Science Beyond the Curriculum: Projects and Challenges By: Frances V. Figarella-García, Lizzette M. Velázquez-Rivera, and Teresita Santiago-Rivera Edited by: Linda Froschauer A chapter from Science Beyond the Classroom Average User Rating: The National Science Education Standards and Benchmarks for Science Literacy stress the importance of creating science experiences that are linked to the real world, something that is familiar to students. Projects and challenges hold the potential for...  [view full summary] The National Science Education Standards and Benchmarks for Science Literacy stress the importance of creating science experiences that are linked to the real world, something that is familiar to students. Projects and challenges hold the potential for fostering curiosity and motivating students. If we want to consider science for all, then we must seek ways to engage students in interests that go beyond the curriculum. This free selection includes the Table of Contents, Introduction, and Index. As a special bonus, an additional chapter featuring a problem-based learning (PBL) experience related to mass and volume is included. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, Informal Education

Sounds of Science By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry A chapter from Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children's Books to Guide Inquiry Average User Rating: Learners explore how sound is produced by vibrations. They make a straw instrument and investigate how to vary its pitch. Learners also design and build an instrument that produces a high pitch and a low pitch and explain how it works. Learners explore how sound is produced by vibrations. They make a straw instrument and investigate how to vary its pitch. Learners also design and build an instrument that produces a high pitch and a low pitch and explain how it works. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School

Inquiry in the Chemistry Classroom: Perplexity, Model Testing, and Synthesis By: Scott McDonald, Brett Criswell, and Oliver Dreon, Jr. A chapter from Science as Inquiry in the Secondary Setting Average User Rating: Lavoisier's theory of combustion is used as a context for a set of interrelated, inquiry-fostering investigations in a high school chemistry class. Further, this example of chemistry inquiry is used to develop some central ideas about inquiry pedagogy...  [view full summary] Lavoisier's theory of combustion is used as a context for a set of interrelated, inquiry-fostering investigations in a high school chemistry class. Further, this example of chemistry inquiry is used to develop some central ideas about inquiry pedagogy in science classrooms across content areas: sustained yet evolving scientific perplexity; model testing; and finally, synthesis that is a thoughtful and empirically supported explanation that may encompass multiple, seemingly conflicting pieces of data from a number of different phenomena. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Middle School, High School

Theory Behind The Book By: Richard Konicek-Moran A chapter from More Everyday Science Mysteries: Stories for Inquiry-Based Science Teaching This book, and particularly the stories which lie within, provide an opportunity for students to take ownership of their learning and learn science in a way that will give them a more positive attitude about science. In addition, it will serve to help...  [view full summary] This book, and particularly the stories which lie within, provide an opportunity for students to take ownership of their learning and learn science in a way that will give them a more positive attitude about science. In addition, it will serve to help students to process their learning with their classmates and teachers. The theory behind this remarkable book is presented in this chapter. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

Designing and Constructing a Load-Bearing Structure By: John Eichinger A chapter from Activities Linking Science With Math, 5-8 We rely on many structures to bear loads. Examples such as bridges, chairs, shelves, tall buildings, and even our own legs must support weight consistently and effectively. But where do the human-designed examples come from? Who designs these structures...  [view full summary] We rely on many structures to bear loads. Examples such as bridges, chairs, shelves, tall buildings, and even our own legs must support weight consistently and effectively. But where do the human-designed examples come from? Who designs these structures and how do they do it? In this activity, students get to apply science and mathematics as they get a hands-on and process-oriented experience of engineering, architecture, and design. First, they explore the properties of wire as a sculptural medium, and then they utilize some of that knowledge as they devise and build a load-bearing structure using nothing but 10 pipe cleaners. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Middle School

Catapult Design Brief By: Lee Pulis and NSTA Press A chapter from Construct-a-Catapult In this unit, you will be designing, building, and improving a mechanical launching system resembling an ancient catapult. Your system will be scaled down for use in the classroom and will take advantage of elastic properties of modern materials, saving...  [view full summary] In this unit, you will be designing, building, and improving a mechanical launching system resembling an ancient catapult. Your system will be scaled down for use in the classroom and will take advantage of elastic properties of modern materials, saving you tasks like twisting huge bundles of sinew into torsion springs (see Catapult Design History reading, p. 13). You will use both technological design and scientific inquiry as processes to investigate and improve how your catapult performs. This free selection includes the Table of Contents. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: High School

