Science and Children back issues from October 2008:
Correction.(Correction notice)
Oct 01, 2008 ... The cover description from the September 2008 issue was incorrect. That caption applied to the image at right, which was taken by Voyager 1 in 1977 (read the full caption at http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA01967). Years later, in December 1992, the Galileo spacecraft captured a ...
Color investigations.(The Early Years: Resources and conversation on PreK to 2 science)
Oct 01, 2008; ... Blue green, blue grass, blue ice, cobalt, light blue, cornflower blue, blue Jazz (what color is that?!), the list goes on and on. Colors are one of the earliest classification systems that parents teach their children, and it is such a complicated topic that children can continue to study ...
Teacher's picks.(Brief article)(Recommended readings)
Oct 01, 2008; ... Peggy Ashbrook is a preschool teacher who enjoys mixing and painting with watercolors. Books Animal Wise: Red Eyes or Blue Feathers--A Book About Animal Colors. Patricia M. Stockland. 2005. Picture Window Books. Read this book aloud to explore the question of "How do ...
Pumpkins!(Teaching through Trade Books: Activities inspired by children's literature)(Pumpkin Circle)(How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? )(Children's review)(Book review)
Oct 01, 2008; ... Walk through any elementary school in the fall and you are bound to see students learning about pumpkins. Kids of all ages are fascinated by these versatile, edible members of the gourd family. Pumpkins are interesting and inexpensive and can be found in a variety of colors, shapes, and ...
When things go wrong, the results can turn out right: failed germination leads a fifth-grade classroom into inquiry.
Oct 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When you teach science you know that students are often amazed by demonstrations and experiments. Sometimes the teacher can be surprised, too. For several years my fifth-grade students have raised and observed plants, kept journals, and analyzed the ...
The many levels of inquiry: inquiry comes in various forms.
Oct 01, 2008; ... Elementary teachers often struggle with how to design and implement inquiry instruction with their students. For many, just understanding what inquiry is can be difficult, let alone designing activities that support high levels of inquiry. In this article, we present a continuum by which ...
Investigating with Charles Darwin: upper-elementary students conduct inquiry with plants and worms using investigations inspired by the famous naturalist.
Oct 01, 2008; ... Naturalist Charles Darwin made observations, conducted experiments, and kept detailed notebooks of his findings throughout his life. He was regularly transfixed by his observations of the natural world, whether in his early collecting days, during his legendary voyage on the Beagle (see p ....
Worms: out of this world! Earthworms excite young students to develop their observation skills.
Oct 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many people think of earthworms as small, slimy creatures that belong in the garden. To teachers, however, earthworms are delicate animals that can help young students develop important science-process skills such as observation and data collection. This ...
The better boat challenge: an exciting boat challenge motivates third-grade students to learn and develop their design technology and problem-solving skills.
Oct 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] "On your mark, get set, go!" These are words my students love to hear as they participate in our annual Third Grade Better Boat Challenge. This highly motivational project started a few years ago as I was developing the third-grade science curriculum to ...
The benefits of scientific modeling: constructing, using, evaluating, and revising scientific models helps students advance their scientific ideas, learn to think critically, and understand the nature of science.
Oct 01, 2008; ... Have you ever wondered why we construct scientific models? Most likely, you've seen your share of volcanic eruptions made from vinegar and baking soda at elementary science fairs, asked students to make solar system mobiles, or perhaps asked students to represent the parts of a butterfly ...
The crucial role of the teacher: choosing questions and timing to improve your effect on students' learning.(Methods & Strategies: Ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching)
Oct 01, 2008; ... In the Perspectives column of this issue, Meredith Park Rogers and Sandra Abell address the importance of teacher questions on student thinking. With school improvement efforts often focused on the curriculum, standards, outcomes, and student work, it becomes easy to overlook the fact that ...
Experimental error: one of the most challenging components of science inquiry is getting students to understand the fundamentally important concept of experimental error. While this concept can be tricky for children, there are straightforward lessons that can go a long way in getting students to think about and control for error. (Science Shorts classic: Classroom activities that emphasize science-process skills).
Oct 01, 2008; ... Fourth-grader Becky decides to do an experiment with seed germination for the science fair and wants to know how two types of light affect germination in peas. She adds one tablespoon of water to two plastic baggies, places three pea seeds in each, and then seals the bags. She puts one ...
The art (and science) of asking questions.(Perspective: Research and tips to support science education)
Oct 01, 2008; ... "I struggle with facilitating science conversations in my classroom. Sometimes I ask a question and get only blank stares in return. How can I change my questioning to improve my students' science learning?" Why do teachers ask questions in science class? Questions ...
Q. Why are there so many different models of light? (Science 101: Background boosters for elementary teachers).
Oct 01, 2008; ... A: Is light a ray, a wave, or a particle? Yes, yes, and yes. An article in this issue ("The Benefits of Scientific Modeling," p. 40) discusses the process of scientific modeling, and light is a great example of how modeling works. There are three viable models for light, each appropriate ...
Investigation skills.(Editor's Note)
Oct 01, 2008; ... I once visited a classroom in which a teacher was new to inquiry-based teaching and a little too enthusiastic. The classroom was chaotic. Students were bouncing randomly around the classroom as if they were modeling an ideal gas law. On the other end of the spectrum, I have seen classrooms ...
