NSTA - National Science Teachers Association

The Case for STEM Education: Challenges and Opportunities Rodger W. Bybee NSTA Press Book If you’re an education leader concerned with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives, this book will help you both understand and implement STEM action plans. The book starts by putting STEM in context, as the early chapters...  [view full summary] If you’re an education leader concerned with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives, this book will help you both understand and implement STEM action plans. The book starts by putting STEM in context, as the early chapters outline the challenges facing STEM education, draw lessons from the Sputnik moment of the 1950s and 1960s, and contrast contemporary STEM with other education reforms. The author then explores appropriate roles for the federal government as well as states, districts, and individual schools. Finally, the book offers several ideas you can use to develop actual action plans for STEM. Throughout the book, author Rodger W. Bybee puts an emphasis on both thinking and acting. That’s why The Case for STEM Education is a must-read for leaders at all levels: national and state policy makers, state-level educators responsible for STEM initiatives, college and university faculty who educate future STEM teachers, local administrators who make decisions about district and school programs, and teachers who represent STEM disciplines. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $22.36 Nonmember Price: $27.95 Grade Level: College, Elementary School, High School, Middle School

Uncovering Student Ideas in Primary Science, Volume 1: 25 New Formative Assessment Probes for Grades K–2 Page Keeley NSTA Press Book Available September 2013. What ideas do young children bring to their science learning, and how does their thinking change as they engage in “science talk”? Find out using the 25 field-tested probes in the newest volume of Page Keeley’s bestselling...  [view full summary] Available September 2013. What ideas do young children bring to their science learning, and how does their thinking change as they engage in “science talk”? Find out using the 25 field-tested probes in the newest volume of Page Keeley’s bestselling Uncovering Student Ideas in Science series, the first targeted to grades K–2. This teacher-friendly book is: • Tailored to your needs. The content is geared specifically for the primary grades, with an emphasis on simple vocabulary as well as drawing and speaking (instead of writing). The format of the student pages uses minimal text and includes visual representations of familiar objects, phenomena, or ideas. • Focused on making your lessons more effective. The assessment probes engage youngsters and encourage “science talk” while letting you identify students’ preconceptions before beginning a lesson or monitor their progress as they develop new scientific explanations. • Applicable to a range of science concepts. This volume offers 8 life science probes, 11 physical science probes, and 6 Earth and space science probes that target K–2 disciplinary core ideas. • Ready to use. The book provides grade-appropriate reproducible pages for your students and detailed teacher notes for you, including clear and concise explanations, relevant research, suggestions for instruction, and connections to national standards. Uncovering Student Ideas in Primary Science is an invaluable resource for classroom and preservice teachers and professional development providers. This age-appropriate book will help you teach more effectively by starting with students’ ideas and adapting instruction to support conceptual change. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $23.96 Nonmember Price: $29.95 Grade Level: Elementary School

The NSTA Ready-Reference Guide to Safer Science, Volume 3 Kenneth Russell Roy NSTA Press Book "The changing safety legal standards and professional best practices affecting academic laboratories are efforts to match the rise of modern science's discoveries and applications. Unfortunately, teacher preservice preparation and inservice professional...  [view full summary] "The changing safety legal standards and professional best practices affecting academic laboratories are efforts to match the rise of modern science's discoveries and applications. Unfortunately, teacher preservice preparation and inservice professional development have not kept pace with these changes. This volume helps bridge the gap by raising awareness of safety issues and how to develop a safer learning and working environment in secondary schools." —Author Ken Roy on The NSTA Ready-Reference Guide to Safer Science Safer science is a daily requirement for every teacher in every science classroom. Get up-to-date information from The NSTA Ready-Reference Guide to Safer Science, Volume 3. This volume is a collection of more than 40 quick-read “Safer Science” columns from The Science Teacher, NSTA’s high school journal (plus some adaptable “Scope on Safety” columns from Science Scope, NSTA’s middle 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 covers a number of timely and important topics, such as • systems to help prevent and control lab safety hazards, from eyewash showers to ventilation; • standard operating procedures covering general safety precautions and safety in specific disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, and physical science; • personal protective equipment; and • helpful safety-related NSTA position papers and Internet resources. Want to learn more? Check out these other great resources that are also applicable to all secondary-level science classrooms and laboratories. • The NSTA Ready-Reference Guide to Safer Science, Volume 1, for grades 5–8. The articles in this volume cover more safety practices and legal standards (on subjects from asbestos to ergonomics to blood-borne pathogens) and instructional safety (such as occupancy loads, fields trips, special-needs students, and more). The NSTA Ready-Reference Guide to Safer Science, Volume 2, for grades 5–8. The articles in this volume cover general safety practices and legal standards; safety issues in specific disciplines; and teacher questions about everything from acrylic nails to latex goggles. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $17.56 Nonmember Price: $21.95 Grade Level: High 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

