Teaching Children Science: A Project-Based Approach

This brand-new elementary science methods text uses an innovative applied approach and is authored by three leaders in the field. The text takes a constructivist approach and practices this approach by engaging students in reflective thought and investigations.

Project-based science engages young learners in exploring authentic, important, and meaningful questions of real concern to students. Through a dynamic process of investigation and collaboration and using the same processes and technologies that real scientists use, students work in teams to formulate questions, make predictions, design investigations, collect and analyze data, make products and share ideas. Students learn fundamental science concepts and principles that they apply to their daily lives. Project-based science helps all students regardless of culture, race, or gender engage in science learning.

The book is packed with numerous examples so that the reader can easily understand points that are made throughout the book. Each chapter has activity boxes with experiments that exemplify the project-based approach. The book provides useful tips, charts, diagrams, and tables that illustrate how to get children doing investigations. The text's dynamic teaching methods match all of today's major science education reports including The National Science Education Standards, Project 2061: Science for All Americans, and Benchmarks for Science Literacy.

Joseph Krajcik, a Professor of Science Education in the School of Education at the University of Michigan, focuses his research on re-engineering science classrooms so that students engage in solving authentic, problems through collaboration and the use of learning technologies. Professor Krajcik has authored and co-authored over 60 journal articles or chapters in books and reviews manuscripts for a number of journals. He was recently selected to be President of NARST, the National Association for Research in Science Teaching.

Charlene M. Czerniak is currently a professor at The University of Toledo. She received her Ph.D. in education from The Ohio State University. A former elementary teacher, she has authored and co-authored over 35 journal articles and reviews manuscripts for a number of journals. She has also published two chapters in books and illustrated twelve children's science education books. Professor Czerniak's areas of specialty also include professional development for elementary and middle grades teachers, science education reform, and school improvement. She was recently elected President of the School Science and Mathematics Association.

Carl F. Berger is currently Director of Academic Information Processes at the University of Michigan where he is also a Professor in the School of Education. He received his doctorate (Ed.D.) from the University of California, Berkeley where he was a research scientist from 1966 to 1971. A former junior high school and high school teacher, he was a member of the Science Curriculum Improvement Study author team. He has authored or co-authored over a dozen books. He was selected in 1979 as the outstanding teacher education in the state of Michigan and in 1996 received the Distinguished Contributions to Science Education through Research award from the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST). His special interests are in how children learn science using technology, and in applications of technology in classrooms and program improvement.