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All Book Chapters

Fostering Discussion About Curricular Decisions

Book Chapter

Fostering Discussion About Curricular Decisions

This chapter focuses on beginning discussions related to curricular decisions including course mapping, designing essential questions and performance ...

Connecting NGSS and the Common Core State Standards

Book Chapter

Connecting NGSS and the Common Core State Standards

This chapter introduces educators to the connections between the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) i...

Lab 12. Explanations for Animal Behavior: Why Do Great White Sharks Travel Over Long Distances?

Book Chapter

Lab 12. Explanations for Animal Behavior: Why Do Great White Sharks Travel Over Long Distances?

The purpose of this lab is to introduce students to many of the theories and concepts used by biologists to study and explain the behavior of animals....

Wave Motion and Sound

Book Chapter

Wave Motion and Sound

Sound is one example of wave motion and the ability to hear sound is based on the principle of resonance. In this chapter’s activities, you will lea...

Visible Light and Colors

Book Chapter

Visible Light and Colors

Color theory is the aspect of physics that can explain the colors on your computer screen or in your printer. Visible light can be split into differen...

Thermodynamics

Book Chapter

Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is a very important part of physical science. When discussing thermodynamics, we can explore heat, thermal expansion, and insulation, a...

Density and Buoyancy

Book Chapter

Density and Buoyancy

Water can be used to help become familiar with the concepts of density and buoyancy. For example, lifting rocks from the bottom of a lake is easier th...

Force, Motion, and Energy

Book Chapter

Force, Motion, and Energy

In order to discuss mechanical interactions, we need to understand forces and motion. In physical science, we can make use of all three of Newton’s ...

It’s Science, Not Magic

Book Chapter

It’s Science, Not Magic

This chapter features gadgets and gizmos that make science look like magic. You don’t have to be a magician to perform these tricks—all you need i...

How Bright Will the Bulbs Be?

Book Chapter

How Bright Will the Bulbs Be?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about series circuits. The probe is designed to determine what students think will...

Two-Dimensional Motion

Book Chapter

Two-Dimensional Motion

Two-dimensional (2D) motion means motion that takes place in two different directions (or coordinates) at the same time. The simplest motion would be ...

Pushes and Pulls

Book Chapter

Pushes and Pulls

Students have early childhood experiences with basic force concepts well before they encounter the word force in the science classroom. For example, i...

Do the Objects Need to Touch?

Book Chapter

Do the Objects Need to Touch?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about electric forces. It is designed to reveal whether students recognize that el...

How Will the Balloons Move?

Book Chapter

How Will the Balloons Move?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about electric charge when they rub balloons on their hair. It is designed to reve...

Can It Be Electrically Charged?

Book Chapter

Can It Be Electrically Charged?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about electric charge. It is designed to reveal students’ thinking about the typ...

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