Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1:Â Factors Which Influence Your Science Teaching Philosophy
Why Teach Science To Young Children?
Your Personal Context
Who Are You And How Do You Feel About Science?
What Is Your Teaching And Learning Style?
What Are Your Views On Science And Scientists?
What Were Your Early Experiences With Science?
Science Education Then And Now
How has science education changed since the 1950s?
Chapter 2: How Young Children Learn and Think about Science
Can You Recall Your First Experience With Science?
What Are Your Children’s Views Of Science And Scientists?
What Does Research Say About How Young Children View Science And Scientists?
What is Science?
What Are K-2 Children’s Ideas About Science?
How Do Young Children Learn Science?
Children’s Understandings Of Physical Properties
Children’s Understandings Of Animals
Children’s Understandings Of Plants
Children’s Understandings Of Earth Science
What Are Some Common Misconceptions In Your Science Classroom?
Chapter 3: Your Children And Science Learning
Who Are Your Children?
What Are Your Class’ Demographics?
How Can You Develop A Cultural Understanding Of Your Children?
How Can You Use Your Children’s Lived Experiences To Inform Your Teaching?
What Are Your Expectations For Your Children?
How Can You Help Your K-2 Children Succeed In Science?
Chapter 4: The Inquiry Approach to Teaching and Learning Science
What Is Scientific Inquiry?
How Can You Develop Inquiry Skills?
What Are Some Inquiry-Based Teaching Strategies?
Guided Discovery
Problem-Based Learning
How Can You Use Process Skills In Inquiry Teaching?
How Do You Use Process Skills In Your Daily Life?
Chapter 5: Exploring Process Skills
How can you develop Observation skills?
How can you develop measuring skills?
How can you develop communication skills?
How can you develop classification skills?
Classy Classification
How can you develop inference-making skills?
How Well Do You Know The Process Skills?
Chapter 6: Establishing Your Science Program
What Are The BIG IDEAS In Science?
What Concepts Should You Include In Your Curriculum?
How Do You Build An Effective Science Learning Environment?
How Can You Set Up Your Classroom For Science?
Chapter 7: Resources You Can Use in Your Science Teaching
What resources are available for teaching K-2 science?
You
Scientists
Non Formal Institutions
Zoos
Museums
Aquariums
Farms
Parents
Journals and Books
Internet
Education Program
Chapter 8: Developing Your Plan For Teaching
Where Am I In My Development As A Science Teacher?
Where Am I Going In My Science Teaching Practice?
State Standards
City/District Standards
School Standards
Classroom Standards
How Do I Plan To Be An Effective Science Teacher?
Beginning The Plan
Rationale For Teaching A Topic
What are my goals for teaching this lesson?
Terms that will help you define Your Science Teaching Goals
Deciding On My Mode Of Science Instruction
Organizing My Class
Curriculum Development
Ideas From Other Science Teachers
Developing My Own Plan
How Will I Know When I Have Arrived At My Best Level Of Practice?
Appendix 1: The National Science Education Standards and Benchmarks
What are the standards for K-4 science content?
What are the goals for school science?
What are the Standards For K-4 Science Content?
What are the Benchmarks for Scientific Literacy?
Appendix 2: Science Content Information For K-2
Properties of Objects
Plants
Animals
Weather and Water
Properties of Matter
Weather and Seasons
Animal Diversity
Forces and Motion
Soil
Plant Diversity
Life Sciences
References
