Teaching Science in Elementary and Middle School

Preface Part I. Creating the Context for Science Education 1. The Nature of Science What Is Science? Theory Into Practice 1.1: Nature of Science Cards What Science Is Not How Science Is Done Theory Into Practice 1.2: Hidden Shapes Patterns That Connect Qualities of Scientific Inquiry Combining the Qualities of Scientific Inquiry to Address Scientific Questions Theory Into Practice 1.3: The Hypothesis Box Paradigms and Paradigm Shifts in the Nature of Science Summary Student Study Site Reflections on Science Learning Science On-Line: Researching Scientist Biographies Internet Connections: Nature of Science Resources References 2. Science Education in Social Context The Historical Role of Science Education in Our Society Theory Into Practice 2.1: What Would Life Be Like Without Certain Inventions? Science Education Within Broader Educational Reforms Theory Into Practice 2.2: Education Reform and You The Contemporary Role of Science Education in Our Society and the Current Wave of Science Education Reform Theory Into Practice 2.3: D efinitions of Scientific Literacy Broader Education Reforms and Science Education Learning to Speak the Language of Science Theory Into Practice 2.4: Metaphors in Science Ethics in Science and the Concept of Human Progress Theory Into Practice 2.5: Ethics and the Humane Treatment of Experimental Animals Summary Student Study Site Reflections on Science Learning Science On-Line: Creating a Virtual Smithsonian Science Museum Internet Connections: Science Museums on the Internet References 3. Toward a Philosophy of Hands-On Inquiry-Based Science Education Piagetian Constructivism and Learning Through Rediscovery Learning Through Play Theory Into Practice 3.1: Helping Students Make Meaning of Experience Designing Experiments and Learning Through Project-Based Science Theory Into Practice 3.2: Learning by Design Sociocultural Theory and Learning Through Legitimate Peripheral Participation Theory Into Practice 3.3: Learning Theories Textbook Review On-Line Resources and the Changing Science Classroom Summary Student Study Site Reflections on Science Learning Science On-Line: Studying Natural Disasters Internet Connections: Design-Based Learning References 4. Diverse Learners in the Science Classroom History of Diverse Learners in the Science Classroom Theory Into Practice 4.1: Draw a Scientist Current Science Education Reforms and Their Impact on Diverse Learners Theory Into Practice 4.2: Mapping the Increasing Diversity in American Classrooms Strategies for Working With Diverse Learners in the Science Classroom Theory Into Practice 4.3: Two-Column Girls and Scientists Activity Theory Into Practice 4.4: Modifying Lab Activities Theory Into Practice 4.5: Sheltered Second- Language Activity Theory Into Practice 4.6: Debating the "Fairness" of Gifted Education Summary Student Study Site Reflections on Science Learning Science On-Line: Auditory and Visual Learning in Science Education Internet Connections: Science for Diverse Learners References 5. Observing as a Scientist and as a Science Teacher Scientific Observation Theory Into Practice 5.1: Observation Experiment: Watching a Traffic Pattern Observation in the Classroom From Observation to Assessment of Science Learning From Observation to Managing the Classroom to Enhance Science Learning Creating a Safe Science Learning Environment Field Experiences, Peer Teaching, and Other Opportunities to Practice the Craft of Science Teaching Observational Forms Theory Into Practice 5.2: Science Lesson Observation Form Theory Into Practice 5.3: Observing in a Science Museum or Other Non-School Setting Theory Into Practice 5.4: Interviewing a Teacher After Observing a Science Lesson Beyond Observation: Other Science Inquiry Processes Creating a Science Educator's Portfolio Theory Into Practice 5.5: Looking at Electronic Portfolios Summary Student Study Site Reflections on Science Learning Science On-Line: Combining Content with Field Experiences Internet Connections: Scientific Observation Part II. Teaching and Learning the Science Disciplines 6. Understanding and Teaching Earth and Space Sciences Earth Scientists Then and Now: Mary Anning and Charles Keeling The Place of Earth and Space Science in Science Education Measuring and Estimating in Earth and Space Science Experiment 1: Estimating the Number of Books in Your School Library Experiment 2: Orienteering Experiment 3: Geologic Time on a Football Field The Cosmos: The Sun, Planets, Solar System, Stars, and Beyond Experiment 4: Solar System Model Experiment 5: Expanding Universe Model Experiment 6: Hot Enough to Fry an Egg Astronomy: Observing the Heavens From Earth in the Past and Present Experiment 7: Modeling Phases of the Moon Experiment 8: The Changing Seasons Experiment 9: Changing Lengths of Shadows Restless Earth: Earth's Composition, Layers, Movements, and Impacts in Surface Features Experiment 10: Convection Currents Experiment 11: Mountain Building With Towels Experiment 12: Earthquake-Resistant Structures Rocks and Minerals: Formation, Identification, and Human Use of Common Rocks and Minerals Experiment 13: Crystals in Your Kitchen Experiment 14: Identifying Minerals Experiment 15: Determining Soil Type Earth Cycles: Many Processes on Earth Operate in Cycles Experiment 16: Building an Aquifer Model Experiment 17: Edible Rock Cycle Experiment 18: Cloud in a Bottle Weather and Climate: Weather Patterns, Climate Zones, and Climatic Change Over Time Experiment 19: Tracking Rainfall Experiment 20: Making an Anemometer Experiment 21: Rainforest Terrarium Atmosphere: Atmospheric Movement, Layers, Pressure and Cloud Formation, Smog and Pollution Experiment 22: Why Are