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

Including Students With Disabilities in Advanced Science Classes Lori A. Howard and Elizabeth A. Potts NSTA Press Book Are you an experienced science teacher who needs a foundation in special education basics when students with disabilities are placed in your advanced classes? Then this book is the resource for you. Both practical and readable, this book will help you • think...  [view full summary] Are you an experienced science teacher who needs a foundation in special education basics when students with disabilities are placed in your advanced classes? Then this book is the resource for you. Both practical and readable, this book will help you • think of new ways to design your instruction with individual needs in mind, • find new and creative ways to manage lab experiments so all your students will benefit, • overcome fears of behavioral flare-ups in the classroom, and • become more confident when working with your special education counterparts and the IEP team. Including Students With Disabilities in Advanced Science Classes starts by acquainting you with special education terms and laws and concludes with ways to approach end-of-year testing. In between, you receive straightforward guidance on real-life situations, plus problem-solving strategies, behavior contracts for students, and workable ideas for you. Authors Lori A. Howard and Elizabeth A. Potts encourage you to embrace including students with disabilities in your advanced classes and give you the tools to help all of your students succeed. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $20.76 Nonmember Price: $25.95 Grade Level: High School

Scientific Argumentation in Biology: 30 Classroom Activities Victor Sampson and Sharon Schleigh NSTA Press Book “Individuals who are proficient in science should be able to understand the language of science and participate in scientific practices, such as inquiry and argumentation. Empirical research, however, indicates that many students do not develop this...  [view full summary] “Individuals who are proficient in science should be able to understand the language of science and participate in scientific practices, such as inquiry and argumentation. Empirical research, however, indicates that many students do not develop this knowledge or these abilities in school. One way to address this problem is to give students more opportunities to engage in scientific argumentation as part of the teaching and learning of science. This book will help teachers with this task.” —Authors Victor Sampson and Sharon Schleigh Develop your high school students’ understanding of argumentation and evidence-based reasoning with this comprehensive book. Like three guides in one, Scientific Argumentation in Biology combines theory, practice, and biology content. It starts by giving you solid background in why students need to be able to go beyond expressing mere opinions when making research-related biology claims. Then it provides 30 thoroughly field-tested activities your students can use when learning to: • propose, support, and evaluate claims; • validate or refute them on the basis of scientific reasoning; and • craft complex written arguments. Detailed teacher notes suggest specific ways in which you can use the activities to enrich and supplement (not replace) what you’re doing in biology class already. Scientific Argumentation is an invaluable resource for learning more about argumentation and designing related lessons. You'll find it ideal for helping your students learn standards-based content; improve their biological practices; explain, interpret, and evaluate evidence; and acquire the habits of mind to become more proficient in science. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $31.16 Nonmember Price: $39.95 Grade Level: High School, Middle School

Science Fair Warm-Up, Teachers Guide: Learning the Practice of Scientists John Haysom NSTA Press Book Even science fair enthusiasts may dread grappling with these two questions: 1. How can you organize many students doing many different projects at the same time? 2. How can you help students while giving them the freedom of choice and independence...  [view full summary] Even science fair enthusiasts may dread grappling with these two questions: 1. How can you organize many students doing many different projects at the same time? 2. How can you help students while giving them the freedom of choice and independence of thought that characterize genuine inquiry? Answer the questions—and face science fairs without fear—with help from the Science Fair Warm-Up series. The Science Fair Warm-Up series, which was originally designed as a three-year program for middle school students, now covers grades 5–12. The book for grades 5–8 introduces students to science fairs and invites them to investigate various scientific problems as they work on their projects. This book lays the foundation for the editions for grades 7–10 and 8–12, in which students encounter increasingly more challenging problems. Over the course of the series, the students are encouraged to become more independent. The series’ material—field tested over the course of six years with students at different levels—will help your students develop the inquiry skills to carry their projects through, whether they’re middle schoolers preparing for their first science fair or high schoolers ready for very challenging investigations. It aligns with national standards and the new Framework for K-12 Science Education. Science Fair Warm-Up uniquely provides an authentic picture of how scientists carry out research. To help you meet these teaching goals, this series is based on the constructivist view that makes students responsible for their own learning and will prepare both you and your students for science fair success "An exciting publication that engages students and fills a need for innovative and conscientious teachers. Students and teachers are likely to encounter real science with the ideas, approaches, and questions the materials encourage.” —Robert Yager, Professor Emeritus at the University of Iowa and past president of NSTA [hide full abstract] Member Price: $12.76 Nonmember Price: $15.95 Grade Level: Elementary School, High School, Middle 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

Everyday Physical Science Mysteries: Stories for Inquiry-Based Science Teaching Richard Konieck-Moran NSTA Press Book What can make a ball roll faster? Does the temperature of wood affect the heat of a fire? How can old-fashioned tin can telephones teach today’s students about sound and technology? By presenting everyday mysteries like these, this book will motivate...  [view full summary] What can make a ball roll faster? Does the temperature of wood affect the heat of a fire? How can old-fashioned tin can telephones teach today’s students about sound and technology? By presenting everyday mysteries like these, this book will motivate your students to carry out hands-on science investigations and actually care about the results. The 21 open-ended mysteries focus exclusively on physical science, including motion, friction, temperature, forces, and sound. The stories come with lists of science concepts to explore, grade-appropriate strategies for using them, and explanations of how the lessons align with national standards. They also relieve you of the tiring work of designing inquiry lessons from scratch. “What makes this book so special is the unique way science is integrated into the story line, using characters and situations children can easily identify with.”—Page Keeley, author of the NSTA Press series Uncovering Student Ideas in Science [hide full abstract] Member Price: $20.76 Nonmember Price: $25.95 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School