A practical guidebook to enable teachers to address their concerns about teaching science as active inquiry, in addition to providing them with the tools and techniques for developing a science program that models how real scientists work.

This new text lays out the rationale for teaching science as active inquiry and presents a “teaching for thinking” theoretical framework that is rooted in extensive field research and classroom practice. This introductory section is followed with information and guidelines for how teachers may organize their science programs with a focus on hands-on student involvement in active inquiry. The last section includes 60 “sciencing” activities that are grouped according to teachers’ expressed concerns about their “messiness.”

With the current emphasis on distance learning, the use of IT as instructional tools and more child-centered practices, this new book should serve as a valuable resource for opening teachers’ and students’ minds to the values of teaching science in the ways in which scientists actually do their work. More than theory, the book offers practical and clear help to teachers to want to pursue teaching science as an investigative process.

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction: This Book is for Teachers

Section I: Perspectives

Chapter 1: Perspectives on Science and Sciencing

Chapter 2: Perspectives on Children

Chapter 3: Perspectives on Play

Chapter 4: Perspectives on Teaching for Thinking in Science

Chapter 5: Perspectives from the Classroom: The Play-Debrief-Replay Instructional Model

Section II: Organizing the Classroom for Science as Active Inquiry

Chapter 6: Preparing Students for Sciencing

Chapter 7: Gathering the Materials

Chapter 8: Making Room for Sciencing

Chapter 9: Guidelines and Ground Rules

Chapter 10: Debriefing: Interactions that Promote Thoughtful Inquiry

Chapter 11: Thinking and Decision Making in Science

Section III: 58 Sciencing Activities

Chapter 12: Introduction to the Activities

Chapter 13: Category A: Wet, Wetter, Wettest: Activities 1 - 11

Chapter 14: Category B: No Fuss, No Muss, No Sticky Stuff: Activities 12 - 48

Chapter 15: Category C: Who’s Afraid of Spiders?: Activities 49 - 58

Section IV:: Journey Into the Unknown

Chapter 16: Evaluating Student Growth

Chapter 17: Journey Into the Unknown

Appendix

Bibliography