NSTA - National Science Teachers Association

Science Fair Warm-Up, Grades 8–12: Learning the Practice of Scientists John Haysom NSTA Press Book To the teacher: Although this book is intended as a guide for your students, NSTA has you covered as well! Science Fair Warm-Up, Teachers...  [view full summary] To the teacher: Although this book is intended as a guide for your students, NSTA has you covered as well! Science Fair Warm-Up, Teachers Guide: Learning the Practice of Scientists provides all of the information you need to guide your students through the activities included in this book. To the student: If you have used the other books in the Science Fair Warm-Up series, you already have an idea of what a science fair project and real scientific investigation is like; if not, don’t worry. Science Fair Warm-Up, Grades 8–12 provides you with the opportunity to choose a great project. For instance, you might carry out experiments that explore the pollution of our planet’s water or the possibility of growing plants on the Moon. If you prefer, you can select an inquiry of your own and even work with a partner. As you work on your project, your teacher will give you help along the way. Together you will explore some of the challenging problems other students have encountered: problems of designing and carrying out experiments, collecting and making sense of your findings, and sharing and presenting what you have learned. As you follow in the footsteps of scientists, you will learn about the ways in which scientists carry out scientific research and begin to understand how they have uncovered so much about how our universe works. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $10.36 Nonmember Price: $12.95 Grade Level: High School, Middle School

Diagnosis for Classroom Success, Student Edition: Making Anatomy and Physiology Come Alive Nicole H. Maller NSTA Press Book “When I entered the teaching profession, I was stunned by the lack of interest my high school students had in science education. The traditional model of teaching science, often referred to as ‘chalk-and-talk’ with the occasional laboratory mixed in,...  [view full summary] “When I entered the teaching profession, I was stunned by the lack of interest my high school students had in science education. The traditional model of teaching science, often referred to as ‘chalk-and-talk’ with the occasional laboratory mixed in, was not working. The vast majority of my students were not going home and reading the textbooks. I knew I had to make the most of our face-to-face time.” —Author Nicole Maller After conducting research at a rigorous medical school, your students arrive for their first day of hospital duty only to be confronted with four sick patients, each with a different mystery ailment. How can your teams of student-physicians come up with the correct diagnoses? This attention-grabbing narrative and the corresponding role-plays are the basis of Diagnosis for Classroom Success: Making Anatomy and Physiology Come Alive. This high school curriculum gets your students deeply involved in inquiry-based science as it acquaints them with major body systems, sickle cell anemia, HIV, pregnancy, and diabetes. The Student Edition guides students while they examine medical records, form hypotheses, and conduct simulated lab tests. By blending the power of story with engaging investigations, Diagnosis for Classroom Success will cure what ails your lecture-weary biology classes. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $11.96 Nonmember Price: $14.95 Grade Level: High School

Integrating Engineering and Science in Your Classroom Eric Brunsell NSTA Press Book “I still remember my very first day as a teacher. A few days earlier, my principal had given me advice: ‘Whatever you do, do not start with an overview of your course. Do something active and set the tone….’ As I nervously awaited the arrival of my first-period...  [view full summary] “I still remember my very first day as a teacher. A few days earlier, my principal had given me advice: ‘Whatever you do, do not start with an overview of your course. Do something active and set the tone….’ As I nervously awaited the arrival of my first-period physical science students, I wondered how they would react. To my relief, they jumped right in and remained engaged throughout the entire class—building, testing, and revising prototypes of paper towers. Since that day, I have continued to use design challenges as a way to engage students and teachers in classes and professional development.” —From the Introduction by Editor Eric Brunsell From the very first day you use them, the design challenges in this compendium will spur your students, too, to jump right in and engage throughout the entire class. The activities reinforce important science content while illustrating a range of STEM skills. The 30 articles have been compiled from Science and Children, Science Scope, and The Science Teacher, NSTA’s journals for elementary through high school. Integrating Engineering and Science in Your Classroom will: • Excite students of all ages with activities involving everything from light sabers and egg racers to prosthetic arms and potatoes. • Apply to lessons in life and environmental science, Earth science, and physical science. • Work well in traditional classrooms as well as after-school programs. Next time you need an engaging STEM activity, you’ll be glad you have this collection to help you blend meaningful and memorable experiences into your lessons. As Editor Eric Brunsell promises, “By exposing students to authentic engineering activities, you can help students uncover the profession that makes the world work.” [hide full abstract] Member Price: $23.96 Nonmember Price: $29.95 Grade Level: Elementary School, High School, Middle School