Clouds White? Experiment 23: Why Is the Sky Blue? Experiment 24: Smog in a Jar Water and Oceans: Fresh Water/Salt Water Distribution, Interactions, and Contamination Experiment 25: How Salty Is Too Salty? Experiment 26: Mapping the Ocean Floor Experiment 27: Oil Spill Clean-Up Student Study Site Reflections on Science Internet Connections: Earth and Space Science 7. Understanding and Teaching Biology Biologists Then and Now: Ernst Haeckel and Steven Jay Gould The Place of Biology in Science Education Measurement in Biology Experiment 28: Measuring Peak Flow Rate Experiment 29: Estimating Lengths of Very Small Objects Experiment 30: Measuring Population Change Classification Experiment 31: Observation in the Bag Experiment 32: Developing a System of Classification Experiment 33: Classifying Different Animals Plants Experiment 34: Seed Germination Experiment 35: Making a Plant Cell Model Experiment 36: The Effect of Acid Rain on Plant Growth Animals Experiment 37: Owl Pellet Dissection Experiment 38: Making an Animal Cell Model Experiment 39: Conducting a Bird Census Neither Plant nor Animal: Protista, Monera, Viruses, Bacteria, Fungi Experiment 40: Exploring Pond Water Experiment 41: The Power of Yeast Experiment 42: Making Yogurt Ladder of Life: The Building Blocks of Organisms Experiment 43: Cell Packing Experiment 44: Photosynthesis and Transpiration Experiment 45: Minimal Surfaces in Natural and Biological Forms Code of Life: All Life Is Based on the Same Genetic Code Experiment 46: Making a Model of the DNA Double Helix Experiment 47: Black Marker "Fingerprints" Experiment 48: Hearing Loss Simulation Evolution: Natural Selection and Evidence for Species Evolution Experiment 49: Bird Beak Models Experiment 50: Experimenting With Stereoscopic Vision Experiment 51: Design-an-Organism Biomes and Ecosystems: Interactions Between Plants, Animals, and the Non-Living World Experiment 52: Tracing Food Webs Experiment 53: Greenhouse Effect Model Experiment 54: Unintended Consequences The Human Body and Human Health Experiment 55: You Are What You Eat Experiment 56: Modeling the Human Arm Experiment 57: Spreading Infectious Disease Student Study Site Reflections on Science Internet Connections: Biology References 8. Understanding and Teaching Chemistry Chemists Then and Now: Marie Curie and Frank Sherwood Rowland The Place of Chemistry in Science Education Measurement in Chemistry Experiment 58: Estimating Volume Experiment 59: Making a Thermometer Experiment 60: Serial Dilution of Colored Liquid Atoms, Elements, and Molecules Experiment 61: Marshmallow Molecule Models Experiment 62: Evaporating Molecules Experiment 63: Elements You Eat Matter Experiment 64: Hot Air Rises Experiment 65: Densities of Liquids Experiment 66: Making Salt Crystals Experiment 67: Floating a Needle on Water Experiment 68: Separating Mixtures Experiment 69: Comparing Soaps Temperature Experiment 70: Evaporation of Alcohol and Water Experiment 71: Hot and Cold Water Mixtures Experiment 72: Making Ice Cream Pressure Experiment 73: Burning Candles Experiment 74: Creating a Simple Vacuum Experiment 75: Cartesian Diver Fuels Experiment 76: Building a Voltaic Pile Experiment 77: Making a Solar Water Heater Experiment 78: Peanut Power Student Study Site Reflections on Science Internet Connections: Chemistry References 9. Understanding and Teaching Physics Physicists Then and Now: Michael Faraday and Stephen W. Hawking The Place of Physics in Science Education Measurement in Physics Experiment 79: Using Standard and Nonstandard Units of Length Experiment 80: Determining Relative and Absolute Weights Using a Pan Balance Experiment 81: Using a Stopwatch to Measure Time Force: Gravity, Velocity, Acceleration, Newton's Laws Experiment 82: Flipping a Card off Your Finger While Leaving a Quarter in Place Experiment 83: Swinging a Bucket of Water in a Circle Without Getting Wet Experiment 84: Demonstrating "Lift" with a Ping-Pong Ball and Straw Forms of Energy Experiment 85: Bouncing Superballs Experiment 86: Modeling Nuclear Half-Life Experiment 87: Creating an Electroscope to Detect Static Electricity Simple Machines Experiment 88: Experimenting With Pulleys Experiment 89: Experimenting With Ramps Experiment 90: Experimenting With Levers Sound Experiment 91: Demonstrating the Conduction of Sound Experiment 92: Experimenting With Harmonic Sound Experiment 93: Experimenting With Resonance Light and Color Experiment 94: Making a Thaumatrope Experiment 95: Color Blending Experiment 96: Bending Light Electricity and Magnetism Experiment 97: Observing Magnetic Fields Experiment 98: Making a Simple Circuit Experiment 99: Making an Electromagnet Student Study Site Reflections on Science Experiment 100: Design Your Own Experiment Internet Connections: Physics References Part III. Making the Transition From Preservice Teacher to Inservice Teacher 10. Teacher Professional Development: Growing as a Teacher of Science History of Teacher Professional Development The Current State of Teacher Professional Development Theory Into Practice 10.1: Recertification Requirements Across States Action Research: From Research "On" to Research "With" Lesson Study Theory Into Practice 10.2: The TIMMS Video Project Parental Involvement and Parental Engagement Theory Into Practice 10.3: Parent Interview Professional Organizations: NSTA Advanced Study Theory Into Practice 10.4: Interviewing an NBCT in Your School District Applying for Grants Theory Into Practice 10.5: If I Had $500 Summary Student Study Site Reflections on Science Learning Science On-Line: On-Line Resources for Science Teaching References Appendix. The National Science Education Standards for Science Content Glossary Index About the Authors