Hands-On Earth Science Activities for Grades K-8

9780132301602

0132301601

This teacher2s resource is one of three volumes in the "Science Problem-Solving Curriculum Library," a unique instructional series that provides nearly 500 exciting hands-on activities to teach students thinking and reasoning skills along with basic science concepts and facts. Each volume in the series focuses on one major area of science normally taught in grades K-8 and offers a store of stimulating activities that can be used with virtually any science text. The activities follow the discovery/inquiry approach and encourage students to analyze, synthesize, and infer based on their own hand-on experiences. BOOK I HANDS-ON LIFE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES FOR GRADES K-8 provides over 150 discovery experiences covering the topics of Plants and Seeds, Animals, Animal Life Cycles, Animal Adaptation, Body Structure, The Five Senses, and Health and Nutrition. BOOK II HANDS-ON PHYSICAL SCIENCE ACTIVITIES FOR GRADES K-8 provides over 180 easy-to-use activities covering The Nature of Matter, Energy, Light, Sound, Simple Machines, Static Electricity, and Current Electricity. BOOK III HANDS-ON EARTH SCIENCE ACTIVITIES FOR GRADES K-8 presents over 165 inquiry activities covering the topics of Air, Water, Weather, The Earth, Ecology, Above the Earth, and Beyond the Earth. All of the activities are complete and ready for use, including a title written in question form ... list of materials needed, most readily available ... step-by-step procedures to be carried out by the student...and special tips and background information for the teacher. Many activities also provide illustrations to supplement the student procedures, and special sections "For Problem Solvers" that encourage motivated students towards independent investigation. Numerous activities are identified as appropriate to "Take home and do with family and friends." And to help you quickly find appropriate activities, each volume includes a Listing of Activities by topic that lists topics and subtopics covered and identifies one or more activities in that volume that can be used to introduce or reinforce that particular concept. With the hand-on activities in this unique Library, no teacher need be a "scientist" to conduct an effective and exciting science program! Moreover, the process skills emphasized in these experiences virtually assure students2 increased insight and retention of content.