NSTA - National Science Teachers Association

Teaching Science Through Inquiry By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry A chapter from More Picture-Perfect SCIENCE Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 Average User Rating: The word inquiry brings many different ideas to mind. For some teachers, it may evoke fears of giving up control in the classroom or spending countless hours preparing lessons. For others, it may imply losing the focus of instructional objectives...  [view full summary] The word inquiry brings many different ideas to mind. For some teachers, it may evoke fears of giving up control in the classroom or spending countless hours preparing lessons. For others, it may imply losing the focus of instructional objectives while students pursue answers to their own questions. And for many, teaching science through inquiry is perceived as intriguing but unrealistic. But inquiry doesn’t have to cause anxiety for teachers. Simply stated, inquiry is an approach to learning that involves exploring the world and that leads to asking questions, testing ideas, and making discoveries in the search for understanding. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School

Reading Aloud By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry A chapter from More Picture-Perfect SCIENCE Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 Average User Rating: This chapter addresses some of the research supporting the importance of reading aloud, tips to make your read-aloud time more valuable, descriptions of Harvey and Goudvis’s six key reading strategies (2000), and tools you can use to enhance students’...  [view full summary] This chapter addresses some of the research supporting the importance of reading aloud, tips to make your read-aloud time more valuable, descriptions of Harvey and Goudvis’s six key reading strategies (2000), and tools you can use to enhance students’ comprehension during read-aloud time. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School

Mirror, Mirror By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry A chapter from More Picture-Perfect SCIENCE Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 Average User Rating: Using flashlights, mirrors, and spoons, learners explore how light travels. They investigate how light is reflected differently by curved and rough surfaces and why mirrors are the best surfaces for seeing themselves. Using flashlights, mirrors, and spoons, learners explore how light travels. They investigate how light is reflected differently by curved and rough surfaces and why mirrors are the best surfaces for seeing themselves. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School

BSCS 5E Instructional Model By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry A chapter from More Picture-Perfect SCIENCE Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 Average User Rating: The guided inquiries in this book are designed using the BSCS 5E Instructional Model, commonly referred to as the 5E model (or the 5Es). Developed by the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), the 5E model is a learning cycle based on a constructivist...  [view full summary] The guided inquiries in this book are designed using the BSCS 5E Instructional Model, commonly referred to as the 5E model (or the 5Es). Developed by the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), the 5E model is a learning cycle based on a constructivist view of learning. The 5E model provides a planned sequence of instruction that places students at the center of their learning experiences, encouraging them to explore, construct their own understanding of scientific concepts, and relate those understandings to other concepts. This chapter includes an explanation of each phase of the BSCS 5E model—Engage, Explore, Elaborate, and Evaluate. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School

Roller Coasters By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry A chapter from More Picture-Perfect SCIENCE Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 Average User Rating: Learners explore ways to change the speed and direction of a rolling object by building roller coasters out of pipe insulation. They investigate the ideas that gravity affects all objects equally by conducting dropping races with everyday items. Learners explore ways to change the speed and direction of a rolling object by building roller coasters out of pipe insulation. They investigate the ideas that gravity affects all objects equally by conducting dropping races with everyday items. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School

Stargazers By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry A chapter from More Picture-Perfect SCIENCE Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 Average User Rating: Learners are introduced to the idea of looking up in wonder at the night sky and asking questions about what they see. They observe the stars and record their observations and wonderings. They also learn about constellations—the names, pictures, and stories...  [view full summary] Learners are introduced to the idea of looking up in wonder at the night sky and asking questions about what they see. They observe the stars and record their observations and wonderings. They also learn about constellations—the names, pictures, and stories that people have invented to explain the patterns of stars in the night sky. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School

A Sense of Wonder By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry A chapter from More Picture-Perfect SCIENCE Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 Average User Rating: Learners explore the lives of two important environmentalists, John Muir and Rachel Carson. They keep nature journals to record observations and wonderings about the outdoors, as Muir and Carson did many years ago. Learners compare the characteristics...  [view full summary] Learners explore the lives of two important environmentalists, John Muir and Rachel Carson. They keep nature journals to record observations and wonderings about the outdoors, as Muir and Carson did many years ago. Learners compare the characteristics of the two environmentalists and ultimately learn what it means to have a sense of wonder. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School

Imaginative Inventions By: Karen Ansberry and Emily Morgan A chapter from More Picture-Perfect SCIENCE Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 Average User Rating: Learners explore the invention process by learning about inventions throughout history and how inventions fill needs or wants, by improving existing inventions, and by keeping a toy invention journal. They further their understandings of the risks and...  [view full summary] Learners explore the invention process by learning about inventions throughout history and how inventions fill needs or wants, by improving existing inventions, and by keeping a toy invention journal. They further their understandings of the risks and benefits of inventions by testing toys and comparing the fun rating and the safety rating of each toy. This free selection includes the Table of Contents, Foreword, Preface, sections About the Authors and About the Picture-Perfect Program, and reproducible instructional materials. As a special bonus, Chapter 1 is also included, which discusses the reasons why picture books should be read in science class. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School

Bubbles By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry A chapter from More Picture-Perfect SCIENCE Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 Average User Rating: Learners engage in a scientific investigation to answer the question, “Are free-floating bubbles always round?” By experimenting with different-shaped bubble wands and then reading a nonfiction book to support their findings, learners collect evidence...  [view full summary] Learners engage in a scientific investigation to answer the question, “Are free-floating bubbles always round?” By experimenting with different-shaped bubble wands and then reading a nonfiction book to support their findings, learners collect evidence to answer the question and then share their findings with others by creating a poster. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School

Hear Your Heart By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry A chapter from More Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 Average User Rating: Learners explore how the heart works, how exercise affects heart rate, and how to keep the heart healthy through regular cardiovascular exercise. Learners explore how the heart works, how exercise affects heart rate, and how to keep the heart healthy through regular cardiovascular exercise. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School