Science is Part of the Big Picture By: Anita Greenwood A chapter from Teaching Teachers: Bringing First-Rate Science to the Elementary Classroom By becoming active learners themselves, teachers recognize that science is part of the “big picture,” and they are able to link newly constructed ideas about active learning to other pedagogical initiatives. It is important not to neglect theory if teachers...  [view full summary] By becoming active learners themselves, teachers recognize that science is part of the “big picture,” and they are able to link newly constructed ideas about active learning to other pedagogical initiatives. It is important not to neglect theory if teachers are to develop a model that assists them in modifying their instructional approaches and that makes sense of professional development activities. This free chapter includes a Table of Contents and Introduction. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School

Investigating Textures By: John Eichinger A chapter from Activities Linking Science With Math, K-4 This simple but engaging activity about texture is for students in grades K–4. Textures are all around us, and they are important to our everyday activities—consider a piece of sandpaper, a cheese grater, or the soles of your shoes. As students become...  [view full summary] This simple but engaging activity about texture is for students in grades K–4. Textures are all around us, and they are important to our everyday activities—consider a piece of sandpaper, a cheese grater, or the soles of your shoes. As students become aware of the details and properties of familiar surroundings, which they do in this activity with their texture rubbings, they learn to more closely observe the conditions around them. Students also have the opportunity to recognize patterns, including mathematical associations, in their world. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School

Celebrating Cultural Diversity: Science Learning for All—An Introduction By: H. Prentice Baptiste--Cultural Inclusion, Shirley Gholston Key--Cultural Inclusion, Gerry M. Madrazo, Jr. --Embracing Diversity, Stan Hill--Encouraging Equitable Enrollment, and Paul B. Hounshell--Encouraging Equitable Enrollment A chapter from Celebrating Cultural Diversity: Science Learning for All What is a “multicultural” classroom? Classrooms, even if they are filled with non-majority students, are not necessarily multicultural. There are three elements necessary for a truly multicultural science-learning environment: First, the sense that all...  [view full summary] What is a “multicultural” classroom? Classrooms, even if they are filled with non-majority students, are not necessarily multicultural. There are three elements necessary for a truly multicultural science-learning environment: First, the sense that all students can learn and do science; second, the view that each student has a worthwhile place in the science classroom; and third, an appreciation for the contributions of all cultures to our scientific knowledge (Atwater, 1993; Hays, 2001). Science Learning for All: Celebrating Cultural Diversity focuses on the need for multicultural science classrooms, and addresses what makes a culturally diverse science classroom a multicultural one. This free selection features topics such as cultural inclusion, embracing diversity, and encouraging equitable enrollment. The Table of Contents, NSTA Position Statement on Multicultural Science Education, and Introduction are also included. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: High School

Earth and Space Science Edited by: Lawrence F. Lowery A chapter from NSTA Pathways to the Science Standards: Guidelines for Moving the Vision into Practice (Elementary School Edition) From earliest times, humans have looked at the earth and sky with wonder, trying to find explanations for what they saw. Today, we have learned more about our solar system from our own experiences, and from the great wealth of information available to...  [view full summary] From earliest times, humans have looked at the earth and sky with wonder, trying to find explanations for what they saw. Today, we have learned more about our solar system from our own experiences, and from the great wealth of information available to us. Together these two ways of learning help us to understand the world around us. In grades K-4, student learning about Earth and sky occurs primarily by making observations as they explore, collect, describe, and record information. Students investigate the properties of water, rocks, minerals, and soil. We guide them in observing natural changes of all kinds, including cyclical changes, such as the movement of the Sun and moon, and variable changes, like the weather. This free excerpt from NSTA Pathways to the Science Standards: Guidelines for Moving the Vision into Practice (Elementary School Edition) includes a Table of Contents and Resources for the Road section. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School