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

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

The Field Trip: Applying Ecology Concepts By: Patricia A. Warren and Janet R. Galle A chapter from Exploring Ecology: 49 Ready to-Use Activities for Grades 4-8 Taking students on a field trip will be the most exciting event of the school year if you plan it carefully. Ideally, a field trip will provide the one opportunity for students to individualize their activities. The general class information they have...  [view full summary] Taking students on a field trip will be the most exciting event of the school year if you plan it carefully. Ideally, a field trip will provide the one opportunity for students to individualize their activities. The general class information they have gained—counting populations, sampling soil, surveying the line transects—will now have specific applications in a specific place unique to each group of children. A field trip allows for creativity, individual discovery and expression, and the extension of the classroom beyond four walls. Serious field trips follow serious classroom preparation. This text emphasizes active ecology study, not simply reading about or looking at one’s environment. A field trip must have specific goals with definite tasks assigned. It is important to set these goals in conjunction with your students. The activities in Section II prepared students for individual research in the field. The field trip’s success will be directly related to the amount of careful teaching and planning that occurred before the field trip. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

The Great Outdoors: Field Trips Near and Far By: Terry Kwan and Juliana Texley A chapter from Inquiring Safely: A Guide for Middle School Teachers Your own classroom is rich with resources and activities, but some things simply can’t be done there. A strong investigative science program depends on providing students with the opportunity to collect and analyze data. Some data can be collected in...  [view full summary] Your own classroom is rich with resources and activities, but some things simply can’t be done there. A strong investigative science program depends on providing students with the opportunity to collect and analyze data. Some data can be collected in the classroom, but you may have to go elsewhere to collect real-life data—traveling to an exhibit, some equipment, or some experience that cannot be duplicated in your school. Well-planned field trips are a vital part of the total educational program. They play an important role in helping students relate basic concepts learned in the classroom to practical work and applications in the real world. Here you’ll discover how to prepare your middle school for “the great outdoors.” [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Middle School

Making a Case for a Research-Based Teaching Rationale By: John E. Penick and Robin Lee Harris A chapter from Teaching With Purpose: Closing the Research Practice Gap This chapter demonstrates the importance of developing a detailed plan or rationale for teaching science that will help you achieve improved results in the classroom. Although every teacher's plan or rationale will be different in some ways, it has been...  [view full summary] This chapter demonstrates the importance of developing a detailed plan or rationale for teaching science that will help you achieve improved results in the classroom. Although every teacher's plan or rationale will be different in some ways, it has been found that most successful plans embrace ten key components. They include writing down and expressing a personal vision of success in the classroom, seek to create a positive environment for learning in the classroom, and assess results and performance on a regular basis. This free selection includes the Table of Contents and Index. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Understanding Models By: Shirley Watt Ireton and Steven W. Gilbert A chapter from Understanding Models in Earth and Space Science Chapter 1 defines and discusses models in a broad, and perhaps unusual, way. In particular, the chapter stresses the framework of personal models that underlie science and learning across fields. Subsequent chapters will deal more with particular kinds...  [view full summary] Chapter 1 defines and discusses models in a broad, and perhaps unusual, way. In particular, the chapter stresses the framework of personal models that underlie science and learning across fields. Subsequent chapters will deal more with particular kinds of expressed models that are important in science and science teaching: physical models, analog models and plans, mathematical models, and computer simulations. Throughout, the book examines how all models are important to science, how they are used, and how to use them effectively. They can and should be used not only to teach science, but also to teach students something about the process of learning and about the nature of knowledge itself. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Middle School, High School, Informal Education

Integration and Extension By: Patricia A. Warren and Janet R. Galle A chapter from Exploring Ecology: 49 Ready-to-Use Activities for Grades 4-8 Activities in the field provide students with opportunities to be creative in the classroom. Integrating these experiences into the whole curriculum allows an interdisciplinary approach to education. Section IV, “Integration and Extension,” provides...  [view full summary] Activities in the field provide students with opportunities to be creative in the classroom. Integrating these experiences into the whole curriculum allows an interdisciplinary approach to education. Section IV, “Integration and Extension,” provides some ideas with which to begin this process with your students. The areas addressed in this section are creative writing, art, social studies, and extended science activities. In addition, we encourage writing activities of all kinds in response to any of the activities you undertake. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

Determining the Relationship Between Height and Hand Length By: John Eichinger A chapter from Activities Linking Science With Math, 5-8 For a motivating and baffling experience, try this investigation of perceptual illusions and their causes. It allows students to observe, analyze, and compare a variety of optical illusions, and also to create their own optical illusions with pencil,...  [view full summary] For a motivating and baffling experience, try this investigation of perceptual illusions and their causes. It allows students to observe, analyze, and compare a variety of optical illusions, and also to create their own optical illusions with pencil, paint, and paper. Their results will lead them to make conclusions about visual perception and to generalize about broader aspects of sensory perception. In the process, students will discover that shapes play a major role in illusions and that it can be difficult for one individual to simultaneously maintain two different perspectives. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Middle School

Stem Cell Transplants By: Irwin Slesnick A chapter from Thinking Scientifically About Controversial Issues: Clones, Cats, and Chemicals Transplanting embryonic stem cells from embryo into adult as a means of rejuvenating diseased cells, tissues, and organs poses ethical and moral challenges. In recent years, stem cell-derived nerve and glandular tissue has been transplanted into the brains...  [view full summary] Transplanting embryonic stem cells from embryo into adult as a means of rejuvenating diseased cells, tissues, and organs poses ethical and moral challenges. In recent years, stem cell-derived nerve and glandular tissue has been transplanted into the brains and pancreas of Parkinson’s disease and diabetes patients, respectively, with mixed results. This chapter provides background information on stem cell research, the future treatment of Parkinson’s disease, and the controversy surrounding this sensitive issue. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Middle School, High School

All Things Being Equal...Or Not By: William C. Robertson, Ph.D. A chapter from Math: Stop Faking It! Finally Understanding Science So You Can Teach It Now that we've covered at least a few examples of how we get equations from the physical world, it's time to work on solving those equations. Solving an equation means figuring out what values of the unknowns (the variables) will make the equality a...  [view full summary] Now that we've covered at least a few examples of how we get equations from the physical world, it's time to work on solving those equations. Solving an equation means figuring out what values of the unknowns (the variables) will make the equality a true statement. Sometimes there is only one solution, and sometimes there are a number of solutions. How exciting to have different possibilities, eh? Speaking of different possibilities, sometimes the real world gives us relationships that are inequalities. These will be introduced in this chapter as we learn how to solve them. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School