This first video provides an introduction to the SISL Video Library and to the SISL approach to language development in science.

The videos in the SISL Video Library were taken in a 4th/5th grade classroom that was implementing the SISL Space Unit. In these videos, you will see examples of the intentional activities that make up the SISL curriculum and how these activities provide English learners the opportunity to use their language and develop their language capacity. The videos are organized thematically and can be watched in any order depending on your own interest. While watching the videos, you will notice that many of the students in the videos are often participating and engaging with the curriculum with imperfect, learner language and that their language is developing through their participation in a diversity of intentional activities rather than being taught language directly.

In addition to seeing the students in the classroom, you will also meet Luz, the teacher in the video who skillfully structures and facilitates the activities that are designed to support both the language development and science learning of all of the students in the classroom regardless of their English proficiency.

Included in each video is a short commentary and reflection. We have also included questions and prompts that accompany each video for further reflection and discussion.