|
Review
Activities Linking Science With Math, K-4
Reviewed By:
David Pugalee
|
I. Description of Materials
|
This 212-page book provides 20 activities that connect mathematics and science. The activities support the National Science Education Standards and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards, which span general science (7), physical science (3), chemical science (3), Earth science (3), and life science (4). In addition, the book includes interdisciplinary resources, internet resources, and an index. The teacher-friendly activities are academically rigorous, following a hands-on discovery approach. They require no advanced content preparation and use easy-to-find, inexpensive materials.
Each activity is broken into a number of sections providing important information at a glance: overview, processes/skills, recommended for, time required, materials required for main activity, connecting to the standards, safety considerations, activity objectives, background information, main activity (step-by-step procedures), discussion questions, assessment, going further, other options and extensions, and resources.
|
|
|
II. Purpose and Audience
|
|
The activities are intended for both pre-service and in-service teachers. The lessons "balance integrated content with the processes of personally relevant inquiry and are designed to promote creative, critical thinking on the part of all students," modeling teaching practices that can be applied in any classroom building on instruction that is alternative but proven successful. The materials help students appreciate science and mathematics as interrelated components of their everyday lives, blending content and process. In addition to connections with mathematics, the activities integrate visual arts, social sciences, and the language arts.
|
|
|
III. Content and Quality
|
Student-centered instruction is developed around four overarching principles. First, it focuses on student interests, prior knowledge, questions, and ideas. Second, interaction and collaboration reflect the fundamental concrete thinking of elementary students who require personal and interpersonal experiences to learn effectively. Third, problem-based learning challenges and motivates students to engage in math and science exploration. Fourth, integrated instruction blends two or more academic disciplines into a particular lesson.
Each lesson includes detailed explanations that guide users in effective implementation of the lessons. The constructivist approach is easily modified to promote hands-on instruction, guided discovery, and open-ended problems. The developer bases the activities on years of teaching and experiences in which students were engaged in exploring the world around them as they developed problem-solving skills.
|
|
|
IV. Reviewers' Ideas for Using this Material
|
|
The materials are appropriate for pre-service courses focusing on mathematics and/or science as well as teaching methods. They could also be used as a foundation for workshops or institutes for professional development. School-based professional development projects would allow for building a community of learners who implement the activities and adapt them for their schools. Professional development that allows for using the activities with student populations and then using those experiences in subsequent sessions would be especially effective.
|
|
|
V. Comments and Cautions
|
|
Discussion questions and assessment provide direct links to evaluating student learning. Additional assessments for pre-service and in-service teachers will need to be developed to support the use of the materials with those audiences.
|
|
|