National Academies Press: OpenBook

Resources for Teaching Middle School Science (1998)

Chapter: 8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides

« Previous: 7. Books on Teaching Science
Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
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CHAPTER 8
SCIENCE BOOK LISTS AND RESOURCE GUIDES

8.1 ASTC/CIMUSET Directory and Statistics 1996.

Washington, D.C.: Association of Science-Technology Centers, 1996. 180 pp.

Price: $40.00 (ISBN 0-944040-49-7)

This directory lists the addresses, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses, and names of key staff members at more than 400 institutions. Included are science-technology centers, nature centers, aquariums, planetariums, space theaters, natural history museums, children's museums, and other multidisciplinary museums. The organizations listed in the directory belong to ASTC (the Association of Science-Technology Centers) or to CIMUSET (the International Committee of Science and Technology Museums, a branch of the International Council of Museums). The statistics in the volume provide information about more than 100 of these institutions. The directory is updated annually.

8.2 H. Robert Malinowsky. Best Science and Technology Reference Books for Young People.

Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press, 1991. 227 pp.

Price: $24.95 (ISBN 0-89774-580-9)

This book provides brief summary information—including bibliographic data, a 1-paragraph description of contents, and sources of book reviews—for 669 science and technology reference books for readers in grades 3-12. A grade-level index identifies 231 of these titles as being appropriate for students in grades 6-8. The titles are arranged by broad subjects in 12 chapters: General Science, Astronomy, Mathematics/Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, General Biology, Botany, Zoology, Technology/Engineering, Energy/Environment/Ecology, and Medical Sciences. Within chapters, the entries are organized by type of publication—for example, atlases, bibliographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias, field books, guides, and handbooks. Best Science and Technology Reference Books for Young People can be used by students who are seeking science resources, as well as by teachers and librarians who may need collections development and assessment guides. In addition to the grade-level index, title, author, and subject indexes are provided.

8.3 Sandra Finley, Marilyn Fowler, Mary Jo Powell, and Barbara Salyer. Directory of Science-Rich Resources in the Southwest.

Austin, Tex.: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, 1996. 77 pp.

Price: $7.50

This directory of organizations that offer opportunities to enhance science teaching and learning is a product of the project SCIMAST—the Eisenhower Southwest Consortium for the Improvement of Mathematics and Science Teaching. Most of the resources listed in the directory are located in Arkansas, Louisiana, New

Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
×

Evaluating science materials

Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
×

ORDERING INFORMATION FOR PUBLICATION IN CHAPTER 8

The prices given for books and other publications in chapter 8 do not include the costs of shipping and handling. Before placing an order, readers are advised to contact the publishers of these references for current ordering information, including shipping charges. In some cases, discounts or special rates may be available to schools and educators.

Publishers' names are cited in the bibliographic data of the annotations. Their addresses and telephone and fax numbers, as well as e-mail addresses, when available, are listed in appendix A, "Publishers and Suppliers."

Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. National resources that might be of interest to science educators in this 5-state region are also included. The organizations are arranged by state, with entries organized by category, including aquariums, botanical gardens,, and zoos; state-based federal programs; and university affiliates. A separate section is devoted to the national organizations.

8.4 Maeve A. Boland and Leanne Wiberg Milton, eds. Earth-Science Education Resource Directory.

Alexandria, Va.: American Geological Institute, 1994. 150 pp.

Price: $19.95 (ISBN) 0-922152-21-7

This loose-leaf notebook provides a convenient list of diverse educational resources and materials on the subject of earth science. It lists 179 organizations and more than 550 individual products. These resources, which can be used for school groups and other audiences, include traditional items such as books, classroom materials, posters, activity kits, and computer and audiovisual aids, as well as workshops, training courses, networks, and special-interest organizations. Each organization's entry provides a short summary of scope and purpose, together with contact information, including addresses and telephone and fax numbers. The description of the organization is followed by information on its individual products. Each item is described briefly; supplementary information lists general subject matter of the material, grade level, cost, and ordering information. The volume is indexed by organization, general subject matter combined with grade level, and medium of the product.

