Teaching and Learning Elementary Science

This page provides a variety of links for exploring and enhancing mastery of concepts and skills in the teaching of science in grades prek-6.


General Resources

Standards and Reform
Benchmarks Online (1993)
http://www.project2061.org/publications/bsl/online/bolintro.htm
Every Child a Scientist: Achieving Scientific Literacy for All (1997)
http://books.nap.edu/html/evchild/

Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards: A Guide for Teaching and Learning (2000)
http://books.nap.edu/html/inquiry_addendum/

National Science Education Standards (1995) 
http://bob.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/html/
Science for All Americans (1995) 
http://www.project2061.org//tools/sfaaol/sfaatoc.htm
Transforming Ideas for Teaching and Learning: Science
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/StateArt/Science/index.html
What Does Research Say About Science?
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/stw_esys/3science.htm

Instruction
Learning Science Through Inquiry
http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/inquiry/
Locating, Using, and Integrating Internet-Based Science Materials
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/science/sc100.htm

NSTA Position Statement: Elementary School Science
http://www.nsta.org/159&psid=8

NSTA Position Statement: The Use of Computers in Science Education
http://www.nsta.org/159&psid=4

Providing Hands-On, Minds-On, and Authentic Learning Experiences in Science
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/science/sc500.htm
The Science of Teaching Science
http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/science/

Assessment and Evaluation
Alternative Assessment Tools
http://www.inspiringteachers.com/tips/assessment/alternative.html
The Assessment Rut
http://www.inspiringteachers.com/articles/assessment/index.html
Assessment Strategies and Definitions
http://www.rmcdenver.com/useguide/assessme/definiti.htm
Assessment Strategies to Inform Science and Mathematics Instruction
http://www.nwrel.org/msec/images/resources/justgood/06.97.pdf
Examples of Exemplars: Standards-Based Performance Assessment
http://www.exemplars.com/samples.html
An Introduction to Science Portfolios
http://www.accessexcellence.org/LC/TL/mahood_port.html
Knowing What Students Know: The Science and Design of Educational Assessment
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309072727/html/
The Nation's Report Card: Science
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/science/
Online Assessment Tutorial
http://www.exemplars.com/online_assessment/index.html
Three Purposes of Assessment
http://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~jameis/New%20Pages/EYR7.html

Diverse Learners
Meeting the Needs of Gifted Students: Differentiating Mathematics and Science Instruction
http://www.nwrel.org/msec/images/resources/justgood/12.99.pdf
Mathematics and Science Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities
http://www.nwrel.org/msec/book7.pdf
Science and Mathematics for All Students
http://www.nwrel.org/msec/images/resources/justgood/04.97.pdf
Targeting Learning With Differentiated Instruction
http://www.nwrel.org/msec/nwteacher/spring2002/model.html
Teaching Mathematics and Science to English Language Learners
http://www.nwrel.org/msec/images/resources/justgood/11.99.pdf

Home and Parent Involvement
Engaging Families in Mathematics and Science Education
http://www.nwrel.org/msec/book5.pdf
Helping Your Child Learn Science
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Science/index.html
What Can Parents Do to Support Student Learning in Science
http://www.mcrel.org/PDF/EDThoughtsScience/ 6804IR_EDThoughtsScience_41.pdf

Lesson Plans and Activities
Academy Curriculum Exchange
http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/
Educator's Reference Desk: Science Lesson Plans
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/lessons.cgi/Science
Dragonfly Web Pages
http://www.units.muohio.edu/dragonfly/
DiscoverySchool.com
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/
Edible/Inedible Experiments Archive
http://www.madsci.org/experiments/
Exploratorium Science Snacks
http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/snackintro.html
Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) Science
http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/cfapps/free/displaysubject.cfm?sid=8
Harcourt Science
http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/preview/harcourt_science/preview_menu.html
Houghton Mifflin Education Place: Science Center
http://www.eduplace.com/science/index.html
The Magic School Bus: Science Fun Activities
http://scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/games/teacher/index.htm
Newton's Apple Teacher's Guides
http://www.tpt.org/newtons/alpha.html
PBS TeacherSource - Science and Technology
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/sci_tech.htm
The Science Explorer
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/index.html
SEDL - Paso Partners Home Page
http://www.sedl.org/scimath/pasopartners/welcome.html
The Thinking Fountain
http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/tf/


Pedagogical Resources

Children's Literature
Children's Picture Book Database
http://www.lib.muohio.edu/pictbks/
Curriculum Areas from Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site
http://www.carolhurst.com/subjects/curriculum.html
Database of Award Winning Children's Literature
http://www.dawcl.com/
International Children's Digital Library
http://www.icdlbooks.org/
NSTA's Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12
http://www.nsta.org/ostbc
PBS TeacherSource Recommended Books: Science
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/recommended/rec_books_science.shtm

Vocabulary
Harcourt Multimedia Science Glossary
http://www.harcourtschool.com/glossary/science/intro.html
UCMP Glossary
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/glossary.html