Science Fair Warm-Up, Grades 7–10: Learning the Practice of Scientists John Haysom NSTA Press Book To the teacher: Although this book is intended as a guide for your students, NSTA has you covered as well! Science Fair Warm-Up, Teachers...  [view full summary] To the teacher: Although this book is intended as a guide for your students, NSTA has you covered as well! Science Fair Warm-Up, Teachers Guide: Learning the Practice of Scientists provides all of the information you need to guide your students through the activities included in this book. To the student: If you have used Science Fair Warm-Up, Grades 5–8, you already have a pretty good idea of what a science fair project or real scientific investigation is like; if not, don’t worry. Science Fair Warm-Up, Grades 7–10 provides you with the opportunity to choose a great project. For instance, you might carry out experiments that explore the mysteries of suffocating candles when they are deprived of air or the possibility of improving a water pump designed by the great Greek scientist Archimedes. If you prefer, you can select an inquiry of your own and even work with a partner. As you work on your project, your teacher will give you help along the way. Together you will explore some of the more difficult problems other students have encountered: problems of designing and carrying out experiments, collecting and making sense of your findings, and sharing and reporting on what you have learned. As you follow in the footsteps of scientists, you will learn about the ways in which scientists carry out scientific research and begin to understand how they have uncovered so much about how our universe works. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $10.36 Nonmember Price: $12.95 Grade Level: High School, Middle School

Even More Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K–5 Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry NSTA Press Book “The number one compliment we hear from teachers is that the lessons are complete and ready to take back to their classrooms and use.” —Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry, coauthors of the Picture-Perfect Science Lessons series Since...  [view full summary] “The number one compliment we hear from teachers is that the lessons are complete and ready to take back to their classrooms and use.” —Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry, coauthors of the Picture-Perfect Science Lessons series Since the debut of the Picture-Perfect Science books and workshops more than 10 years ago, authors Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry have learned one thing for certain: Elementary school teachers are constantly clamoring for even more ways to engage children in reading and science through picture books! To meet that demand, the 15 all-new lessons in Even More Picture-Perfect Science Lessons bring you: • Even more convenience: You can cover reading and science content simultaneously and save time with ready-to-use student pages and assessments. • Even more confidence in your own expertise: You get relevant science concepts and reading comprehension strategies to keep your teaching on track. • Even more ways to entice even reading-phobic children: Each lesson makes students yearn to learn science from such captivating fiction and nonfiction picture books as Houdini the Amazing Caterpillar; Captain Kidd’s Crew Experiments With Sinking and Floating; and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Plus: This latest volume even connects the lessons to A Framework for K–12 Science Education and the English Language Arts and Literacy Common Core State Standards. Just as teachers like you have been hoping, Even More Picture-Perfect Science Lessons delivers the whole package: teacher-friendly lessons, strong standards-based science content, and a kid-magnet formula that will get your students engrossed in science while they improve their reading skills. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $30.36 Nonmember Price: $37.95 Grade Level: Elementary School