8.5 Will Snyder and the 1994 National 4-H Energy Education Review Team. Educating Young People about Energy for Environmental Stewardship: A Guide to Resources for Curriculum Development with an Emphasis on Youth-Led, Community-Based Learning.

Chevy Chase, Md.: National 4-H Council, Environmental Stewardship Program, 1994. 47 pp.

Price: $5.00

Educating Young People about Energy for Environmental Stewardship is a resource guide for educators who wish to develop energy and environmental curricula and programs. The booklet includes descriptions of important criteria for choosing or evaluating such curricula. It also provides general and age-specific suggestions for developing programs and program formats; an annotated list of materials and resource organizations that focus on environmental and energy issues; information on accessing the 4-H electronic Energy Education Resources Database; and an overview chart of resources or organizations for teaching, learning, and program planning.

8.6 Educators Guide to Free Science Materials. 38th ed.

Randolph, Wis.: Educators Progress Service, 1997. 255 pp.

Price: $29.95 (ISBN 0-87708-301-0)

The Educators Guide to Free Science Materials is an annual annotated listing of selected free, mixed-media science materials. It is designed to provide an up-to-date means of identifying currently available materials. This 38th edition classifies and provides descriptions of content, as well as complete source and availability information, for a total of more than 1,300 films, film strips, sets of slides,

Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
×

videotapes, and printed items. The book is divided in sections by media format and is organized by subject within each section. Entries are indexed by title and subject. The guide's source and availability index provides the names and addresses of organizations from which materials may be obtained.

8.7 Patti K. Sinclair. E for Environment: An Annotated Bibliography of Children's Books with Environmental Themes.

New Providence, N.J.: R. R. Bowker, 1992. 292 pp.

Price: $42.00 (ISBN 0-8352-3028-7)

E for Environment in an annotated guide to 517 children's books with environmental themes. Selections cover a wide range of subjects and are organized in 5 major areas: fostering positive attitudes about the environment; ecology; environmental issues; people and nature; and learning activities. Titles include fiction and nonfiction books for children from preschool age to 14; a few titles for adults who work with children are included. An appendix lists environmental classics and titles reflecting environmental issues and "ecophilosophy." Entries are indexed by author, title, and subject.

8.8 National Energy Information Center. Energy Education Resources: Kindergarten through 12th Grade.

Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Information Center, 1997. 130 pp.

Price: Free

Energy Education Resources, published annually by the U.S. Department of Energy, lists organizations that provide free or low-cost energy-related educational materials to students and educators. The organizations represented range from nonprofit educational organizations to utilities, trade associations, publishers, and federal agencies. Each entry includes a short description of the organization, its address, and notes on relevant energy materials. Entries are broadly indexed by subject.

8.9 Richard J. Wilke, ed. Environmental Education Teacher Resource Handbook: A Practical Guide for K-12 Environmental Education.

Millwood, N.Y.: Kraus International Publications, 1993. 459 pp. (Available from Corwin Press; see app. A.)

Price: $29.95 (ISBN 0-8039-6370-X)

This resource guide provides information on the historical background of environmental education curriculum and presents current, comprehensive information on useful publications, standards, and special materials for implementing a K-12 environmental education program. Topics covered in the first half of the book include creating or revising an environmental education program or curriculum, funding curriculum projects, developing assessment programs, and conducting special projects. Later chapters include an annotated bibliography of children's trade books (organized by subject); addresses and information on publishers and producers of curriculum materials; and an index of recently published reviews of environmental education software, videos, and curriculum guides.

8.10 Wendy Saul. Find It! Science.

McHenry, Ill.: Follett Software, 1995.

Price: $189.00 ($75.00 for each additional CD-ROM)

This multimedia CD-ROM is designed to guide teachers, media specialists, and children in selecting appropriate literature to support science education in grades K-8. Featuring a user-friendly, playful interface for elementary and middle school learners, the application contains textual annotations and images of book covers for approximately 2,500 current books. The books were chosen from award-winning lists and recommendations made by librarians and science teachers nationwide. Reviews from journals are included for each book. Minimum hardware and software requirements for using this guide are a 68020 Macintosh with at least 4 MB of RAM, a hard drive with at least 4 to 5 MB of free space, a CD-ROM drive, System 6.0.7, and QuickTimes 1.5.