Writing and Communication in Science
Learning Logs
http://curriculumfutures.org/assessment/a04-06.html
Science and Mathematics: Through the Lens of Language
http://www.nwrel.org/msec/nwteacher/fall2002/lens.html
Science Logs
http://scied.gsu.edu/Hassard/mos/8.6a.html
Science Notebooks: Writing About Inquiry (Chapter 1 - The Role of the Teacher)
http://www.heinemann.com/shared/onlineresources/E00568/chapter1.pdf
Science Workshop: Reading, Writing, and Thinking Like a Scientist (Chapter 5 - Writing: A Way Into Thinking Science)
http://www.heinemann.com/shared/onlineresources/E00510/chapter5.pdf
Scientific Journal (Example)
http://mzmarcotte.com/Journal.htm
To Journal or Not To Journal - That is the Question!
http://www.inspiringteachers.com/articles/curriculum/journaling.html
Writing Exercises in Science
http://www.fauxpress.com/kimball/w/logo.htm
Writing to Learn in Science/Mathematics
http://www.rit.edu/~comets/pages/workshops/writingtolearnwkshop.html
Writing to Learn With Learning Logs
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/weeklytips.phtml/54

Images of Science
Animal Web Cams at the National Zoo
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/WebCams/
Cells Alive!
http://www.cellsalive.com/
Classroom Clipart: Science (FREE!)
http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Science
Earth From Space
http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov/
Eye of Science: Life in a Microcosmic World
http://www.eyeofscience.de/eos2/index2.html
Imagine Animals: Photos of Earth's Endangered Species
http://imagineanimals.com/
Molecular Expressions Photo Gallery
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/micro/gallery.html
National Zoo: Animal Photo Gallery
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/PhotoGallery/
Plant Image Gallery
http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/
Welcome to the Planets
http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome/earth.htm

Digital Visualization
Bugscope
http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/
Bugscope: Magnifying the Connection Between Students, Science, and Scientists
http://www.glef.org/php/article.php?id=Art_771
Camerascope: Digital Visualization for Science and Math Classrooms
http://www.teacherlink.org/tools/
Chickscope
http://chickscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/
Intel® Play™ QX3™ Web Microscope
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/intelplay/liveview/index.html
The ProScope™ - Education Applications
http://www.theproscope.com/education.html
QX3 Digital Microscope Project
http://www.teacherlink.org/content/science/microscope/
Using the Digital Microscope in the Classroom
http://www.glef.org/modules/EL/apply.php


Content Resources

Life Science (General)
Essential Science for Teachers: Life Science
http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/essential/life/

Physical Science
Physics 2000 - Science Trek
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/more1.html

The Physics Classroom: Physics Tutorial
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Default2.html

School for Champions: Succeed in Physical Science
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science.htm
Science in Focus: Shedding Light on Science
http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/sheddinglight/

Astronomy
Astronomy For Kids
http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/index.html

Core Unit: The Solar System

http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/gr3udesc.html

Discovering the Earth's Journey 

http://explorer.scrtec.org/explorer/explorer-db/rsrc/783750683-447DED81.2.PDF

Earth From Space

http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov/

The Earth, Moon, Sun, and Stars Unit 

http://explorer.scrtec.org/explorer/explorer-db/rsrc/783750660-447DED81.2.PDF
Educator's Guide to Kitchen Comets

http://learn.jpl.nasa.gov/educators/comet.html

Educator's Guide to Moon Phases

http://learn.jpl.nasa.gov/educators/moonphase.html

Kids Eclipse

http://www.kidseclipse.com/teach.htm
Living in Space

http://science.nasa.gov/LivingInSpace.htm

Moon Sampler

http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/samplers/moon.html

The Nine Planets

http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html

The Nine Planets - For Kids!

http://mercury.nineplanets.org:8011/tnp4kids/
Ocean Tides

http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/aviso/text/general/discover/results/tides.htm

Our Solar System 

http://explorer.scrtec.org/explorer/explorer-db/rsrc/783751812-447DED81.2.PDF

Phases of the Moon Lesson Plan 
http://explorer.scrtec.org/explorer/explorer-db/rsrc/783750867-447DED81.2.PDF

Phases of the Moon Experiment

http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/cycles/moonexperiment.html
Planet Search

http://edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu/~jthom/planet.html

Signs of Life

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worlds/life/

StarChild: Learning Center for Young Astronomers

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

Virtual Moon Phases

http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.html

Welcome to the Planets

http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets

Electricity and Magnetism
Amazing Magnets Unit Plan
http://www.coreknowledge.org/CKproto2/resrcs/lessons/298AmazingMags.htm
BrainPop: Electricity
http://www.brainpop.com/science/electricity/electricity/index.weml
BrainPop: Magnetism
http://www.brainpop.com/science/forces/magnetism/

