Teaching Children Science

In the early twentieth century, a curriculum known as nature study flourished in major city school systems, streetcar suburbs, small towns, and even rural one-room schools. This object-based approach to learning about the natural world marked the first systematic attempt to introduce science into elementary education, and it came at a time when institutions such as zoos, botanical gardens, natural history museums, and national parks were promoting the idea that direct knowledge of nature would benefit an increasingly urban and industrial nation. The definitive history of this once pervasive nature study movement, TeachingChildren Science emphasizes the scientific, pedagogical, and social incentives that encouraged primarily women teachers to explore nature in and beyond their classrooms. Sally Gregory Kohlstedt brings to vivid life the instructors and reformers who advanced nature study through on-campus schools, summer programs, textbooks, and public speaking. Within a generation, this highly successful hands-on approach migrated beyond public schools into summer camps, afterschool activities, and the scouting movement. Although the rich diversity of nature study classes eventually lost ground to increasingly standardized curricula, Kohlstedt locates its legacy in the living plants and animals in classrooms and environmental field trips that remain central parts of science education today.

This brand-new elementary science methods text uses an innovative applied approach and is authored by three leaders in the field. The text takes a constructivist approach and practices this approach by engaging students in reflective thought and investigations.Project-based science engages young learners in exploring authentic, important, and meaningful questions of real concern to students. Through a dynamic process of investigation and collaboration and using the same processes and technologies that real scientists use, students work in teams to formulate questions, make predictions, design investigations, collect and analyze data, make products and share ideas. Students learn fundamental science concepts and principles that they apply to their daily lives. Project-based science helps all students regardless of culture, race, or gender engage in science learning.The book is packed with numerous examples so that the reader can easily understand points that are made throughout the book. Each chapter has activity boxes with experiments that exemplify the project-based approach. The book provides useful tips, charts, diagrams, and tables that illustrate how to get children doing investigations. The text's dynamic teaching methods match all of today's major science education reports including The National Science Education Standards, Project 2061: Science for All Americans, and Benchmarks for Science Literacy.

"Teaching Science to Every Child provides timely and practical guidance about teaching science to all students. Particular emphasis is given to making science accessible to students who are typically pushed to the fringe - especially students of color and English language learners. Central to this text is the idea that science can be viewed as a culture, including specific methods of thinking, particular ways of communicating, and specialized kinds of tools. By using culture as a starting point and connecting it to effective instructional approaches, this text gives elementary and middle school science teachers a valuable framework to support the science learning of every student. Written in a conversational style, it treats readers as professional partners in efforts to address vital issues and implement classroom practices that will contribute to closing achievement gaps and advancing the science learning of all children. Features include "Point/Counterpoint" essays that present contrasting perspectives on a variety of science education topics; explicit connections between National Science Education Standards and chapter content; and chapter objectives, bulleted summaries, key terms; reflection and discussion questions. Additional resources are available on the updated and expanded Companion Website www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415892582 Changes in the Second Edition Three entirely new chapters: Integrated Process Skills; Learning and Teaching; Assessment Technological tools and resources embedded throughout each chapter Increased attention to the role of theory as it relates to science teaching and learning Expanded use of science process skills for upper elementary and middle school Additional material about science notebooks "--Provided by publisher

If you like the popular?Teaching Science Through Trade Books? columns in NSTA?s journal Science and Children, or if you?ve become enamored of the award-winning Picture-Perfect Science Lessons series, you?ll love this new collection. It?s based on the same time-saving concept: By using children?s books to pique students? interest, you can combine science teaching with reading instruction in an engaging and effective way.

Intended for both pre-service and practicing teachers,Teaching Children Science: Discovery Methods for the Elementary and Middle Grades, 2/epresents contemporary ideas in a motivating, engaging writing style that captivates future classroom teachers and enhances instruction in the science classroom. This text offers the first nine basic science teaching methods chapters highlighting strategies and techniques teachers need in order to incorporate cooperative learning, questioning and active listening in their classrooms. This truncated paperback volume is composed of strategies and techniques for teaching science derived from the Sixth Edition of Joseph Abruscato's successful comprehensive text,Teaching Children Science: A Discovery Approach. Allow your students to "discover" science through this practical text. New to This Edition: With a renewed focus on the NSE content standards, this text provides clear direction of what teachers need to know to be prepared for the classroom. Discusses implementation of the NSE K-8 Content Standards and provides curriculum responsive to those standards. Covers elementary science topics including earth and space science, life science, physical sciences, and technology in a lively and engaging style that students find accessible. Satisfies the NSE standards of "the human side of science" (all chapters). Continuing its strength in supportive pedagogy, this text guides students into discovery. Features such as "A Look Ahead," "Go Further," "Quick Checks," and "Demonstrations" provide students with tangible suggestions to bring into the classroom. "This is an excellent resource for future teachers to have during their actual teaching." Professor Russell Agne,The University of Vermont "Dr. Abruscato¿s writing style appeals to those who aspire to teach science as well as to those who have a desire to teach but are among the many who tend to be science shy." Professor Jim Dawson,Rochester College Author bio: Dr. Joseph Abruscatoreceived his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Trenton State College and his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. He presently teaches science curriculum and methods courses at the University of Vermont, Burlington. He was inspired by his own teachers to enter the teaching profession and his personal experience as a teacher has enhanced his professional work as a teacher educator. Dr. Abruscato has presented hundreds of speeches and workshops across the United States and Canada and has published a variety of science books for children and teachers includingTeaching Children ScienceandWhizbangers and Wonderments. Other Texts to Consider: