Does it seem to you that this blog needs a place to post about resources such as book and website recommendations, commercial sites for needed early childhood science supplies, and interesting articles that are not necessarily related to a particular post? As a blog it is difficult for readers to begin new threads, but here’s one way we can do it:
Please “Comment” to add your suggestions for resources of interest on this post. Begin your post with a header/title identifying the content: book of science activities, favorite fiction with science theme, great website about seeds, place to buy pipettes, blog on teaching kindergarten, and so on. Readers can use the Search feature to find posts on particular topics (let me know if the feature does not function—scienceissimple at yahoo dot com).
Another forum for members of the National Science Teacher’s Association is NSTA Communities, where you can join a grade-specific group such as the PreK-K Group. Looking forward to hearing from you,
Peggy
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BOOKS ON TEACHING METHODS: I especially like the classroom teachers’ insights, and the chart on how inquiry really works, in the book “Worms, Shadows, and Whirlpools”.
MAGNIFIERS I use the one-piece plastic magnifiers with a larger 3x lens and a smaller 6x lens in all my preschool classrooms. Most almost-three-year-olds can use them successfully by the end of the year and the fours are beginning to discover the 6x lens. They are called “Dual Plastic Magnifier 3x and 6x” and are widely sold–try Carolina Biological Supply Company, Educational Innovations, and Acorn Naturalists, among others. Peggy
Science Teaching resources: Here is a site with fiction like science books that can be used for teaching young kids: http://www.magicworldmedia.com All the books are online and can be used in a classroom for free.
FAVORITE SPIDER STORIES: Now that spooky Halloween decorations of giant spiders and webs are going up all over town, I love helping children discover that spiders do not have to be scary. In fact, spiders really are helpful creatures. Here are three of my favorite picture books which take the fear out of spiders: “Be Nice to Spiders” by Margaret Bloy Graham tells the story of Helen who saves the zoo from pesky flies. “Itsy Bitsy, the Smart Spider” by Charise Mericle Harper, adds new verses to the familiar fingerplay, telling the story of a clever and industrious spider who is determined not to let the rain get her down. “Aaaarrhhg! Spider!” by Lydia Monks, describes a spider’s attempts to join a family as a pet.
PRECIPITATION-WEATHER UNIT RESOURCE Insights: An Inquiry-Based Elementary School Science Curriculum (Kindergarten and First Grade Modules), 2nd ed. Karen Worth and the Insights Elementary Project Staff. 2003. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Grades K–1 Module Titles: Living Things, Balls and Ramps, Myself and Others, The Senses, and The Weather. Web Site: http://cse.edc.org/curriculum/insightsElem/
Books on Science Teaching Methods and Activities: Two of my favorite resources that I use constantly are “Worms, Shadows and Whirlpools” by Karen Worth and Sharon Grollman and “A Head Start on Science” NSTA press edited by William Ritz. Both have wonderful information on how to facilitate investigations and provide ideas on how to do science with everyday materials. They are both current books. I ordered mine from Amazon.
I really enjoyed looking at these different types of activities to do with the children of younger years. It’s great that to learn from one another