Core Unit: Magnets
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/gr2ubesc.html
Electrical Safety
http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/frankenstein/safety.html
Electricity and Magnetism Experiments
http://www.Galaxy.net/~k12/electric/
Electricity and Safety Lesson Plan
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/isa/elit/el/electricity/electricity.htm
Electromagnetism Theory
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/waves_particles/index.html
Fruity Electricity Activity
http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/frankenstein/fruity.html
How Batteries Work
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/battery1.htm
How Electromagnets Work
http:/science.howstuffworks.com/electromagnet.htm
How Light Bulbs Work
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/light-bulb.htm
Magnetic Barbershop
http://www.smv.org/pubs/PSSolutionsMagBarber.pdf
Magnetic Classroom 
http://www.smv.org/pubs/PSSolutionsMagClassrm.pdf
Magnetic Fishing 
http://www.smv.org/pubs/PSSolutionsMagFish.pdf
Magnetic Stop Signs
http://www.smv.org/pubs/PSSolutionsMagStopSign.pdf
Magnetism Unit Plan
http://www.coreknowledge.org/CKproto2/resrcs/lessons/298Magnetism.htm
North and South Poles 
http://www.smv.org/pubs/PSSolutionsNSPoles.pdf
Optional Unit: Electricity and Magnetism
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/gr4ueesc.html
Static Electricity Activity
http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/frankenstein/static.html
Super Sparker Activity
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/sparker.html
What is Static Electricity?
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/static.html
Which Way is North? 
http://www.smv.org/pubs/PSSolutionsWayNorth.pdf

Dinosaurs, Fossils and Geologic Time
Fossils
http://www.rom.on.ca/quiz/fossil/
National Museum of Natural History: Dinosaur Exhibits
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/dino/
Paleontology: The Big Dig
http://ology.amnh.org/paleontology/index.html
Review the Geologic Timeline at:
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/timeline.html

Force, Motion, and Energy
Core Unit: Forms of Energy
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/gr4ubesc.html
Downhill Discoveries Lesson Plan
http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Physics/PHS0014.html
Energy
http://www.nyu.edu:80/pages/mathmol/textbook/energy.html
Friction
http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/tf/f/friction/friction.html
Newton's Apple Teacher's Guide: Slinky Physics

http://www.ktca.org/newtons/9/slink.html
Potential and Kinetic Energy Lesson Plan
http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Physics/PHS0036.html
Raceways
http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/mummy/raceways.html
Science in Focus: Energy
http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/energy/
Science in Focus: Force and Motion
http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/force/
A World In Motion Unit Plan
http://www.sae.org/students/awimcurr.htm

Biomes (Dry-Land Environments)
Biome Basics
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/biomes/
Biomes of the World
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/index.htm
The Deciduous Forest
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/forest/
Desert Life in the American Southwest
http://www.desertusa.com/life.html
Deserts of the World
http://www.livingdesert.org/deserts.htm
Exploring the Tropics
http://www.mobot.org/education/tropics/welcome.html
Rainforest Facts
http://www.pbs.org/tal/costa_rica/rainfacts.html
Rainforest Information
http://www.ran.org/ran/info_center/index.html
Rainforest Resources/Facts
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/resources/index.html
The Rainforests: Diversity and Destruction
http://www.davesite.com/rainforests/index.shtml
Tour of the Biomes
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html
A Tropical Feast
http://www.mobot.org/education/05actforkidsnfamilies/onlineactivites/tropicalfeast/tropfeast.html
Virtual Wildlife: Wild Places
http://www.panda.org/kids/wildlife/idxregmn.htm
A Walk in the Rainforest
http://www.pbs.org/tal/costa_rica/index.html

Biomes (Water-Related Environments)
America's Wetlands
http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/wetlands/vital/toc.html
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
http://www.cbf.org/
Dolphin Safe Tuna? WebQuest
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/education/projects/webquests/dolphins/
Exploring Underwater Lesson Plan
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/exploringunderwater/
Freshwater Ecosystems
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/fresh/index.htm
The Gulf Stream
http://pao.cnmoc.navy.mil/Educate/Neptune/quest/current/gulf.htm
Marine Ecosystems
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/index.htm
Museums in the Classroom Ocean Project
http://www.chias.org/www/edu/mitc/wkshp/ocean/oceans.html
Ocean Color
http://www.athena.ivv.nasa.gov/curric/oceans/ocolor/index.html
Ocean Creatures and the Web of Life
http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/theme/ocean06.htm
Oceans Field Trip
http://www.field-trips.org/sci/oceank/index.htm
Ocean Floor
http://pao.cnmoc.navy.mil/Educate/Neptune/quest/floor/seafloor.htm
Ocean Planet Fact Sheets
http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov:80/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/oceanography_geography.html
Ocean Sea Life
http://www.odc.ucla.edu/html/body_odsea_life.html
Ocean Trivia
http://pao.cnmoc.navy.mil/Educate/Neptune/trivia/trivia.htm
Pacific Ocean
http://library.thinkquest.org/15931/navigate.html
Sea and Sky: Marine Life
http://www.seasky.org/sea2.html
Secrets of the Ocean Realm
http://www.pbs.org/oceanrealm/intheschool/index.html
Treasures @ Sea
http://sln.fi.edu/fellows/fellow8/dec98/teach.html
Wetlands Reading List
http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/wetlands/science/readlist.html
Young Scientist's Introduction to Wetlands 
http://www.wes.army.mil/el/wetlands/ysi.html


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  Last Modified:  27-Sep-2006

Contact:  Patricia M. Stohr-Hunt