A Year of Inquiry: A Collection for Elementary Educators

"Over the years, the Science and Children editorial team has received a significant number of manuscripts that focus on inquiry. ...But no matter how many articles we publish on the topic, the interest in inquiry has not diminished. In fact, our readers have clamored for more. ...With interest high and an understanding essential, we designed A Year of Inquiry: A Collection for Elementary Educators, a book structured around an entire year of support, instruction, and learning through inquiry." —From the introduction to A Year of Inquiry

If you've been clamoring for help to understand and then apply inquiry within your K–5 classroom, this book is the time-saving resource you need. It provides guidance on ways to move your students toward doing science and away from lectures, memorization, and cookbook labs. And it does so in one convenient place, through a collection of 36 easy-to-read articles gathered from Science and Children, NSTA's elementary-level journal.

The material is clearly organized into nine topic sections. Each starts with a candid introduction by a national leader in science education. Then three related articles explain practical activities you can use in your classroom. Among the crucial subjects covered are understanding what a scientist does, developing process skills, record keeping in science notebooks, structuring investigable questions, collecting and analyzing data, and sharing research results.

The material applies in a variety of core content areas and grade levels. It's both useful to experienced teachers and accessible to those with limited science background. Turn to A Year of Inquiry for the essentials of inquiry theory and practice—vetted by experts and explained for your unique perspective as an elementary school educator.

Linda Froschauer, a former president of NSTA, is the editor of Science and Children.