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“Horsing Around”: Curriculum-Instruction-Assessment Problems
Book Chapter |
The nature of science (NOS) involves actively seeking (rather than avoiding) challenging problems that may require looking at situations differently and thinking outside of artificially imposed constraints. Science,…
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Magical Signs of Science: “Basic Indicators” for Student Inquiry
Book Chapter |
Advertisements capture consumers’ attention and motivate them to buy certain products. Similarly, teachers need to sell science to students by walking the talk of research-informed best practices. Magic signs with (dis)…
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Verifying Vexing Volumes: “Can Be as Easy as Pi” Mathematics
Book Chapter |
Mathematics is both a key to unlocking the secrets of nature and, for many students, a stumbling block to conceptual understanding in science. In this activity, two sheets of 8.5 in. × 11 in. paper are used to construct…
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Archimedes, the Syracuse (Sicily) Scientist: Science Rules Balance and Bathtub Basics
Book Chapter |
Learners, in this activity, are guided to discover simple, quantitative relationships that support their qualitative observations of playing on seesaws (with different-size children) and taking baths.
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Measurements and Molecules Matter: Less Is More and Curriculum "Survival of the Fittest"
Book Chapter |
Many famous scientific discoveries have been made when an experimenter noticed something unusual or a mistake and followed up on the serendipitous discrepancy rather than ignoring it as others had done. This free…
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Bottle Band Basics: A Pitch for Sound Science
Book Chapter |
In this activity, three identical-size glass soft drink bottles with varying amounts of water are used to make sounds of various pitches. Upon initial consideration, the pattern established when using the bottles as…
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Metric Measurements, Magnitudes, and Mathematics: Connections Matter in Science
Book Chapter |
This model-building activity helps learners visualize SI’s base-ten relationships; the connections between the meter, liter, and gram; the real-world relevance of mathematics to science; and the somewhat abstract…
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Book Chapter |
In this activity, students identify the scientific names of items they have around the house.
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Medical Metaphor Mixer: Modeling Infectious Diseases
Book Chapter |
This model-building activity helps learners visualize SI’s base-ten relationships; the connections between the meter, liter, and gram; the real-world relevance of mathematics to science; and the somewhat abstract…
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Cookie Mining: A Food-for-Thought Simulation
Book Chapter |
In this activity, various brands, sizes, and textures of chocolate chip cookies are “mined” as an edible analogy for natural resource management and conservation.
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Book Chapter |
Teachers (or students) are asked to generate and discuss a list of the Top 10 Crazy Ideas in Science and a related list of Top 10 Challenges of Learning Science. This brainstorming activity focuses on science as a…
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Book Chapter |
In this activity, the wording and validity of the scientific and economic claims for compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) are critically examined. Their environmental impact relative to standard incandescent lightbulbs…
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A Terrible Test That Teaches: Curriculum-Embedded Assessment
Book Chapter |
In this activity, a “terrible test” appears to be impossible to pass. However, it is intentionally designed to include common errors in item construction that, if noticed, allow the test-wise learner to ace the test…
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Diagnostic Assessment: Discrepant Event or Essential Educational Experiment?
Book Chapter |
In this activity, learners are asked to complete sample diagnostic assessments that model how nongraded, preinstructional “tests” support learner-centered curriculum and instruction. These kinds of tests, the specific…
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Dual-Density Discrepancies: Ice Is Nice and Sugar Is Sweet
Book Chapter |
Seemingly identical crystalline cubes (ice versus halite crystals) are observed to either sink or float in two seemingly identical clear, colorless liquids (ethanol and water). Also, a handful of sugar cubes are…
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