We describe the Science Semester, a semester-long course block that integrates three science courses and a science education methods course for elementary teacher education majors, and examine prospective elementary teachers' developing conceptions about inquiry, science teaching efficacy, and reflections on learning through inquiry. The…

This study, using selected activities from the "Students Toward Environmental Participation" (STEP) program, compared the attitudes of forty-one preservice science and social studies teachers toward activities in environmental/ecological field trips. No significant differences existed between the attitudes of perspective science and social studies…

Describes an integrated methods course in a small university, including evolution of the course, topics covered, descriptions of student assignments and activities, procedures used in student evaluation, and student opinions of the integrated course. An appendix contains the outline of topics and student activities. (15 references) (Author/MKR)

Design and implementation of two courses that will better prepare teachers to teach science in the elementary school are described. An interdisciplinary course in chemistry and biology and a companion science methods course were developed and taught by faculty members from the biology, chemistry, and education departments of Rollins College. An…

The author suggests ways reading can be integrated with science and describes the reading activities in an elementary science methods course. The activities include: (1) selecting a science tradebook for children to review and for the teacher to analyze vocabulary; (2) helping children review science tradebooks; and (3) encouraging independent…

In this article, the authors present a case study of preservice teachers engaged in service-learning in an after-school program while concurrently enrolled in science and language arts methods courses. Two interdisciplinary education faculty worked collaboratively to connect language arts and science methods content with service-learning…

This paper describes a methods course block that combines several basic education courses and provides gradual increases in student teaching time. The course contains the methods instruction for music, science, language arts/reading, social studies, and physical education. The class meets on campus for instruction three to four weeks at the…

Describes the development of a one-semester integrated mathematics and science methods course to introduce preservice elementary teachers to innovative mathematics and science teaching methods called for in current reform movements. Follows the evolution of the course in the areas of content and pedagogical knowledge; teachers as problem solvers;…