Questions, Claims, and Evidence

by Hand, Brian

• ISBN13: 9780325017273
• ISBN10: 0325017271
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-03-31
• Publisher: Heinemann

Summary

  I am so pleased that this book is going to be out in the professional conversation, especially in a time when science teaching and the understandings about our world that come about because of it get pushed aside. - Katie Wood Ray Author of About the Authors   Questions, Claims, and Evidence presents a new approach to science teaching that engages students fully by linking literacy and inquiry. With it you'll replace the lab reports of traditional science teaching with the writing of scientists searching for answers. And in the process, you and your students may well discover that you enjoy and learn from science time more than ever.   Step by step Questions, Claims, and Evidence immerses students in scientific inquiry and writing. It transforms experiments from following directions and making notes into chances to pose and answer questions that interest students. Its approach helps you: increase students' interest in science by showing students how to ask good questions and design their own experiments to answer them improve their analysis skills by giving them tools to make and support scientific claims boost their science writing by offering meaningful opportunities to argue for, reflect on, and summarize their findings. But Questions, Claims, and Evidence doesn't only support student learning. It improves your science teaching by: broadening your professional knowledge with the latest research and theory providing self-evaluation tools for monitoring your performance answering frequently asked questions about the Questions, Claims, and Evidence approach. Try something new that will motivate your students and improve their writing abilities. Read Questions, Claims, and Evidence, and don't be surprised if your students agree with this fifth grader's sentiment: "I love the way that we do science now because I learn more and I get to do more. I actually feel like I am smart."

Table of Contents

Questions, Claims, and Evidence: Examining Our Approach to Science Teaching and Learning	p. 1
Building Our Knowledge Base for Questions, Claims, and Evidence	p. 5
Learning Is About Understanding (Theory and Practice)	p. 8
Teaching So Children Can Learn	p. 18
Writing as an Essential Element of Science Inquiry	p. 43
Creating a Space in the Classroom for Questions, Claims, and Evidence	p. 61
What Makes a Question Good?	p. 65
Good Questions Lead to Evidence	p. 78
What Evidence Leads to Claims?	p. 93
Claims to Reflection and the Summary-Writing Experience	p. 105
Getting Started and Examining Our Own Teaching and Learning with Questions, Claims, and Evidence	p. 127
Implementing Your First Unit and Measuring Your Progress	p. 129
Frequently Asked Questions and Benefits of this Approach	p. 146
Afterword: One Final Claim	p. 155
Have a Go Appendix Overview	p. 157
References	p. 177
Index	p. 179
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