Short description:

This valuable handbook is packed with examples, questions, stories, and thought-provoking ideas linked to NSES to help teachers give students a strong start in science achievement.

Long description:

"Expertly describes how educators can plan a science curriculum that facilitates primary students' understanding, skills, and development in science, preparing them for careers requiring any level of scientific knowledge and giving them science literacy to make decisions that benefit society and the world."
?Robert D. Sweetland, Professor, Wayne State College

Design science instruction that helps develop enthusiastic young minds while meeting national standards!

Teaching science means doing science and involves three elements: knowing content, knowing children, and teachers knowing themselves as teachers and learners. Kerry C. Williams and George E. Veomett describe principles and requirements that reflect National Science Education Standards for the active learning of science. They identify key ingredients for primary students and their development as young scientists.

This resource is linked to research on cognitive and neural development and motivational theory from the work of Piaget and Vygotsky. Teachers inexperienced in science will discover new ways to think about science while they develop lessons that are rich, fun, and authentic for themselves and their students.

All educators will find examples, questions, stories, and thought-provoking ideas to give students a strong start in science achievement, plus:

• Six key elements to build into science instruction: observing, representing, organizing, patterning and questioning, experimenting, and sharing
• How-to's for incorporating inquiry, workshops, centers, and projects in primary and elementary classrooms
• A four-step system?choice, planning, doing, reviewing?that helps promote learning in science and across all subjects

Launching Learners in Science, PreK?5 helps educators teach science in a way that will expand their own confidence and let them make a lasting difference in children's lives!

Table of Contents:

Preface
Acknowledgements
About the Authors
Part I. Welcome to 'Launching Learners in Science'
1. Origin of 'Launching Learners in Science'
Knowing Science
Knowing Children and How They Learn
Knowing Structures That Facilitate Learning and Teaching Science
Changing Emphases
Outline of the NSES Science Content Standards
I. Unifying Concepts and Processes
IIA. Science as Inquiry
IIIB. Physical Science Content Standards
IIIC. Life Science Standards
IVD. Earth and Space Science
VE. Science and Technology
VIF. Science in Personal and Social Perspective
Conversation Starters
2. The Nature of Science
What Is the Nature of Science?
Science as a Body of Knowledge
Sciences as Process
Elements of the Scientific Process
A Historical Example
Science as Process in Elementary School
Reviewing the Nature of Science in Elementary Education
Conversation Starters
3. Prior Beliefs, Efficacy, and Teaching Science
Influence of Experiences and Beliefs on Practice
Efficacy
Reflecting on the Walls of Teaching Science
Getting Around the Walls
Wall