Helping Prospective Teachers Understand Disciplinary Core Ideas and Crosscutting Concepts in an Elementary Education Methods Course

Book Chapter | April 2018

This chapter, by Norman G. Lederman, Judith S. Lederman, and Selina L. Bartels, reviews the Next Generation Science Standards and then offers examples of elementary science methods teachers can use to apply the NGSS in…

Medical and cancer-STEM education for underrepresented minority elementary school students in Audiology, Gastroenterology and Osteology/Orthopedics

Journal Article | January 2024

The goal of the University of Southern California (USC)/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center funded Wonderkids Program is to develop medical and cancer themed curricula for elementary students in an after-school program…

Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Initial Knowledge for Teaching Related to Crosscutting Concepts within 3D Learning and Teaching

Journal Article | October 2024

This study aims to contribute to the growing body of research on the role of crosscutting concepts (CCCs) in three-dimensional (3D) teaching and learning by examining the complexity of elementary preservice teachers’ (…

Constructing Explanatory Arguments Based on Evidence Gathered While Investigating Natural Phenomena in the Physical Sciences in an Elementary Context

Book Chapter | April 2018

This chapter, by Zong Vang, Eric Brunsell, and Elizabeth Alderton, addresses the inclusion of scientific argumentation in elementary classrooms and its connection to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). It…

Improving Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Engineering Teaching Efficacy Beliefs With 3D Design and Printing

Journal Article | December 2020

The Framework for K–12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) under-score the importance of including engineering design process (EDP) within the science curriculum. The Framework and the…

Developing the Next Generation of Elementary Science Teachers

Journal Article | October 2019

This article describes how science educators at a large southeastern university developed specialized science training for elementary preservice teachers (EPSTs) by creating a combination of discipline-specific science…

Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Use of Speaking, Listening, and Writing Skills to Understand the Importance of Nature of Science Instruction

Journal Article | July 2020

There has been a focus on improving teachers’ views of nature of science for decades. The method in which researchers improve views of nature of science, however, varies greatly. This study aimed to improve elementary…

Using Inquiry-Based Teaching and Kids Inquiry Conferences to Strengthen Elementary Science Instruction and to Encourage More Students to Pursue Science Careers

Book Chapter | September 2012

The authors begin the chapter with an assessment of the current state of science teaching and learning in elementary schools. This is followed by an examination of our collaborative work with elementary teachers. The…

Elementary Anatomy

Journal Article | June 2016

Activities designed to teach preschool children about the human body.

Science for Elementary Educators

Journal Article | February 2004

Science for Elementary Educators is a multidisciplinary, interactive learning course developed for the science instruction of childhood education majors. The course described here is a model for science education reform…

Elementary Design Challenges

Journal Article | February 2010

How many of our students come to the classroom with little background knowledge about the world around them and how things work? To help students develop conceptual understanding and explore the design process, the…

The Effect of Science Education Classes on Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Attitudes About Science

Journal Article | June 2019

This study examined the attitudes toward science of elementary preservice teachers at a large public university in Texas. The study utilized a version of the well-established Test of ScienceRelated Attitudes (TOSRA) to…