Teaching Children Science : Discovery Methods for the Elementary and Middle Grades

by Abruscato, Joseph

• ISBN13: 9780205330218
• ISBN10: 0205330215
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780205402618
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-07-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

This truncated, paperback volume is composed of strategies and techniques for teaching science derived from the fifth edition of Joseph Abruscato's successful text, Teaching Children Science: A Discovery Approach.The first nine chapters of Teaching Children Science are included in this new title to provide students with a discovery approach to promote the teaching of the concepts, skills, and attitudes of science in the classroom. These nine basic science teaching methods chapters cover strategies and techniques for teachers to incorporate cooperative learning, questioning and active listening in their classrooms. The author also covers planning and managing discovery-based units, assessing students' learning and understanding, the preparation of Internet-based Science WebQuests, and integrating science across the curriculum.

Author Biography

Joseph Abruscato presently teaches science curriculum and methods courses at the University of Vermont, Burlington.

Table of Contents

Welcome to Discovery Methods for the Elementary and Middle Grades	xi
Science and Technology	1	(18)
What are science and technology? Why teach them?
You, Children, and Science: Some Hopes, Some Fears, Some Dreams	2	(1)
What Is Science?	2	(1)
Science as Processes That Lead to Discovery	3	(1)
Science as Knowledge	4	(1)
Science as a Set of Values	5	(1)
What Is Technology?	6	(1)
Why Teach Children about Science and Technology?	6	(1)
Child Development Goals	7	(2)
Science, Technology, and Society (STS) Goals: The National Science Education Standards and Project 2061	9	(1)
What Is Discovery Learning?	10	(1)
Real Teachers Talking: A Starting Point for Thinking, Talking, and Writing	11	(1)
The Scientist: Who Is She?	12	(1)
Make the Case: An Individual or Group Challenge	13	(1)
Internet Resources: Websites for Science and Technology	14	(2)
Summary	16	(1)
Going Further	17	(1)
Notes	17	(1)
Suggested Readings	18	(1)
Learning Science	19	(18)
How can I use key ideas from learning theory to create a discovery-based classroom?
Are You Learning Now?	20	(1)
The Classic Learning Theories	20	(1)
The Behaviorists	20	(1)
The Cognitivists	21	(5)
Gardner's Multiple Intelligences	26	(1)
Gardner's Original Theory	26	(1)
Gardner's Addition: Naturalist Intelligence	27	(1)
Real Teachers Talking: A Starting Point for Thinking, Talking, and Writing	28	(2)
Constructivism	30	(1)
Naive Conceptions	30	(1)
Assimilating and Accommodating New Learnings	30	(1)
Learning Styles	31	(2)
Make the Case: An Individual or Group Challenge	33	(1)
Internet Resources: Websites for Applying Learning Theory	34	(1)
Summary	35	(1)
Going Further	35	(1)
Notes	36	(1)
Suggested Readings	36	(1)
Science Process Skills	37	(16)
How can I use the science process skills as starting points for discovery-based units and lesson plans?
Discovery Learning	38	(1)
A Definition of Discovery Learning	38	(1)
A Learning Cycle for Discovery	38	(1)
The Science Process Skills: Individual Descriptions with Classroom Examples	39	(1)
The Basic Processes	40	(2)
Real Teachers Talking: A Starting Point for Thinking, Talking, and Writing	42	(2)
The Integrated Processes	44	(4)
Make the Case: An Individual or Group Challenge	48	(1)
Internet Resources: Websites for the Science Process Skills	49	(2)
Summary	51	(1)
Going Further	51	(1)
Note	52	(1)
Suggested Readings	52	(1)
Planning and Managing	53	(20)
How can I plan and manage discovery-based units and lessons?
The Water Rat and the Sea Horse	54	(1)
The Scope of the Science Curriculum	55	(1)
Determining the Scope of Your Curriculum	55	(1)
The NSE Standards: Implications for Appropriate Scope	56	(1)
The Sequence of the Science Curriculum	57	(1)
Determining the Sequence of Your Curriculum	57	(3)
The NSE Standards: Implications for Appropriate Sequence	60	(1)
Unit Planning	60	(1)
What Makes a Good Unit Plan?	60	(1)
Will Unit Plans Work in Schools That Use Science Textbooks?	60	(1)
Lesson Planning	61	(1)
What Makes a Good Learning Objective?	61	(1)
What Makes a Good Discovery-Based Lesson Plan?	62	(1)
Sample Discovery-Based Lesson Plans	62	(4)
Classroom Organization and Management for Discovery Learning	66	(1)
Distributing Materials	66	(1)
Providing Work Space	66	(1)
Real Teachers Talking: A Starting Point for Thinking, Talking, and Writing	67	(1)
Make the Case: An Individual or Group Challenge	68	(1)
Providing Clear Directions	69	(1)
Internet Resources: Websites for Planning and Managing	69	(2)
Summary	71	(1)
Going Further	71	(1)
Notes	72	(1)
Suggested Readings	72	(1)
Strategies for Discovery Learning	73	(16)
How can I use cooperative learning, special questioning, active listening, and other strategies to foster discovery learning?
The Problem with Talk	74	(1)
Cooperative Learning Strategies	74	(1)
Real Teachers Talking: A Starting Point for Thinking, Talking, and Writing	75	(1)
What Is a Cooperative Learning Group?	76	(1)
Finding a Focus for Your Groups	76	(1)
Three Steps to Successful Cooperative Learning Groups	77	(1)