Inquiring Scientists, Inquiring Readers: Using Nonfiction to Promote Science Literacy, Grades 3–5 Jessica Fries-Gaither and Terry Shiverdecker NSTA Press Book In Inquiring Scientists, Inquiring Readers, science educators Jessica Fries-Gaither and Terry Shiverdecker help teachers blend literacy into elementary science instruction. This unique book will show teachers how to teach science using a variety...  [view full summary] In Inquiring Scientists, Inquiring Readers, science educators Jessica Fries-Gaither and Terry Shiverdecker help teachers blend literacy into elementary science instruction. This unique book will show teachers how to teach science using a variety of nonfiction text sets (such as field guides, reference books, and narrative expository texts) and replace individual lessons with a learning-cycle format (including hands-on investigations, readings, directed discussion, and problem solving). Research-based and teacher-friendly, Inquiring Scientists, Inquiring Readers shows how inquiry can engage your students in reading nonfiction texts, discussing important science concepts, and writing to both develop understanding and share information. Here are some of the book’s special features: • Eight units covering life, physical, Earth, and space science—from “Drip Drop Detectives: Exposing the Water Cycle” to “Classroom Curling: Exploring Forces and Motion” to “Beaks and Biomes: Understanding Adaptation in Migrating Organisms.” Two additional units cover the nature of science. All units have been classroom-tested for effectiveness and align with the National Science Education Standards and the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. • Detailed scientific background, common misconceptions associated with the content, an annotated list of the texts in the text set, safety considerations, reproducible student pages, and suggested assessments. • Authentic, inquiry-based contexts for reading, writing, and discussion through read-alouds, collaborative activities, graphic organizers, and writing prompts. Inquiring Scientists, Inquiring Readers will change the way you think about engaging your students. The authors show that it’s possible to integrate literacy into elementary-level science instruction without sacrificing quality in either area. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $30.36 Nonmember Price: $37.95 Grade Level: Elementary School

Science by Design: Construct a ... Boat, Catapult, Glove, and Greenhouse TERC NSTA Press Book Launch a new generation of students into catapult- and boat-building—plus glove- and greenhouse-making—with this newly refreshed resource. Four sets of well-loved activities have been repackaged in one convenient volume that seamlessly combines hands-on...  [view full summary] Launch a new generation of students into catapult- and boat-building—plus glove- and greenhouse-making—with this newly refreshed resource. Four sets of well-loved activities have been repackaged in one convenient volume that seamlessly combines hands-on experience with intriguing engineering concepts. Perfect for inspiring interest in STEM topics, the activities encourage high school classes to learn by doing. The activities will get your students fully engaged in meaningful explorations of concepts such as • buoyancy and friction (through boats); • torsion and elasticity (catapults); • heat transfer and insulation (gloves); and • plant biology, thermodynamics, and energy transfer (greenhouses). Best of all, Science By Design is written with the needs of time-starved teachers like you in mind. Each of the four units provides thorough explanations, materials lists, cost and timing estimates, and teaching suggestions. You also get ideas for assessment and student portfolios, plus lists of connections to national standards. And if those aren’t enough, don’t miss the bonus resources called “side roads”—off-the-beaten-path investigations that let you and your students delve further into the links between inquiry and design. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $30.36 Nonmember Price: $37.95 Grade Level: High School

Science Fair Warm-Up, Grades 5–8: Learning the Practice of Scientists John Haysom NSTA Press Book To the teacher: Although this book is intended as a guide for your students, NSTA has you covered as well! Science Fair Warm-Up, Teachers...  [view full summary] To the teacher: Although this book is intended as a guide for your students, NSTA has you covered as well! Science Fair Warm-Up, Teachers Guide: Learning the Practice of Scientists provides all of the information you need to guide your students through the activities included in this book. To the student: Have you ever entered a science fair or carried out a real scientific investigation? Now is your chance! Science Fair Warm-Up, Grades 5–8 provides you with the opportunity to choose a great science project. For instance, you might carry out experiments about the best designs for paper helicopters or the best ways to prevent rusting, among other possibilities. If you prefer, you can select an inquiry of your own and even work with a partner. As you work on your project, your teacher will give you help along the way. Together you will explore problems other students have encountered—problems of designing and carrying out experiments, collecting and making sense of your findings, and sharing and displaying what you have learned. As you follow in the footsteps of scientists, you will learn about the ways in which scientists carry out scientific research and begin to understand how they have uncovered so much about how our universe works. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $10.36 Nonmember Price: $12.95 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

