Science for Children e-text
teacher comments
Science
for Children is an invaluable resource in today's classroom.
The activities and investigations are engaging, almost automatically hooking
students. The investigations bring back the wonder and awe of science, forcing
children to ask 'Why?'
The cross-curricular activities provide for terrific extension and
remedial activities to further a child's understanding of a concept…I love the
videos! I have a short memory and since Dr. Hunt can't be reached at all times,
I have him right there with just a click of the mouse. The videos don't always
show just what will be the result of the investigation, which provides a great
hook for students by letting them watch the process but the only way to
experience the result is to do the investigation themselves."
Bertha
Williams
5th Grade
601.894.3463
If you have ever been puzzled as how best to reach your students, get
them engaged in learning, maintain their interests, and have them develop into
independent learners, then allow me to share something with you. Science for Children provides students
with such wonderful and simple investigations that make students say 'Wow! How
did you do that?' At that moment teachers have students right where they want
them. The students have been hooked, and must be reeled in for further
investigation and learning. As a math teacher I struggle with students, trying
to dismiss the negative perception that they have about mathematics. I would
always try to present engaging lessons, with fun activities to teach a
particular concept, but my students still were not getting the big picture. I
wanted them to see the relevance to what they were doing. In order for my
students to see the big picture, I had to help them make the connections. The
minimal effort, thought provoking investigations presented in Science for Children has been the
solution to my problem…My students were launching rockets, measuring and
collecting data, and trying to figure out ways to improve their results on the
last day of school. A colleague of mine asked what my students were doing in
the hallway, and I simply replied, ' Just a little something that I picked up
from Science for Children book.'
The investigation that my students enjoyed the most was a flowing air
investigation modeled after how a spray bottle works. They were amazed to see
the water shoot up from the straw as air was blown from another straw. The
first responses that I heard were, 'OOO, how did you do that?' My students all
began to ask me for a straw so that they could try it. From there, I continued
the lesson by having them collect and present these data, and discuss
measurement. This was awesome!
This type of reaction is what I was looking for. Students were eager to
learn, and never once got frustrated by not understanding something. Not only
was this the type of reaction that I was looking for, my students extended the
discussion, and began talking about aerosol cans squeeze bottles, the various
tops/dispensers used on various products. For a moment, my students forgot to
include me in their discussion until one asked me to justify that the nozzle of
spray bottles only affect the way something comes out of a bottle. I sat back
in astonishment as I listened to my seventh graders talk about something worth
while, and learn from it.
How many teachers can say that they experience this on a daily basis?
How many students eagerly go home to apply what they have learned at school to
what is at home? Teachers should think of the simple phrase, 'Once you hook
them, you've got them.' Thanks for the fishing bait Dr. Hunt."
Natasha
Williams
7th Grade
Mathematics
601.987.3580
"All the lessons in Science for Children can be easily applied to
my real-world life in the classroom. I have already had opportunities to share
the information learned with my students. They get excited when I demonstrated the
investigations. They were able to understand the science concepts behind the
investigations because of the practical application to their lives.
On the last day of school, I had one parent tell me that after we made
paper airplanes (Flowing Air-Investigation #9) in class her son and another boy
in my class spent several afternoons making different styles of paper airplanes
at home. They made investigations to determine what adjustments were needed on
the wings to make their airplanes fly higher, fly greater distances, or nose
dive. The boys learned about flowing air in a fun way they won't forget."
5th Grade
601.362.2471
“Science
for Children is concise and to-the-point. There is no fluff. The
objectives are clearly stated and easily understood. The list of materials is
obvious and complete.
Science for Children contains extensions, explanations
and cross-curricular applications. The explanations are especially helpful when
I’m unsure of a concept or specific aspect of an investigation. The
cross-curricula activities help to reach different types of learners and give
me instant, quality extensions that help connect science to other curricular
areas.
After seeing
the investigations at least one time, the video really helps me remember the
steps and important pieces of the investigation. The videos really bring to
life the steps listed in the book. I was able to open the video to full screen
on my Apple laptop, so it was great to have a larger screen than we were able
to have in class.”
Quin Halpin
5th
Grade math and Science Teacher
“Science
for Children gives very detailed lessons which make them easy to
follow. The video allows me to watch the lesson before hand so I can see the
lesson before I have to do it. As I teacher I feel that this is invaluable. I
can make sure that I am teaching and demonstrating the lesson correctly. It is
also nice to be able to go back and refresh my memory in case I forget a lesson
and demonstration.
I just want
to say I think the overall product is terrific!”
Jennifer
Winkler
601-992-6277
“I have used
Science
for Children in my classroom weekly…It is full of resources and
competencies from other subject areas. This is PERFECT for any teacher who
enjoys thematic units.
