Subject area instruction provides a meaningful context for English language and literacy development, while a language
processes provide the medium for understanding academic content. Hands-on, inquiry-based science is particularly
effective for ELL students, as it bridges contextualized exploration of natural
phenomena, authentic language activities, and communication of ideas in a variety
of formats, including written, oral, gestural, and graphic (Lee et al. 2005; Rosebery
et al. 1992). Doing so fosters the creation of classroom environments that promote
ELL students’ development of general and content-specific academic language