The NSTA Ready-Reference Guide to Safer Science, Volume 2 Kenneth Russell Roy NSTA Press Book “Most science teachers and supervisors have anemic preservice preparation on securing and maintaining safer work environments in academic laboratories. The purpose of this volume is to raise awareness of safety issues and of how to develop a safer learning...  [view full summary] “Most science teachers and supervisors have anemic preservice preparation on securing and maintaining safer work environments in academic laboratories. The purpose of this volume is to raise awareness of safety issues and of how to develop a safer learning and working environment in middle schools. In addition to protecting students, the guides address legal standards and professional best practices to help teachers stay out of harm’s legal way.” —Author Ken Roy on The NSTA Ready-Reference Guides to Safer Science Safer science is a daily requirement for every teacher in every science classroom and laboratory. Get up-to-date information from The NSTA Ready-Reference Guide to Safer Science, Volume 2. This second volume is a collection of more than 40 of the latest quick-read “Scope on Safety” columns from Science Scope, NSTA’s middle school journal (plus some adaptable “Safer Science” columns from The Science Teacher, NSTA’s high school journal). As easy to read as it is practical, the book is chock-full of safety information, anecdotes, and advisories you can use every day. The book’s rich array of offerings includes topics such as • general safety practices; • legal issues, including negligence and liability; • safety concerns in specific disciplines, including chemistry, Earth and space science, biology, and physical science; • more than 40 teacher questions on everything from acrylic nails to latex goggles to ventilation; and • helpful safety-related NSTA position papers and Internet resources. • Want to learn more? Check out these other great resources: • The NSTA Ready-Reference Guide to Safer Science, Volume 1, for grades 5–8. This collection of articles covers more safety practices and legal standards (on subjects from asbestos to ergonomics to blood-borne pathogens) and instructional safety (such as occupancy loads, field trips, special-needs students, and more). • The NSTA Ready-Reference Guide to Safer Science, Volume 3, for grades 9–12. This collection covers systems to help prevent and control lab safety hazards, from eyewash showers to ventilation; and standard operating procedures covering general safety precautions and specific disciplines. The articles in Volume 3 are also applicable to all secondary-level science classrooms and laboratories. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $17.56 Nonmember Price: $21.95 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

Science for the Next Generation: Preparing for the New Standards William Banko, Marshall L. Grant, Michael E. Jabot, Alan J. McCormack, and Thomas O'Brien NSTA Press Book “The old models of teaching as simply telling, and learning as passive sit-and-get listening, will not meet the needs of tomorrow’s citizens.” —Thomas O’Brien in the Overview to Science for the Next Generation Preparing for tomorrow...  [view full summary] “The old models of teaching as simply telling, and learning as passive sit-and-get listening, will not meet the needs of tomorrow’s citizens.” —Thomas O’Brien in the Overview to Science for the Next Generation Preparing for tomorrow is what this multifaceted book is all about. If you’re an elementary school teacher, you’ll see your unique perspective reflected in material designed to get you ready for both a new generation of science students and the new Framework for K–12 Science Education and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). A combination of theoretical and practical, the book is written by experts in science and education as well as experienced classroom teachers. They explain • the latest research on how children learn and what this evidence tells you about the most effective classroom practices; • what you need to understand about the new standards; and • how literacy must be connected to science lessons. Plus: Perhaps most useful, you get eight sample activities that demonstrate how to use the NGSS in your lessons on physical, life, and Earth and space sciences. Whether science is one of several disciplines you teach or your primary area of expertise, Science for the Next Generation is an invaluable resource. It offers the essential background, content, and practices you need to implement the new standards at the K–5 level. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $27.96 Nonmember Price: $34.95 Grade Level: Elementary School