All Pre-service Teachers resources

NSTA Kids

Next Time You See a Pill Bug

Named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12! Chances are that just under a nearby rock, you’ll spot a roly-poly pill bug. Encourage a child to take a close look, and introduce a fascinating creature. Gently pick it up and watch as ...

Early Childhood Elementary Pre-service Teachers Preschool Life Science Instructional Materials

NSTA Kids

Next Time You See a Firefly

Named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12!Winner of the REVERE Award from PreK-12 Learning Group, Association of American Publishers!...

Early Childhood Elementary Informal Education Middle School Pre-service Teachers Preschool General Science Life Science Multilingual Learners Instructional Materials Inquiry NGSS Phenomena Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Interdisciplinary Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Teacher Preparation Sensemaking

NSTA Kids

Spenser and the Rocks: I Wonder Why

As he begins to discover the interesting rocks all around him, Spenser has many questions about what he finds. Given the differences in the rocks’ colors, sizes, shapes, and textures, there is much to learn about rocks! But that’s not all the cur...

Early Childhood Elementary Pre-service Teachers Preschool Earth & Space Science Instructional Materials

NSTA Kids

Up, Up in a Balloon: I Wonder Why

Named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12! ...

Early Childhood Elementary Pre-service Teachers Preschool Aerospace Instructional Materials

NSTA Kids

Next Time You See a Seashell

This book tells the amazing story behind seashells: how they are made by mollusks, used for protection and camouflage, and full of clues about all they’ve been through. Inspired by Next Time You See a Seashell, young readers will find these intrica...

Early Childhood Elementary Informal Education Middle School Pre-service Teachers Preschool General Science Life Science Multilingual Learners Instructional Materials Inquiry NGSS Phenomena Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Interdisciplinary Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Teacher Preparation Sensemaking

NSTA Kids

How Tall Was Milton?: I Wonder Why

In this funny fairy tale, it takes a village to figure out the height of Milton the friendly giant. The townspeople’s attempts to gauge just how big he is will entertain young readers as they learn the importance of standard units of measurement. H...

Early Childhood Elementary Pre-service Teachers Preschool General Science Instructional Materials

NSTA Kids

How Does a Plant Grow?: I Wonder Why

Children don’t have to be botanists-in-training to discover the message of this book: “All plants are interesting. Even the weeds.” Young readers are sure to be intrigued by the wide variety of shapes, sizes, and functions in flowers, fruit tre...

Early Childhood Elementary Pre-service Teachers Preschool General Science Instructional Materials

NSTA Kids

What Can an Animal Do?: I Wonder Why

This lively book proves that an animal can do all kinds of things! It encourages children to notice the characteristics and behavior of a world of different creatures: from gnawing, swimming beavers to spinning, climbing spiders to hopping, baby-toti...

Early Childhood Elementary Pre-service Teachers Preschool General Science Instructional Materials

NSTA Kids

Next Time You See a Sunset

Celebrate imagination! This NSTA Kids book has been selected for the Children’s Book Council #ImaginationCelebration Showcase! Full book list: Imagination Celebration Showcase Named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12! Winne...

Early Childhood Elementary Informal Education Middle School Pre-service Teachers Preschool General Science Life Science Multilingual Learners Instructional Materials Inquiry NGSS Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Interdisciplinary Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Teacher Preparation

NSTA Press Book

Teaching Science Through Trade Books

“‘What was your favorite book as a child?’ In more than 10 years of facilitating workshops, we have never heard anyone reply, ‘My fourth-grade science textbook.’ Clearly, textbooks have an important place in the science classroom, but usin...

By Christine Anne Royce, Emily Morgan, Karen Ansberry

Postsecondary Elementary Informal Education Middle School Pre-service Teachers Preschool General Science Assessment Multilingual Learners Instructional Materials Inquiry Lesson Plans Phenomena Teaching Strategies Interdisciplinary Literacy Multicultural New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Professional Learning old Teacher Preparation