Product Description
Time-tested activities to teach the key ideas of science—and turn students into scientists!
Science education is becoming more rigorous than ever, but that doesn’t have to make it more difficult. In this straightforward and witty book, Alan Colburn has adapted classic investigations to help students in grades 3 through 8 truly think and act like scientists. Chapter by chapter, this accessible primer walks you through classic science investigations, discussing how each one illustrates a “big idea” about the nature of science, and offering clear links to the Next Generation Science Standards and its Science and Engineering Practices. You’ll also find:
- A reader-friendly overview of the NGSS
- Guidance on adapting the activities to your grade level, including communicating instructions, facilitating discussions, and managing safety concerns
- Case studies of working scientists to highlight specifics about the science and engineering practices.
With this elemental guide, you’ll teach your students not just what scientists do, but how scientists think—giving them the 21st-century skills they need to become the next generation of scientists.
Introductory information on the Next Generation Science Standards
- Activities in every chapter that clearly illustrate the big idea around the Nature of Science and the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs)
- Sidebars and callouts with facilitation notes for conducting the activities for different grade levels 3-8
- Clear links to NGSS standards and SEPs
- Case studies of working scientists to highlight specifics about the SEPs and the nature of science
