Eight Essentials of Inquiry-Based Science, K-8

Edited by:

Elizabeth Hammerman - Educational Consultant, Texas

Foreword by Robert E. Yager

Other Titles in:
Science | Teaching Methods & Learning Styles

September 2005 | 184 pages | Corwin

Unlock the wonder in each of your students through inquiry-based science!

Are you both fascinated and baffled by inquiry-based science? Do you want to tap the strength of inquiry-based science to help your students build deeper understandings? Do you want to use inquiry-based science to foster high-quality instruction across the educational board? This guide provides clear and simple explanations for engaging students in meaningful and hands-on, minds-on ways of understanding science.

Eight Essentials of Inquiry-Based Science, K-8 breaks each essential into sample lessons that include sample data, discussion questions, and tools such as graphic organizers and analogies. Hammerman draws on more than 20 years experience in the fields of science instruction and professional development to address basic and complex principles related to inquiry, including:

· How to discuss data, information, models, graphics, and experiences

· How to interact with one another to strengthen knowledge and skills

· How to extend learning through guided or open-inquiry investigations and research

· How to apply new learning and research-based best practices for improving student achievement

· When you harness the immense power of inquiry-based learning, you can fully discover the inquisitive nature of each of your students!

Robert E. Yager

Foreword

Preface: Improving Student Achievement Through Professional Development

Rationale for Professional Development in Science

Themes and Threads

The Goals of Eight Essentials

Using Eight Essentials of Inquiry-Based Science in Study Groups and Professional Development Initiatives

An I.D.E.A. Approach

The Eight Essentials of Inquiry-Based Science

Introduction: Inquiry-Based Science and the Inquiry Classroom

Defining Inquiry-Based Science

Inquiry as a Process for Learning

Teaching Thinking Through Inquiry

Teaching Scientific Habits of Mind Through Inquiry

Guiding and Facilitating Learning Through Inquiry

Implications for the Classroom

Using Eight Essentials as Criteria for Assessing Curriculum & Informing Instruction

Traditional vs. Inquiry Classroom Behaviors

1. Essential #1: Inquiry-Based Science Develops an Understanding of Basic Concepts

Understanding Big Ideas in the Curriculum

Standards as Concept Categories

Using Standards to Inform Curriculum and Instruction

Using Activities to Engage Learners and Promote Inquir

2. Essential #2: Inquiry-Based Science Develops Process and Thinking Skills

Science Process Skills

Complex Thinking Skills

Activities That Develop Skills for Learning and Concept Understanding

Guided Inquiry Activities for Upper Primary/Intermediate Level: An Introduction to Metric Measurement and the Structure of Seeds

Student Constructed or Guided Inquiry for Intermediate/Middle School Level: Heating and Cooling Rates of Water and Land

Guided Inquiry Activity for Intermediate/Middle School Level: Creating Climagraphs

Using Visual Organizers to Show Connections

3. Essential #3: Inquiry-Based Science Actively Engages Students in a Learning Cycle

Defining a Learning Cycle

The Five E's Lesson Plan

Guided Inquiry Lessons Using a Five E's Format

Primary Level: The Ear and Hearing

Intermediate Level: It's All in the Family - A Study of Heredity

Analysis of It's All in the Family

Classroom Applications of the Learning Cycle

4. Essential #4: Inquiry-Based Science Builds a Greater Understanding of the Ways That Science-Technology-Society (STS) are Linked

Goals of S-T-S

Defining S-T-S

Technology as Computers and Other AV Equipment

Technology as Tools for Learning

Technology as Concept Application

Technology as Problem-Solving and Inventions

Technology as Tools for Learning

Environmental Problems and Issues

Analysis of a Case Study: Large Numbers of Elk Die in Wyoming

Technology as a Production System

Applying Technological Design in the Classroom

Activities That Engage Students in Problem Solving and Technological Design

Using Technological Design to Show Concept Understanding: Understanding Adaptation

Building Technology and Technological Design Into the Curriculum

5. Essential #5: Inquiry-Based Science Provides Experiences Necessary to Support and Develop or Modify Interpretations of the World

Misconceptions

Analyzing Misconceptions Case Study

Using Discrepant Events in the Classroom

Mediated Learning Experiences

Dispositions That Underlie Science

6. Essential #6: Inquiry-Based Science Enhances Reading and Writing Skills

Integrating Reading

Analyzing Current Events Through Articles

Integrating Writing

Using Science Notebooks

Designing Science Notebooks

Using Science Notebooks to Enhance Reading, Writing, Math, and Thinking: Comparing the Strength of Magnets

Criteria for Scoring Notebooks

Developing Thinking Skills Through Analysis, Creative Writing, and Analogies

Analogies

Analogies in Science

7. Essential #7: Inquiry-Based Science Allows for a Diversity of Strategies for Learning

Analyzing Learning

Methods, Strategies, and Best Practices

The Creative Use of Strategies

8. Essential #8: Inquiry-Based Science Allows for a Variety of Ways for Students to Show What They Know and Are Able to Do

Fundamentals of Assessment

Multiple and Varied Assessment

9. Using Eight Essentials to Enhance Learning

Eight-Point Lessons

Using the Eight Essentials to Analyze Curriculum Materials

Resource

Strategies for Instruction or Assessment Linked to Multiple Intelligences

References

Index

"Eight Essentials of Inquiry -Based Science offers a crisp rationale and approach to the teaching of science that is meaningful, authentic, and exciting for students. Hammerman brings the complexities of science pedagogy and research to life and presents important ideas about teaching and learning in a manner that is easy to digest and apply. This is a timely book for it provides an answer to the many demands placed on teachers and students."

Diann Musial, Distinguished Teaching Professor

College of Education, Northern Illinois University

"A user-friendly resource book full of useful tips for tapping into students' natural inquisitiveness. Includes sample activities, probing discussion questions, and graphic organizer templates for recording data and tracking student assessment."

Professionally Speaking, September 2006

Ontario College of Teachers