Win prizes worth $3,000.(Finds and Site: Free or inexpensive materials, publications, and events of interest)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Every year, Vernier and NSTA present the most resourceful science teachers in the country with the Vernier Software & Technology/NSTA Technology Award. The awards, valued at $3,000 each, will be given to seven educators judged to have created the best inquiry-based, hands-on learning ...
Win Sylvan Dell eBooks!(Finds and Site: Free or inexpensive materials, publications, and events of interest)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Sylvan Dell Publishing is reaching out to schools and school districts nationwide with an unprecedented educational resource grant offer. The grant is for a free, one-year site license, providing unlimited access to all 35 Sylvan Dell eBooks, featuring flipviewer technology with selectable ...
NSTA online.(Finds and Site: Free or inexpensive materials, publications, and events of interest)(National Science Teachers Association)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... NSTA has an abundance on online materials on teaching inquiry and investigation skills. Here are a few. Free Web Seminars on Inquiry Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children's Books to Guide Inquiry, Grades K-4: ...
Junior pest investigators.(Finds and Site: Free or inexpensive materials, publications, and events of interest)(Orkin Exterminating Company Inc.)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Atlanta-based pest control company Orkin, Inc., and several national advocates for environmentally responsible pest control in schools are introducing Junior Pest Investigators, a free series of lesson plans and other teaching aids to help K-6 teachers meet their teaching goals and reduce ...
Everyday Science Mysteries.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
Oct 01, 2008; ... Everyday Science Mysteries By Richard Konicek-Moran 190 pp. $19.95. ISBN 9781933531212. 2008. NSTA Press. (Grades K-8) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As I went through ...
Into the Fire: Volcanologists.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
Oct 01, 2008; ... Into the Fire: Volcanologists By Paul Mason 32 pp. $28.21. ISBN 9781403499509. 2007. Heinemann Library. (Grades 3-5) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Into the Fire: Volcanologists looks at the dangers, difficulties, and excitement of a career ...
Play, Projects, and Preschool Standards.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
Oct 01, 2008; ... Play, Projects, and Preschool Standards By Gera Jacobs and Kathy Crowley 159 pp. $25.95. ISBN 9781412928028. 2007. Corwin Press. (Grades 3-5) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...
Exemplary Science in Informal Education Settings.(Brief article)(Book review)
Oct 01, 2008; ... Exemplary Science in Informal Education Settings By Robert E. Yager and John Falk 279 pp. $24.95. ISBN 9781933531090. 2008. NSTA Press. (Grades K-College) ...
The Dirt on Dirt.(Children's review)(Book review)
Oct 01, 2008; ... The Dirt on Dirt By Paulette Bourgeois 48 pp. $15.95. ISBN 9781554531011 2008. Kids Can Press Ltd. (Grades 3-7) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Who knew dirt could be so much fun--and so interesting? Starting with the grossly appealing dirt ...
Paper clip pendulums.(Try this TOPS IDEA!)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... 1. Make a chain of paper clips to swing like a pendulum. This scientist is finding the frequency of a 5-clip chain How many CYCLES in aminute? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LENGTH: the number of swinging clips (does not include handle) ...
Amazing Plants.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
Oct 01, 2008; ... Amazing Plants By Sally Hewitt 32 pp. $20.22. ISBN 9780778736141. 2008. Crabtree. (Grades K-4) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Amazing Plants includes many inviting photos, from the giant ...
Super Science Projects About Earth's Soil and Water.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
Oct 01, 2008; ... Super Science Projects About Earth's Soil and Water By Robert Gardner 48 pp. $23.93. ISBN 9780766027350.2007. Enslow. (Grades K-4) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...
Animal Coloration.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
Oct 01, 2008; ... Animal Coloration By Robert Stebbins, David Ipsen, and Gretchen Gillfillan. New Edition Revised by Judy Diamond and Judy Scotchmoor 175 pp. $19.95. ISBN 9781933531298. ...
Fighting the flu.(In The News: Short news items of interest to the science community)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Researchers at Rutgers University and The University of Texas at Austin have reported a discovery that could help scientists develop drugs to fight the much-feared bird flu and other virulent strains of influenza. The researchers have determined the three-dimensional structure ...
An Amazonian treasure trove.(In The News: Short news items of interest to the science community)
Oct 01, 2008 ... A group of Yale undergraduates have discovered dozens of potentially beneficial bioactive microorganisms within plants they collected in the Amazon rain forest, including several so genetically distinct that they may be the first members of new taxonomical genera. The 135 ...
Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University have shown capuchin monkeys, just like humans, find giving to be a satisfying experience.(In The News: Short news items of interest to the science community)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... * Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University have shown capuchin monkeys, just like humans, find giving to be a satisfying experience. This finding comes on the coattails of a recent imaging study in humans that documented activity in reward centers of ...
Neanderthal not so dumb.(In The News: Short news items of interest to the science community)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Research by UK and American scientists has struck another blow to the theory that Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) became extinct because they were less intelligent than our ancestors (Homo sapiens). The research team has shown that early stone tool technologies developed by our ...