8.11 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education. The Guidebook of Federal Resources for K-12 Mathematics and Science.

Columbus, Ohio: Eisenhower National Clearinghouse, 1996. 424 pp. (Available from Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office; see app. A.)

Price: $25.00

The Guidebook of Federal Resources for K-12 Mathematics and Science is a directory of federal offices, programs, and facilities concerned with education in mathematics and science in grades K-12. The volume contains background information on 16 federal departments and agencies, descriptive information about federal offices and programs for mathematics and science education at the national and regional levels, and state-by-state contacts for many of these resources. Although the book does not list all federally funded education programs, it provides contacts for additional information.

Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
×

8.12 Barbara Walthall, ed. IDEAAAS: Sourcebook for Science, Mathematics and Technology Education.

Washington, D.C.: American Association for the Advancement of Science; Armonk, N.Y.: The Learning Team, 1995. 252 pp. (Available from The Learning Team.)

Price: $24.95 (ISBN 0-87168-545-0)

IDEAAAS is a reference work designed to foster communication, connections, and ideas among individuals involved in science, mathematics, and technology education. Included are the following: 3 detailed guides that can help locate sources of approximately 10,000 activities, materials, and programs within 80 different categories and 7 disciplines; a state-by-state listing of information about resources; a section that details organizations with a national constituency; and a publications and media section. The booklists scientific professional societies, state science societies, state science academies, state and federal agencies, community-based organizations, zoos, planetariums, nature centers, and many other informal or formal places of science. Two indexes are provided: an organization index and a name index of project directors, education directors, curators, or those responsible for science, mathematics, or technology education.

8.13 Donna F. Berlin. Integrating Science and Mathematics in Teaching and Learning: A Bibliography.

Columbus, Ohio: ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education, 1991. 54 pp.

Price: $7.50

Current literature related to reform in science and mathematics education endorses the integration of science and mathematics teaching and learning as a means of improving achievement and attitudes within both disciplines. This bibliography identifies and categorizes literature related to such integration. It is intended for classroom teachers, teacher educators, curriculum specialists, and researchers. The bibliography includes more than 550 citations, which are organized in 5 sections: (1) Curriculum, (2) Instruction, (3) Research, (4) Curriculum—Instruction, and (5) Curriculum—Evaluation. The fourth and fifth sections classify curriculum programs that include instructional activities and evaluation of curriculum programs.

8.14 Carol M. Butzow and John W. Butzow. Intermediate Science through Children's Literature: Over Land and Sea.

Englewood, Colo.: Teacher Ideas Press, 1994. 218 pp.

Price: $23.00 (ISBN 0-87287-946-1)

Intermediate Science through Children's Literature contains ideas and directions for earth and environmental science activities that can be linked to 14 popular children's novels, such as Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George; The Cay, by Theodore Taylor; and Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell. The hands-on activities, which can be done in any order or can stand-alone, include field trips, simple craft projects, library research, and collateral reading and writing. The first half of the guide combines novels with activities about land: students learn about the American prairie, tornadoes, weather, the Arctic, woods, the Rocky Mountains, and fossils. The second half of the guide connects books and activities that draw upon the environment of the sea: students learn about coral reefs, tropical lagoons, coastal islands, the ocean, wetlands, and whales.

8.15 Elizabeth B. Miller. The Internet Resource Directory for K-12 Teachers and Librarians: 96/97 Edition.

Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1997. 235 pp.

Price: $25.00 (ISBN 1-56308-506-2)

This annual directory identifies more than 900 Internet resources for school library media specialists, educators, and students. Resources are presented in chapters according to broad curricular areas. The chapter on science lists 176 resources in the following categories: general science, earth science, biology, human anatomy, animals, botany, chemistry, crystals, environment and ecology, physics, space and astronomy, space flight and space stations and exploration, and weather. Each entry includes the name of the resource, tells how it is accessed, and provides address, path, log-in, or other instructions. The name of a contact person associated with the resource is sometimes given. A descriptive annotation provides an overview of the resource and, in some cases, a brief list of contents. All sites included in the directory were screened for their suitability for K-12 education.

