The purpose of this guide is to provide teachers with information that will help them better understand how to teach science. In addition, this resource is intended to be a tool in assisting teachers in developing their science curricula and in planning their instruction. The instructional approach presented reflects the philosophy that students…

This document addresses some of the factors involved in teaching critical thinking skills in the science classroom. It contains sections that deal with: (1) pair problem solving--creating a Socratic learning environment (emphasizes the role of the teacher); (2) writing to learn science (the thought-process protocol); (3) integrating science…

This set of materials is designed to enhance the effectiveness of teachers' uses of structuring statements and questioning strategies. The material is presented as a series of self-directed workshops focusing on teacher-initiated verbal directions and questioning strategies and how these can be used strategically to enhance students' thinking.…

A review of the literature on the transfer of preservice teacher training to the classroom suggests that several definitive factors enhance transfer. A social studies methods course was developed with these factors in mind, and included directed reading activities (DRA) with a text, controversial topic discussion, and inquiry. During the academic…

Students must be actively involved in the process of learning for it to have personal meaning and importance in their lives. Teachers must also become critical thinkers, creative individuals, and decision makers in order to create more challenging learning environments. Teachers need to blend structure and spontaneity into meaningful learning…

Background information and exemplary units for teaching science in Georgia's middle school grades are provided. Discussed in the first section are: (1) the rationale for including science in middle school grades, focusing on science/society/technology, science/social issues, scientific reasoning, and scientific literacy; (2) role of science…

When teachers present students with real topics in science and social studies instead of artificial, abstract writing exercises, the students will both develop and extend their interests and learn to think and communicate clearly about them. Choosing such a topic provides an opportunity to discuss student interests. Next, list building and small…

The discrepancy between educators' expectations for inquiry behavior and the actual status of such behavior (teachers feeling more comfortable teaching facts and feeling ill-prepared to guide students in inquiry learning) prompted a quantitative assessment of the existing research (reported between 1965 and 1980 in doctoral dissertations and…

Relationships between students' (N=169) rating of instruction and students' attitudes about inquiry and traditional teaching in elementary science classes were investigated. Since one of the goals of their methods class was to develop or adopt teaching styles on their own, it was hypothesized that the congruence of students' adopted teaching style…

REPORTED ARE THE RESULTS OF A CURRICULUM RESEARCH PROJECT OF THE MICHIGAN SCIENCE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT FOR USE IN TEACHING JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL UNIFIED SCIENCE. THE COMMITTEE USED PREVIOUS RESEARCH DATA, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF INSTRUCTION AND INQUIRY TRAINING, TO DEVELOP 13 UNITS INCLUDING 55 OPEN-ENDED LABORATORY…

Programs which lead to licensing and certification of social studies teachers should be based upon standards and curriculum set by social studies educators instead of social scientists. Reluctance of social scientists to work cooperatively with social studies educators is based largely upon the inability of social studies professionals to define…

The curriculum evaluation reviews content and teaching methods of various materials in civic and legal education. Twenty-one objectives of the Law in a Free Society project are identified and the adequacy of the materials reviewed to attain these objectives is discussed. Objectives include recognition of the following: (1) complexities of legal…

The Sampler is designed to stimulate teachers, parents, students, and groups to look at various types of open spaces and facilities as resources for environmental study. Written for use with children, but adaptable to older groups, the Sampler tries to engage the feelings as well as intellects of its users in the process of inquiry. It locates…

This 44th yearbook of the National Council for the Social Studies offers the elementary and secondary classroom teacher practical ideas on how to teach United States history. Intended to help teachers apply theory and objectives in the classroom, the book consists of specific class-tested lessons which focus on how a study of the American past…

As a result of rapid growth in student interest and enrollments at the secondary level, a workshop was designed to bring together teachers and teacher-trainees of high school behavioral sciences to explore current methods of classroom operation and to review specific areas of curriculum. Results of the workshop are seen in the first two sections…