Teaching Science in Elementary and Middle School: A Project-Based Learning Approach

By Charlene M. Czerniak and Joseph S. Krajcik

Book Overview

Teaching Science in Elementary and Middle School integrates principles of learning and motivation with practical teaching ideas for implementing them. Paralleling what scientists do, project-based learning (PBL) represents the essence of inquiry and the nature of science, and engages children and teachers in investigating meaningful, real-world questions about the world around them. This text provides concrete strategies on teaching using a project-based approach and on meeting the principles in A Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Features include strategies for planning long-term, interdisciplinary, student-centered units; scenarios to help readers situate new experiences; and a wealth of supplementary material on the Companion Website.

Features in the Fifth Edition:

Integrates research-based findings from the National Research Council's Taking Science to School, A Framework for K-12 Science Education, and NGSS to engage learners and help them make sense of phenomena in using disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts

Gives attention to cultural diversity throughout the chapters, with an added focus on working with English Language Learners

Describes how to develop and use assessments that require students to make use of their knowledge to solve problems or explain phenomena

Illustrates how to use PBL to make connections to Common Core Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts Provides examples of project-based lessons and projects to illustrate how teachers can support children in engaging in scientific and engineering practices, such as asking questions, designing investigations, constructing models and developing evidence-based explanation

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1138700045
• ISBN13: 9781138700048
• Release Date: June 2018
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.9" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Resource for Teachers - But Don't Try to Read it Casually!

This text was required reading for the University of Michigan's Elementary MAC program three years ago, and with good reason. It covers everything, from learning theory, to how to structure lesson plans, to room layout, to teaching teamwork and collaborative skills. It's a workbook, really. It is meant to be worked through, not read. When I finally have my own elementary classroom, I will take a year to go through the book, page by page, experimenting with the various methods, doing all of the reflective journaling assignments, once again. I do have to throw in a little irritation I have with most of these teaching textbooks: they state too much of the obvious. For instance: "Humans have always used tools to help them perform difficult tasks, both physical and intellectual." (p. 193). There are lots of "duh" comments like that, in this and every other teaching textbook I have read, as though people in the educational field believe that they're the only ones that really get things like brainstorming and group dynamics. (In fact, the business world has always been way ahead of the curve on many of these methodologies). But, I love the treatment of how to run a project-based classroom, how to teach benchmark lessons and utilize a "driving question." And the techniques addressed here are of great use in other subjects, not just Science. I recommend this book be on the shelf of every elementary and middle-school teacher.