Elementary Science Methods: A Constructivist Approach (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac®)

In this pioneering text, Martin uses a constructivist approach to guide students in learning how to teach in a constructivist manner. Grounded in the belief that it is more important for children to learn how to do science than it is for them to learn about science, this text is predicated on the reality that teachers of elementary science do not need to know a great deal of science to be good science teachers, but need to be co-inquirers with their students. To facilitate your students' learning, this text features a wealth of exercises: for teacher candidates, the book includes open-ended inquiry activities that help them to construct their own personal conceptualizations about science content and teaching science in the elementary school; and, it contains over 170 process-oriented, open-ended activities that teachers can use to encourage children to develop and perform their own investigations. The Book Companion CD-ROM, included with each new copy, provides tools and resources, such as additional activities and video, which students can use both in their college course and later in elementary science classrooms. All activities are linked to National Science Education Standards for content, professional development, assessment, and teaching, and the activities contain suggestions of appropriate children's literature.