I love the
fact that I can take this book and actually use the investigations in my
classroom. My students have begun to love science because I have found a fun,
easy, inexpensive way to teach it. The CDs allows the students to see the
investigation and hear the investigation through someone else’s words/actions.
I have truly changed the way I look at science and the way I teach it through this
Science for Children resource.”
Vallerie
Buskirk
5th
grade teacher
"Science
for Children has given me something that every teacher needs.
Teachers need time! How does a science class offer more time?
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I have more time because I do not write lesson
plans. They are already written for me.
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I have more time because I do not have to search
for make assessment sheets. Student response sheets, crafted to fit each
investigation, are available for me.
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Every investigation is accessible twenty-four hours
a day on two CDs. When I need to practice or review the steps in the lesson
before teaching, a teacher is ready to explain how the investigation works. The
CD allows you to bring in an "assistant" teacher. Students enjoy
hearing and seeing a new face every now and then. You can reply the CD clips as
many times as students need to hear them.
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The objectives are correlated with state standards.
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There are even suggestions on how to integrate the
investigations with other subject areas.
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Everything you need is there for you.
I can assure you that I have found a better to teach science to my
students."
Amy McKay
5th Grade
601.372.8150
“It is great
to have something to watch, especially when it is in slow motion, as well as an
explanation to an investigation. Science for Children/CD videos are
very helpful, since I am a visual learner.”
Melody
Mercer,
“Science
for Children/CD combination is a great resource for teachers in grades
K-12. I must say that I am impressed with the discrepant events and how they
help students understand the concept better than just reading out of a book.
This book has changed my mind about teaching science because now I have the
perfect resource to teach my kids. The CD is a plus for teachers because if you
forget how to perform one of the investigations, the only thing you have to do
is to put in the CD for a refresher.”
Victoria T.
Clemons
5th
Grade Teacher
“Science for Children e-text has allowed me to look at science
in a whole new different way, its fun and I understand it a lot more.”
Kimberly
Chambers
"I think Science for Children
is a classic introduction to 'Science that works.' Since every investigation
has a subject area correlation, I was able to reference all of the
investigations to my Math classes. The short video included on the CD is very
helpful tool to ignite the teacher and students curiosity.
As a teacher, the best part of the e-text is the fact that everything is
laid out for you with step-by-step instructions. Of course, the lesson for me
was not only 'how' but 'why' these investigations worked. As teachers, I feel
we spend too much time reciting information without fully understanding why it
works. This
book is a classic example of how teachers are learners just like our
students are learners."
Scott
Thompson
Math
department/ 601-825-2261
http://www.rcsd.ms/~web08/BHS_MAIN
"Science for Children is extremely
easy to use. All of the lessons are well organized and strategically placed so
a teacher could move through each to continuously build on the objectives
introduced. What I love about these investigations is that all students can
make "real world" connections with each investigation. The video
clips are extremely helpful for both remediation, and reiteration in my
classroom. Sometimes, no matter how often I explain things, some children need
that visual. The video provides that visual for them, as well as a model to
follow. I have also found the video to be helpful as an activator. I can show
just a snip of the video, and the children love to predict the end
result."
Loren
Tillman
I really enjoy having the video to accompany each
lesson. They really enhance each lesson by providing a visual. Most people
including myself need that visual beforehand. It provides just enough
information to get you started but is quickly interrupted which sets the stage
for learning. After viewing that short clip, I can’t help but anticipate
carrying out the investigation which is what scientists do. The video also
serves as a reinforcer. I feel much more
confident knowing that before I present a concept to my students, I can take a
quick look at the video. This is something that as a teacher, I feel that when
I need the information from workshop presenters, etc. it’s not accessible. This
video/book is extremely accessible. This motivates me to want to teach the
concept. The video is there when I need it!
Anitra
Hollis NBCT, 2003
5th
grade teacher
"Science
for Children brought clarity to what science is all about. Science has
never been presented to me in
such a powerful and inviting way. All the investigations really brought science
to life! The hook activities really got me 'Hooked'! Connections and real life
applications are found in every investigation."
Shirley
Crisp,
4th Grade
601.987.3528
"Science for Children is
out of the box!
Science
for Children is fantastic!
Science
for Children is amazing!
The investigations presented in motion and energy will blow you
away!"
LaToya
Paige
601.885.8765
"Before I teach a lesson, I can watch a video to see how the lesson
should be taught. Each detailed investigation integrates with other curricula
areas."
Huei-Yin
Chen
From
"The best part of the book is that all investigations have detailed
step by step instructions. It also contains a CD to assist you with each
investigation. You can watch the videos over and over, until you are
comfortable with them. I will use this book in my teaching from now on."
Heather
Morris
601.825.5437