The Sourcebook for Teaching Science, Grades 6-12

The Sourcebook for Teaching Science is a unique, comprehensive resource designed to give middle and high school science teachers a wealth of information that will enhance any science curriculum. Filled with innovative tools, dynamic activities, and practical lesson plans that are grounded in theory, research, and national standards, the book offers both new and experienced science teachers powerful strategies and original ideas that will enhance the teaching of physics, chemistry, biology, and the earth and space sciences.

About the Author vii Acknowledgments xi PART ONE Developing Scientific Literacy 1 1 Building a Scientific Vocabulary 3 For the Teacher 3 1.1 Biology Vocabulary 4 1.2 Chemistry Vocabulary 15 1.3 Physics Vocabulary 24 1.4 Earth and Space Science Vocabulary 28 Answers to Chapter Activities 33 2 Developing Science Reading Skills 35 For the Teacher 35 2.1 Science Reading Comprehension: Cloze 38 2.2 Science Reading Comprehension: Jigsaw 39 2.3 Science Vocabulary in Spanish and English 39 2.4 Scientific Terminology: Linking Languages 41 Answers to Chapter Activities 42 3 Developing Science Writing Skills 45 For the Teacher 45 3.1 Science Note Taking 46 3.2 Science Journaling 47 3.3 Science Essay Questions 49 3.4 Types of Science Writing 51 3.5 Science Writing Style 53 Answers to Chapter Activities 57 4 Science, Technology, and Society 58 For the Teacher 58 4.1 Science and Society 59 4.2 Science and Other Subjects 61 4.3 Careers in Science 67 4.4 Science and Technological Innovation 70 Answers to Chapter Activities 74 PART TWO Developing Scientific Reasoning 77 5 Employing Scientific Methods 79 For the Teacher 79 5.1 Discrepant Events: Establishing a “Need to Know” 80 5.2 Developing Scientifically Oriented Questions 83 5.3 Observation Versus Inference 86 5.4 Brainstorming and Hypothesizing 87 5.5 Experimental Design 90 5.6 Independent Variables 92 5.7 Writing Clear Procedures 94 5.8 Using History to Teach Scientific Methods 95 5.9 Indirect Evidence: “Black Box” Experiments 99 5.10 Evaluating Hypotheses 101 Answers to Chapter Activities 102 6 Developing Scientific Reasoning Skills 106 For the Teacher 106 6.1 Levels of Reasoning 108 6.2 Inductive Reasoning 111 6.3 Deductive Reasoning 116 6.4 Lateral Thinking 121 Answers to Chapter Activities 122 7 Thinking Critically and Resolving Misconceptions 125 For the Teacher 125 7.1 Critical Thinking 126 7.2 Evaluating Claims 129 7.3 Using a Decision-Making Matrix 131 7.4 Misconceptions in Physics 132 7.5 Misconceptions in Chemistry 135 7.6 Misconceptions in Biology 137 7.7 Misconceptions in Earth and Space Science 139 Answers to Chapter Activities 142 PART THREE Developing Scientific Understanding 149 8 Organizing Science Information and Concepts 151 For the Teacher 151 8.1 Advance Organizers 153 8.2 Orders of Magnitude: The Universe in Powers of Ten 154 8.3 Organizational Hierarchy in Biology 157 8.4 Organization of the Chemistry Curriculum 161 8.5 Organization of the Physics Curriculum 161 8.6 Earth Systems Interactions 162 Answers to Chapter Activities 165 9 Graphic Organizers for Science 168 For the Teacher 168 9.1 Conceptual Grids 169 9.2 Venn Diagrams 172 9.3 Flowcharts 174 9.4 Mind Maps 176 9.5 Concept Maps 178 Answers to Chapter Activities 182 10 Learning Science Concepts with Analogies 184 For the Teacher 184 10.1 Extended Science Analogies 187 10.2 Analogies for Learning Physics 195 10.3 Analogies for Learning Chemistry 197 10.4 Analogies for Learning Biology 198 10.5 Analogies for Learning Earth and Space Science 199 Answers to Chapter Activities 200 11 Tools for Improving Memory in Science 203 For the Teacher 203 11.1 The Primacy and Recency Effect 211 11.2 Expanding Short-Term Memory by Chunking 211 11.3 Science Acronyms and Abbreviations 215 11.4 Acrostics for Memorizing Lists 216 Answers to Chapter Activities 219 12 Structure and Function in Science 225 For the Teacher 225 12.1 Form and Function in Machines 226 12.2 Structure and Function in Anatomyand Physiology 229 12.3 Structure and Function in Plants 233 12.4 Structure and Function at a Molecular Level 235 12.5 Model Building 238 Answers to Chapter Activities 239 13 Games for Learning Science 243 For the Teacher 243 13.1 Science Jeopardy 244 13.2 Science Taboo 247 13.3 Science Bingo 248 13.4 Science Pictionary 248 13.5 Science Bowl 250 13.6 Science Baseball 252 13.7 What in the World? 