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Eight Essentials of Inquiry-Based Science, K-8
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Eight Essentials of Inquiry-Based Science, K-8

Edited by:

Foreword by Robert E. Yager


Courses:
Science Methods

July 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 the best research-based 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
Key features
  • Provides clear definition of standards-required inquiry based science
  • Explanations spell out 8 key characteristics of robust inquiry instruction
  • Sample take-into-the-classroom lessons provide teachers entry points for each essential
  • Reflection and discussion questions support teacher study groups and facilitate professional development

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