (labs, simulations, videos, etc.) to help you teach science effectively.  You can grab those links here.

Happy Teaching!

For those who want to learn more:

• Download the FREE Guide of Online Resources for Teaching Science.  Here you will see the magic of the 5E Model in action.
• How to Use the 5E Model in Your Science Classroom:  discusses using the 5E model to connect science ideas with student experiences.
• Empowering Students: The 5E Model Explained: explains how the 5E model empowers students by enhancing their understanding of new concepts.
• The 5Es of Inquiry Based Learning: explores the coherence and connections the 5E model brings to educational activities.