Your Science Classroom: Becoming an Elementary / Middle School Science Teacher, by authors M. Jenice "Dee" Goldston and Laura Downey, is a core teaching methods textbook for use in elementary and middle school science methods courses. Designed around a practical, "practice-what-you-teach" approach to methods instruction, the text is based on current constructivist philosophy, organized around 5E inquiry, and guided by the National Science Education Teaching Standards.

Emphasizing the constructivist theory, this text provides an overview of science education. It also includes the use of technology, emphasis on the learning cycle approach, vignettes from classroom instructors, use of assessment and the National Science Education Standards, and resources which are given through the World Wide Web.

This text provides an overview of current science teaching practices for the elementary and middle grades. The authors, top scholars in the field of science education, believe that all children should develop an in-depth and meaningful understanding of scientific concepts and processes. To achieve this, the text utilizes the Project Based Approach. Project-based science stresses that science teaching should emphasize the active engagement of students in science, rather than teachers telling students information. Each chapter has several Portfolio Activity boxes that provide active learning experiences or reflections for the student. Like the first edition, the text includes numerous strategies in each chapter that help both new and experienced teachers understand how to teach science in an active and engaging manner. The text also shows teachers how to implement the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and constructivist strategies. A NSES marginal feature keys content to the standards. Moreover, this textbook helps teachers learn how to implement all of today's major reforms; not just read about them.

Vast research substantiates the integration of science and literacy, but there are very few books that correlate findings and address specific practices. Integrating Science and Literary Instruction connects scientific research and best instructional practices in literacy and integrates this with the inquiry-based scientific process. The authors emphasize process, not a particular program, and focus on three overall areas that influence the merging of literacy and science: inquiry-based instruction, extensions of the science literacy framework, and special issues within the design of each section. Each chapter provides in-depth information to support and guide those in the educational field as they implement a science-related literacy focus. This book includes: -A discussion on the connection between literacy and science -An overview of the Inquiry Based Science Process -Details on how to integrate science into the literacy process -A resource guide with names of books that can be integrated into a science inquiry based lesson For K-8 teachers, principals, central office administrators, and university professors.

"This revision of a very successful science methods text includes coverage of methods, activities, and science content. "Teaching Children Science" presents current ideas about teaching children science in a motivating, engaging style that will positively draw students towards the teaching of science to young children." There are nine basic science teaching methods chapters and three potentially free standing parts that focus respectively on how to teach Earth/Space, Life and Physical Science content. Each of these three parts has a lesson and unit plan, followed by chapters that provide science content and chapters that contain activities and demonstrations for children. Through its structure, writing style, and attention to contemporary issues, this volume serves as an important resource in teaching students to create science experiences within the context of discovery learning; thereby, providing students with the necessary skills and knowledge to fully comprehend that they will be teaching children science, not the other way around." For readers with an interest in science and, perhaps, drawing children to the teaching of science as a career choice.

The need for a scientifically literate population that can apply scientific ideas to solve real world problems in the 21st century has never been greater. Yet a growing disconnect exists between this need and the educational capacity to prepare them. The mission of Teaching Science in Elementary and Middle School: A Project-Based Approach, 3e is to help answer this need. Like its predecessors, this new edition is organized around the guiding principles of problem-based learning: long-term, interdisciplinary, student-centered lessons that are relevant to real-world issues and activities. This teaching approach engages all young learners--regardless of culture, race, or gender--in exploring important and meaningful questions through a process of investigation and collaboration. Throughout this dynamic process, students ask questions, make predictions, design investigations, collect and analyze data, make products, and share ideas. Changes in this new edition include the following... Stronger, more explicit connections between PBS, inquiry teaching and the National Science Education Standards (NSES). The theme of establishing the relevance of science to students' lives has been expanded. It now includes attention to discrepant events, anchoring events, and experiencing phenomena in addition to its previous focus on driving questions. To help children understand that science is about explaining phenomena, a new chapter, Making Sense of Data, now follows the one on Designing and Carrying Out Investigations. It contains a section on helping children create evidence-based scientific explanations. A new section on the challenges of special needs and gifted students. The discussion of technology in science teaching have been expanded to include such new devices as wireless handhelds, cameras, cell phones, wikis and ipods. The introductory scenarios have been reworked to insure greater relevance to elementary science teaching. An accompanying Web site will offer test items and strategies to support students in problem-solving and in planning and carrying-out investigations. This text is appropriate for anyone interested in teaching elementary or middle school science using an inquiry-oriented, problem-based framework.