All Book Chapters

Book Chapter

What Makes a Boat Float?

Whether or not a boat floats is determined by its shape and density. In this activity, students discover how and why boats float by designing differen...

Book Chapter

Determining the Size and Shape of the Blind Spot

What exactly is the blind spot? It is the place where the optic nerve meets the back of the retina. Because no sensory cells are present in the retina...

Book Chapter

Daniel and the Old Lion Hunter

Daniel Bernoulli wanted to be the Newton of the eighteenth century; he thought he could do it by studying fluids (by that he meant liquid and gases). ...

Elementary High School Middle School Interdisciplinary

Book Chapter

The Promise of Professional Learning Communities

In this chapter, the authors discuss the origin and the characteristics of professional learning communities (PLCs) and summarize the research finding...

Book Chapter

"Late-Start Mondays": The Catalyst for Change in an Urban High School

At the high school level, the task of creating a whole-school community of practice is often monumental and requires tremendous energy to disrupt the ...

Book Chapter

Teaching Learning Collaborative: A Process for Supporting Professional Learning Communities

The teaching learning collaborative (TLC) is a unique professional development strategy that engages groups of teachers in collaborative planning and ...

Book Chapter

Building Professional Development Cadres

This chapter begins with a vignette based on several anecdotes that were relayed to the authors during their years working in the Los Angeles basin wi...

Book Chapter

Creating and Sustaining Science-Focused Professional Learning Communities Through Partnerships

In this chapter, the authors share selected components of The North Cascades and Olympic Science Partnership (NCOSP) model for professional learning c...

Book Chapter

Attributes of Content-Focused Professional Learning Communities That Lead to Meaningful Reflection and Collaboration Among Math and Science Teachers

After five years of developing and investigating professional learning communities (PLCs) in school districts in Arizona, the authors have uncovered a...

Book Chapter

The Role of Local and State Science Leaders in Developing Professional Learning Communities

This chapter tells two stories, both focused on the role of science leadership in developing the teacher leadership that is essential for creating and...

Book Chapter

K20 Model: Creating Networks, Professional Learning Communities, and Communities of Practice That Increase Science Learning

The K20 Model develops professional learning communities (PLCs) and has been successful in district-wide and school initiatives across Oklahoma. It is...

Book Chapter

Theory Behind The Book

This book, and particularly the stories which lie within, provide an opportunity for students to take ownership of their learning and learn science in...

Book Chapter

Worms Are for More Than Bait

Segmented worms are considered “yucky” by a great many people, yet they are members of a large animal group that populates the entire world and pr...

Book Chapter

What Did That Owl Eat?

This story is true, although Maria and Enrique are fictional characters. A barred owl does live in the rafter of the chickee at Shark Valley and does ...

Book Chapter

Trees From Helicopters, Continued

Maples are very interesting trees with lots of variation in form. They provide a view of diversity in plants as well as a chance to look at natural ph...