Free - Editor's Note: Moving Toward Inquiry By: Linda Froschauer Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: Science and Children’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue. Science and Children’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue. [hide full abstract]

Every Day Science Calendar: March 2011 By: Peggy Ashbrook Science and Children, Mar 11 Facts and challenges for the science explorer. Facts and challenges for the science explorer. [hide full abstract]

Fire Up the Inquiry By: Kimberly Lott Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: Lose the routine, tweak your "cookbook lab," and reach a level of open inquiry with these strategies used during a unit on heat. Lose the routine, tweak your "cookbook lab," and reach a level of open inquiry with these strategies used during a unit on heat. [hide full abstract]

Free - Five Strategies to Support All Teachers By: Paula A. Magee and Ryan Flessner Science and Children, Mar 11 Five strategies are outlined that have been used with elementary school teachers as they moved from a "cookbook" approach in science to an approach that is inquiry based. Suggestions to get off the slippery slope of "cookbook" science teaching. Five strategies are outlined that have been used with elementary school teachers as they moved from a "cookbook" approach in science to an approach that is inquiry based. Suggestions to get off the slippery slope of "cookbook" science teaching. [hide full abstract]

Formative Assessment Probes: The Mitten Problem By: Page Keeley Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. In this month’s issue, the theory of "immaculate insulation" is prevalent among students. This formative assessment probe will help students overcome this misunderstanding by allowing them...  [view full summary] This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. In this month’s issue, the theory of "immaculate insulation" is prevalent among students. This formative assessment probe will help students overcome this misunderstanding by allowing them to test their predictions and muddle through uncertainties until they find a new explanation. [hide full abstract]

From "Adding Inquiry" to "Doing Science" By: Diana Weller and Carla Finkelstein Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: Students get outside and wonder about trees. This leads to many questions, and one particularly interesting one: "Why do leaves change color?" Student inquiry guides and empowers this investigation! Students get outside and wonder about trees. This leads to many questions, and one particularly interesting one: "Why do leaves change color?" Student inquiry guides and empowers this investigation! [hide full abstract]

Got Inquiry? By: Daniel J. Bergman and Joanne Olson Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: Milk Fireworks, Cat's Meow, Breaking the Tension--whatever you call it, this lesson will provide strategies for taking a simple, hands-on activity and transforming it into inquiry. The lesson is ideally suited for teaching important concepts in experimental...  [view full summary] Milk Fireworks, Cat's Meow, Breaking the Tension--whatever you call it, this lesson will provide strategies for taking a simple, hands-on activity and transforming it into inquiry. The lesson is ideally suited for teaching important concepts in experimental design. [hide full abstract]

Free - Guest Editorial: Inquiry Is Essential By: Rodger W. Bybee Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: An opinion piece about teaching children science as inquiry and the challenges to elementary teachers. One specific challenge is incorporating full inquiries as part of the school science program. With the process described here, elementary teachers can...  [view full summary] An opinion piece about teaching children science as inquiry and the challenges to elementary teachers. One specific challenge is incorporating full inquiries as part of the school science program. With the process described here, elementary teachers can complement their use of hands-on lessons with full inquiries. [hide full abstract]

Free - Guest Editorial: Inquiry Is Essential By: Rodger W. Bybee Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: An opinion piece about teaching children science as inquiry and the challenges to elementary teachers. One specific challenge is incorporating full inquiries as part of the school science program. With the process described here, elementary teachers can...  [view full summary] An opinion piece about teaching children science as inquiry and the challenges to elementary teachers. One specific challenge is incorporating full inquiries as part of the school science program. With the process described here, elementary teachers can complement their use of hands-on lessons with full inquiries. [hide full abstract]

