Science in the Elementary and Middle School

This exciting new book for science methods has its foundation in the National Science Standards. Chapters are built around the learning cycle of exploration, invention, and expansion, and the role of thinking skills in students' meaningful construction of science knowledge. Every chapter begins with Exploring Your Ideas, in which readers bring out their prior knowledge as they consider a problem. Then, the reader is guided through an explanation involving concrete examples and practice opportunities that develop knowledge and skills. Finally, discussion and examples of the topic help readers apply new ideas to classroom situations. This book ensures readers are prepared to teach to the expectations of today's school boards, principals, and parents. It sets out a general approach to working with some students' alternative “scientific” conceptions and readies future teachers to circumvent misconceptions in order to introduce students who hold these ideas to the rational inquiry techniques of true science. For teachers in the field of Science.