252 13.8 Twenty Questions 255 13.9 Logic Games 256 PART FOUR Developing Scientific Problem-Solving Skills 259 14 Science Word Problems 261 For the Teacher 261 14.1 Translating Common Words into Mathematical Symbols 263 14.2 Translating Natural Language into Algebraic Expressions 264 14.3 Translating Algebraic Expressions into Natural Language 266 Answers to Chapter Activities 268 15 Geometric Principles in Science 270 For the Teacher 270 15.1 Developing Measurement Scales 271 15.2 Indirect Measurement in Science 273 15.3 Ratios for Solving Problems in Science 275 15.4 Surface Area to Volume Ratios 277 15.5 Surface Area to Volume Ratios in Living Systems 279 15.6 The Inverse Square Law in the Physical Sciences 283 15.7 Scientific Applications of Conic Sections 287 Answers to Chapter Activities 290 16 Diagramming and Visualizing Problems in Science 293 For the Teacher 293 16.1 Vector Diagrams 295 16.2 Interpreting Scientific Diagrams 298 16.3 Pictorial Riddles 301 16.4 Analyzing Photographs  04 16.5 Digital Movies and Animations 310 16.6 Extrapolation 316 16.7 Interactive Scientific Simulations 318 Answers to Chapter Activities 319 17 Dimensional Analysis 322 For the Teacher 322 17.1 Unit Measures 326 17.2 Fundamental Quantities 329 17.3 SI and Non-SI Units 332 17.4 CGS and MKS Units 334 17.5 Discovering Physical Laws Using Fundamental Units 335 17.6 Simplifying Calculations with the Line Method 337 17.7 Solving Problems with Dimensional Analysis 339 Answers to Chapter Activities 346 18 Stoichiometry: Interactions of Matter 351 For the Teacher 351 18.1 Predicting Oxidation States and Ions 354 18.2 Predicting Polyatomic Ions, Reactants,and Products 360 18.3 Techniques for Balancing Equations 363 Answers to Chapter Activities 366 PART FIVE Developing Scientific Research Skills 371 19 Scientific Databases 373 For the Teacher 373 19.1 Databases in Chemistry 374 19.2 Databases in Biology 378 19.3 Databases in Health 382 19.4 Databases in Earth and Space Science 385 19.5 Databases in Physics 387 Answers to Chapter Activities 389 20 Spreadsheets, Graphs, and Scientific Data Analysis 392 For the Teacher 392 20.1 Calculations and Computer Modeling 394 20.2 Relating Graphs to Real-World Experiences 398 20.3 Graphing Stories 400 20.4 Scatter and Line Graphs 402 20.5 Column and Bar Graphs 406 20.6 Pie and Area Graphs 410 20.7 High-Low, Combination, and Log Plots 413 20.8 Statistics 418 Answers to Chapter Activities 420 21 Mapping and Visualizing Scientific Data 426 For the Teacher 426 21.1 Map Construction 427 21.2 Topographic Maps 428 21.3 Mapping Data Electronically 434 21.4 Weather Maps 438 21.5 Environmental Maps 444 21.6 Astronomy Maps 446 21.7 Interpreting Aerial and Satellite Photographs 452 Answers to Chapter Activities 454 22 Science Inquiry and Research 458 For the Teacher 458 22.1 Inquiry 459 22.2 Sensors and Probeware 461 22.3 Problem-Based Learning 465 22.4 Forums and Debates 466 22.5 Rotating Laboratories 468 22.6 Citing Research 470 Answers to Chapter Activities 471 23 Science Projects and Fairs 473 For the Teacher 473 23.1 Writing Research Questions 474 23.2 Developing a Research Proposal 486 23.3 Conducting Research 487 23.4 Sharing Your Findings 488 Answers to Chapter Activities 490 PART SIX Resources for Teaching Science 491 24 Science Curriculum and Instruction 493 24.1 The Nature of Science 493 24.2 Theories and Perspectives in Science Education 496 24.3 Developments in Science Curriculum and Instruction 498 24.4 The Science Curriculum 502 24.5 Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Curricula 504 24.6 Teaching Science Inquiry 506 24.7 Teaching Science to English Language Learners 508 24.8 Teaching Science with Humor  511 24.9 Professional Development in Science Education 513 24.10 Science Field Trips and Guest Speakers 515 25 Planning and Managing Science Instruction 517 25.1 Establishing Science Learning Objectives 517 25.2 Developing a Science Lesson Plan 517 25.3 Developing a Science Semester Plan 519 25.4 Getting to Know Your Students 519 25.5 Managing the Classroom Effectively 522 25.6 Assessing Student Performance 525 25.7 Evaluating Teaching Performance 528 26 The Science Laboratory 529 26.1 Equipping the Science Laboratory 529 26.2 Writing Successful Grant Proposals 533 26.3 Common and Inexpensive Sources of Chemicals 534 26.4 Preparing Solutions 538 26.5 Laboratory Safety 540 26.6 Safety Equipment Checklist 540 26.7 Chemical Hazards and Storage 542 26.8 Disposal of Chemicals 546 26.9 Accidents 547 27 Science Reference Information 549 27.1 Writing Style Guidelines 549 27.2 Units, Constants, and Conversions 551 27.3 Chemical Properties 554 27.4 Graph Paper, Protractors, and Rulers 559 Notes 567 Index 577