Lose the Recipe By: Theresa A. Owens and Chandra Martin Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: First graders experience inquiry during a lesson on seed germination and plant growth. Although limited inquiry is used in the beginning while students are planting, once the seeds germinate, students take control! Students were able to construct their...  [view full summary] First graders experience inquiry during a lesson on seed germination and plant growth. Although limited inquiry is used in the beginning while students are planting, once the seeds germinate, students take control! Students were able to construct their own knowledge and were engaged throughout. As a result, they learned more. [hide full abstract]

Methods and Strategies: Overcoming Difficulties By: Maria Guadalupe Arreguin-Anderson and Jennifer Joy Esquierdo Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: This column provides ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching. In this month’s issue, bilingual second-grade students do scientific inquiry in pairs during a lesson on leaves. To help bilingual learners overcome language difficulties, opportunities...  [view full summary] This column provides ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching. In this month’s issue, bilingual second-grade students do scientific inquiry in pairs during a lesson on leaves. To help bilingual learners overcome language difficulties, opportunities can be embedded in daily instruction with cooperative dyad strategies: "Think-Pair-Share" and "Turn to Your Partner." [hide full abstract]

Free - Natural Resources: Get Out There By: Valynda Mayes Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: This column helps bring the outdoors into your curriculum. This month’s issue will start you thinking of summer opportunities. For students with a special interest in the outdoors, or those with limited access to nature, summer camp might be a life-changing...  [view full summary] This column helps bring the outdoors into your curriculum. This month’s issue will start you thinking of summer opportunities. For students with a special interest in the outdoors, or those with limited access to nature, summer camp might be a life-changing opportunity. [hide full abstract]

Free - Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 (Books Published in 2010) By: NSTA/Children's Book Council Joint Book Review Panel Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: Science is passion, science is wonder. The best books about science stir the minds and hearts of readers in very special ways and this impression can last for years. These books published in 2010, identify the best in science trade books for young readers....  [view full summary] Science is passion, science is wonder. The best books about science stir the minds and hearts of readers in very special ways and this impression can last for years. These books published in 2010, identify the best in science trade books for young readers. [hide full abstract]

Science 101: What causes surface tension? Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: This column focuses on background science information for elementary teachers. In this month’s column, learn about surface tension. This column focuses on background science information for elementary teachers. In this month’s column, learn about surface tension. [hide full abstract]

Teaching Through Trade Books: Let's Try It Out in the Air By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. In this month’s issue, the lessons challenge students' common misconception that air is "nothing." Students participate in activities, collect evidence, and develop explanations to prove...  [view full summary] This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. In this month’s issue, the lessons challenge students' common misconception that air is "nothing." Students participate in activities, collect evidence, and develop explanations to prove the opposite. [hide full abstract]

The Early Years: Inquiry Follow-Up By: Peggy Ashbrook Science and Children, Mar 11 Average User Rating: This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. In this month’s issue, young children go birding to observe and document their natural world. Children will not only practice reflecting on their experience, but...  [view full summary] This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. In this month’s issue, young children go birding to observe and document their natural world. Children will not only practice reflecting on their experience, but they'll develop their scientific thinking. [hide full abstract]

Water Pressure in Depth By: Mary Jean Lynch and John Zenchak Science and Children, Mar 11 An obvious lesson means far-from-enthusiastic students. By adding a second variable, this water pressure and depth investigation provides students with a problem to solve and identify. With two variables, students had to use inquiry to determine which...  [view full summary] An obvious lesson means far-from-enthusiastic students. By adding a second variable, this water pressure and depth investigation provides students with a problem to solve and identify. With two variables, students had to use inquiry to determine which variable really matters. [hide full abstract]

Which Paper Towel is Best? By: Jann Joseph Science and Children, Apr 11 Average User Rating: Elementary students must be challenged to ask good questions and develop inquiring attitudes. A well-known paper towel investigation gains new life and prepares students for their middle and high school years. Elementary students must be challenged to ask good questions and develop inquiring attitudes. A well-known paper towel investigation gains new life and prepares students for their middle and high school years. [hide full abstract]