Outstanding Science Trade Books for Early Elementary School Students - Part 2
Release Date: 04/02/2024
Comets
K12Science
I was recently reading the September-October 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Scope on the Skies” section, written by Bob Riddle. He wrote an article entitled: “Chasing Giant Ice Balls.” Comets are frozen leftovers from the formation of the solar system composed of dust, rock, and ices. They range in size from a few miles to tens of miles wide, but as they orbit closer to the Sun, they heat up and spew gases and dust into a glowing head that can be larger than a planet. This...
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Elephant ID
K12Science
I was recently reading the September-October 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Citizen Science” section, written by Jill Nugent. She wrote an article entitled: “Snapshot Safari: Elephant Edition.” Elephant ID is an online project that leverages Zooniverse’s people-powered research platform to address behavior and conservation questions related to the African savanna elephant, a species facing pressing challenges, including habitat loss. To learn more, visit the project website at:
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Social-Emotional Learning
K12Science
I was recently reading the September-October 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Editorial” section, written by Patty McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled: “Social-Emotional Learning in the Science Classroom.” Perhaps nowhere else in education is social-emotional (SEL) more crucial than in the middle school science classroom, a place where students are expected to collaborate, communicate, and participate respectfully in the practice of argumentation. For more information about SEL...
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Learning Styles
K12Science
I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science and Children, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Science 101” section, written by Matt Bobrowsky. He wrote a Q and A article entitled: “Q: If Students Have Different Learning Styles, What Kinds of Science Activities Are Best for Reaching All Students?” For a more well-rounded educational experience, teachers can use “multimodal” teaching. Examples include visual, kinesthetic, and auditory. But that does not mean that students have specific...
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Astrophotography
K12Science
I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association, for middle school teachers. In this issue, I read the “Scope on the Skies” section. In the section was an article entitled, “Capturing Photons,” written by Bob Riddle. One way to make astronomy more accessible and engaging to students is to introduce them to astrophotography. The most direct way is probably with the student’s own smartphone.
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Trustworthy Scientific Information
K12Science
I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association, for middle school teachers. In this issue, I read the “Commentary” section. In the section was an article entitled, “Finding Instructional Resources for Teaching About Scientific Misinformation,” written by Andy Zucker. The nonprofit Media Literacy Now has developed a first-of-its-kind online database where teachers can find and access instructional materials to help student resists false and misleading information. To access the...
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Secchi Disk
K12Science
I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association, for middle school teachers. In this issue, I read the “Citizen Science” section, written by Jill Nugent. She wrote an article entitled “Summer Science With the Secchi Dip-In Project.” The Robert Carlson Secchi Dip-In Project is a demonstration of the potential of volunteer monitors to gather environmentally important information on our lakes, rivers, and estuaries. For more information, visit:
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Phenomena in the Classroom
K12Science
I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read an article entitled “Phenomena in the Classroom,” written by Patty McGinnis. An engaging phenomena is determined more by how the students generate compelling lines of inquiry that create real opportunities for learning. Paul Anderson’s “Wonder of Science” website has an extensive list of phenomena organized by grade level and standard. It is available at:
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Why Teach Science?
K12Science
I was recently reading the book, “Transformative Science Teaching: A Catalyst for Justice and Sustainability,” written by Daniel Morales-Doyle. In this book, Daniel looks at two questions: "Why teach science?" "How does my teaching reflect the world in which my students live and project the world they would like to see?"
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Goal of Science Education
K12Science
I was recently reading the book, “Transformative Science Teaching: A Catalyst for Justice and Sustainability,” written by Daniel Morales-Doyle. In this book, Daniel challenges the goal of science education.
info_outlineI was recently reading the January/February 2024 issue of “Science and Children,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association, for elementary school science teachers.
In this issue, I read the section on the “Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students.” The selections are a collaboration of the National Science Teaching Association and the Children’s Book Council.
In part 2 of this two-part podcast series, I share eight books that were selected for early elementary students. The books are:
“Whale Fall” by Melissa Stewart
“Find Out About Animal Camouflage” by Martin Jenkins
“The Bone Wars: The True Story of an Epic Battle to Find Dinosaur Fossils” by Jane Kurtz
“The Clues are in the Poo: The Story of Dinosaur Scientist Karen Chin” by Jane Kurtz and Karen Chin
“Masked Hero: Who Wu Lien-teh Invented the Mask that Ended an Epidemic” by Dr. Shan Woo Liu
“Tell Me About Space” by Lisa Varchol Perron
“If the Rivers Run Free” by Andrea Debink
“Zero Waste: How One Community is Leading a World Recycling Revolution” by Allan Drummond