Summary
Contents
Subject index
Forty classroom-ready science teaching and learning activities for elementary and middle school teachersGrounded in theory and best-practices research, this practical text provides elementary and middle school teachers with 40 place-based activities that will help them to make science learning relevant to their students. This text provides teachers with both a rationale and a set of strategies and activities for teaching science in a local context to help students engage with science learning and come to understand the importance of science in their everyday lives.
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Front Matter
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Chapters
- Introduction to Place-Based Science Teaching and Learning
- Introduction
- Trends in Current Science Achievement in the United States
- A History of Place-Based Education
- Place-Based Science and Diverse Learners
- Assessing Place-Based Science Teaching and Learning
- Teacher-Directed Assessments
- Assessments and Nonmainstream Students
- Place-Based Science and Thinking like a Scientist
- Coordinating Hypothesis and Evidence
- Controlling Variables
- Studying Cause-and-Effect Relationships
- Modifying Activities for Grade Range and other Learner Differences
- Interdisciplinary Teaching Through Place-Based Science
- References
Part I: Activities to Promote Place-Based Science Teaching in the Classroom
- Chapter 1: Monocot versus Dicot Plants
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Monocot or Dicot?
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 2: Germinating Seeds
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Growing an Avocado
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Controlling Variables
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Upper Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 3: How Will Global Warming Affect You?
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Sea Level Rise
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 4: Your Water Footprint
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Exploring Your Water Footprint
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 5: Where Did My Juice Come from?
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Where Did My Juice Come from?
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 6: Distance Learning: Reaching beyond One's Classroom
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Distance Learning: Reaching beyond One's Classroom
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Writing a Letter to a Key Pal and Exchanging Scientific Reports
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 7: Interviewing a Scientist
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Interviewing a Scientist
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Upper Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 8: Creating an Environmental Advocacy Press Kit
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
Part II: Activities to Promote Place-Based Science Teaching in the School Building
- Chapter 9: Student Nutrition and Eating Habits at School
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Assessing Nutrition at School
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 10: Study of Student Exercise Habits
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Developing a School Exercise Program
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 11: Study of Fitness Levels
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Exercise and Fitness Levels
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 12: Water Fountain Water versus Bottled Water
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Does Bottled Water Taste Better?
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Controlling Variables
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Upper Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 13: How Physical Space is Used in Schools
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Design a School
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 14: Conducting a School Energy Audit
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Conducting a School Energy Audit
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Upper Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 15: Water Drops and Water Loss
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Water Drops and Water Loss
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 16: Science Performances
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Performing Place-Based Science in the Auditorium
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
Part III: Activities to Promote Place-Based Science Teaching on the School Grounds
- Chapter 17: Tracking Weather
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Tracking the Weather
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 18: Soil Erosion and Runoff
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Studying and Controlling Runoff and Erosion
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Controlling Variables
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 19: Urban Gardens
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Creating a Compost Pile
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Upper Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 20: Bird Watching in the Schoolyard
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Bird Feeder Observation
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 21: Adopt a Tree
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Adopt a Tree
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 22: One Square Meter of Ground Survey
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Conducting a Micro Study of a Square Meter of School Grounds
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 23: Insects All around You
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Insects All around You
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Control of Variables
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 24: Acid Rain
- Science Background
- Cultural Background
- Measuring Acid Rain
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Control of Variables
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
Part IV: Activities to Promote Place-Based Science Teaching in the Neighborhood
- Chapter 25: Stream Study, Monitoring, and Restoration
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Stream Monitoring
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 26: Pollution in the Neighborhood
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Tracking Non-Point-Source Pollution
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Items for the Non-Point-Source Pollution Checklist
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 27: Traffic Patterns
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Traffic Patterns
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 28: Survey of Local Plants
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Survey of Local Plants
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 29: Science in Swimming Pools
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- How Clean is the Pool Water?
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 30: Patterns in Nature
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Hexagons in Nature and Man-Made Objects
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language and Visual Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 31: Wildlife Census in a Neighborhood Park
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Neighborhood Wildlife Census
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 32: Who Gets Sick and Why?
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Who Gets Sick and Why?
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Upper Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Language Arts
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
Part V: Activities to Promote Place-Based Science Teaching in the Broader Community
- Chapter 33: Science in Museums
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Visiting a Museum and Creating a Report or Display Based on One's Visit
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Upper Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 34: Science in Zoos and Aquariums
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Creating Animal Profiles
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 35: Surveying Local Parks
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Surveying Local Parks
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 36: Geology and Buildings
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Geology and Buildings
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 37: Science in Hospitals and Health Clinics
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Hypothesis and Evidence
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Upper Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 38: Where Does Your Food Come From?
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- What Grows in Your State?
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Early Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 39: Where Does Your Water Come From?
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Trip to a Water Treatment Plant
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Sample Questions for Trip to Water Treatment Plant
- Thinking like a Scientist: Control of Variables
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Middle School
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Social Studies
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
- Chapter 40: Where Does Your Garbage Go?
- Science Background
- Cultural Connections
- Visiting a Recycling Center
- Materials You Will Need for This Activity
- What You Will Do
- Thinking like a Scientist—Cause and Effect
- Sample Grade-Level Modification—Upper Elementary
- Sample Interdisciplinary Connection—Mathematics
- Scientists in Your Community
- Correlation with National Standards
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Back Matter
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