Questioning Strategies	78	(1)
Improving the Questions You Ask	78	(2)
Using Wait-Time	80	(1)
Active Listening Strategies	81	(1)
Demonstrations	82	(1)
Science Textbooks	83	(2)
Make the Case: An Individual or Group Challenge	85	(1)
Internet Resources: Websites for Discovery Learning	86	(1)
Summary	87	(1)
Going Further	87	(1)
Notes	88	(1)
Suggested Readings	88	(1)
Assessment for Understanding and Inquiry	89	(22)
How can I move toward using authentic assessment and the assessment recommendations of the NSE standards?
``What D'ja Git?''	90	(1)
Traditional Assessment, Authentic Assessment, and the NSE Standards Approach	90	(1)
Traditional Assessment Techniques	91	(1)
End-of-Chapter Homework	91	(1)
Quizzes	92	(1)
Tests	93	(1)
Library Reports	94	(1)
Activity Write-Ups	95	(1)
Standardized Tests	96	(1)
Authentic Assessment Techniques	97	(1)
Portfolios	97	(1)
Real Teachers Talking: A Starting Point for Thinking, Talking, and Writing	98	(1)
Anecdotal Records	99	(1)
Affective Development Checklists	100	(1)
Science Conferences with Children	101	(1)
Science Journals	101	(1)
Children's Self-Assessment	101	(1)
The NSE Standards Recommendations for Assessing Understanding and Inquiry	102	(1)
Assessing Students' Understanding	102	(3)
Assessing Students' Ability to Conduct Inquiry	105	(1)
Make the Case: An Individual or Group Challenge	106	(1)
Internet Resources: Websites Related to Assessment	107	(2)
Summary	109	(1)
Going Further	109	(1)
Notes	110	(1)
Suggested Readings	110	(1)
Integrating Science	111	(18)
How can I integrate science with other subjects during the school day?
Making Connections	112	(1)
Science and the Language Arts	112	(1)
Three Integrating Techniques	112	(1)
Weaving It Together with Whole Language Instruction	113	(1)
Real Teachers Talking: A Starting Point for Thinking, Talking, and Writing	114	(1)
Extending the Basics: Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Writing	114	(2)
Science and Mathematics	116	(1)
Computational Skills	117	(1)
Data Collection and Expression	118	(1)
Logical Reasoning	119	(1)
Science and the Social Studies	119	(1)
Science and Art	120	(2)
Science and Music	122	(1)
Science and Health and Physical Education	123	(1)
Make the Case: An Individual or Group Challenge	124	(1)
Internet Resources: Websites for Integrating Science and Other Subjects	124	(2)
Summary	126	(1)
Going Further	126	(1)
Notes	127	(1)
Suggested Readings	128	(1)
Science WebQuests	129	(18)
How can I plan and manage discovery-based projects for my plugged-in classroom?
A Strange Thing Happened on My Way to School One Day	130	(1)
What Is a Science WebQuest?	130	(1)
Relationship to the Process Skills	131	(3)
Relationship to the Discovery-Learning Cycle	134	(1)
Relationship to the NSE Standards, Project 2061, and Local Curriculum Guides	135	(1)
Alternative Strategies for Using Science WebQuests in Your Classroom	135	(1)
How to Plan and Prepare a Science WebQuest	136	(1)
Planning Challenges That Fit Your Students	136	(4)
Planning Journeys That Fit Your Students	140	(1)
Assessing the Report	141	(1)
Real Teachers Talking: A Starting Point for Thinking, Talking, and Writing	142	(1)
Make the Case: An Individual or Group Challenge	143	(1)
Internet Resources: Websites for Science WebQuests	143	(1)
Summary	144	(1)
Going Further	145	(1)
Notes	146	(1)
Suggested Readings	146	(1)
Adapting the Science Curriculum	147	(18)
How can I adapt the science curriculum for children from diverse cultural backgrounds, children with special needs, and children with special gifts and talents?
Treasuring the Fleeting Moments	148	(1)
Children from Diverse Cultural Backgrounds	148	(1)
Acquiring Supplementary Science Materials for Non-English Speakers	148	(1)
Reinforcing Reading and Language Arts Skills	149	(1)
Organizing Peer Tutoring	150	(1)
Fostering Parent/Classroom Science Connections	150	(2)
Creating Discovery-Based Lessons with Multicultural Dimensions	152	(1)
Children with Special Needs	152	(1)
The Inclusion Illusion	152	(1)
Science Experiences for Children with Visual Impairments	152	(4)
Science Experiences for Children with Hearing Impairments	156	(1)
Real Teachers Talking: A Starting Point for Thinking, Talking, and Writing	157	(1)
Science Experiences for Children with Physical Impairments	158	(1)
Science Experiences for Children with Emotional Problems	158	(1)
Children with Special Gifts and Talents	159	(1)
Day-to-Day Enrichment Activities	160	(1)
Challenge Projects	160	(1)
Make the Case: An Individual or Group Challenge	161	(1)
Internet Resources: Websites for Inclusive Classrooms	161	(1)
Summary	162	(1)
Going Further	163	(1)
Notes	164	(1)
Suggested Readings	164	(1)
For the Teacher's Desk	165	(20)
Your Classroom Enrichment Handbook	167	(11)
Keeping Living Things ... Alive	167	(2)
Safety Management Helper	169	(2)
Materials to Keep in Your Science Closet	171	(1)
The Metric Helper	172	(1)
Content Coverage Checklists	173	(3)
Your Science Survival Bookshelf	176	(2)
Your Science Source Address Book	178	(7)
Free and Inexpensive Materials	178	(1)
The ``Wish Book'' Companies	179	(1)
Bilingual Child Resources	180	(1)
Special-Needs Resources	181	(1)
Science Teachers Associations	182	(1)
NASA Teacher Resource Centers	183	(2)
Appendix: The National Science Education (NSE) Content Standards, Grades K-8	185	(4)
Index	189