8.16 Library of Congress. LC Science Tracer Bullet Series.

Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, Science and Technology Division, Science Reference Section, various years.

Price: Free upon receipt of self-addressed mailing label

The LC Science Tracer Bullet is an informal series of literature guides—each on a specific subject—designed to help locate published materials on that subject for readers who have

Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
×

only general knowledge. Examples of subjects in the series include pesticides and foods, environmental science projects, human diet and nutrition, and the brain. Among the major features of these brief guides are a weighted list of subject headings to be used in searching a card, book, or electronic catalog; lists of basic texts, bibliographies, state-of-the-art reports, conference proceedings, or government publications; a list of abstracting and indexing services useful in finding journal articles and technical reports; and the names and addresses of organizations to contact for additional information. New titles in the series are announced in the Library of Congress Information Bulletin, distributed to many libraries.

8.17 Isabel Schon. "Libros de Ciencias en Español."

(A selection of recent science trade books in Spanish.) Science & Children, Vol. 34, No. 6 (March 1997): 37-39. (Available from National Science Teachers Association; see app. A.)

"Libros de Ciencias en Español" is a short bibliography, published in the National Science Teachers Association journal Science & Children, annotating recent science trade books in Spanish. (The annotations are in English.) The books are grouped by subject and within each section are arranged alphabetically by title. The following subject areas are represented: biology, ecology, general science, and technology. A list of U.S. dealers of books in Spanish for children and young adults is provided.

8.18 Science and Environmental Education Unit, California Department of Education. Literature for Science and Mathematics: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve.

Sacramento, Calif.: California Department of Education, 1993. 144 pp.

Price: $11.00 (ISBN 0-8011-1066-1)

Literature for Science and Mathematics was compiled by a statewide committee in California composed of science and mathematics teachers, curriculum planners, and librarians employed in schools and public libraries. The volume contains more than 1,000 annotated entries on science- and mathematics-related literature for grades K-12. It is divided into 4 sections—on the physical, earth, and life sciences and mathematics. Within each section, entries are listed alphabetically by author. Each entry includes information to help educators choose and locate supplemental reading for their students. Appendix A offers concrete suggestions for incorporating literature into the science curriculum. Appendix B extends the listings in the main text to include selected resources, references, and field guides. Subject, author, and title indexes are provided.

8.19 Marine Education: A Bibliography of Educational Materials Available from the Nation's Sea Grant College Programs.

Ocean Springs, Miss.: Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, 1994. 54 pp.

Price: $2.00

This bibliography of more than 500 titles is a tool for teachers and other individuals interested in helping students explore and understand the world's oceans and the Great Lakes. The materials annotated in Marine Education are available from the Sea Grant college program or institution that developed them. Listings are arranged alphabetically by the universities sponsoring Sea Grant college programs. The annotations include title, ordering instructions, cost, and a brief summary of the resource.

8.20 Rue E. Gordon, ed. 1997 Conservation Directory. 42nd ed.

Vienna, Va.: National Wildlife Federation, 1997. 318 pp.

Price: $55.00 (ISBN 0-945051-60-3)

The Conservation Directory is a complete annual reference guide to organizations, agencies, and officials concerned with environmental conservation, education, and natural resource use and management. Entries include names, addresses, telephone numbers, descriptions of program areas, sizes of membership (where appropriate), principal publications, and senior staff by name and responsibility. A subject index lists organizations by special areas of interest.

8.21 1997 Teacher Resource Guide: A Guide to Educational Materials about Agriculture.

Sacramento, Calif.: California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, 1997. 59 pp.

Price: $5.00

The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is dedicated to helping teachers integrate agriculture into mathematics, history and social studies, language arts, and science. This Teacher Resource Guide is designed to help educators in grades K-12 locate high-quality resources, instructional materials,

Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
×

and activities on agriculture. It provides a list of resources typically available in the local community; a resource booklist; recommended agricultural readings for history and social sciences; and a listing by subject of various videos, booklets, guides, posters, brochures, and other agriculture-related materials available free or at minimal charge.

8.22 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). NSTA Science Education Suppliers 1998.

Arlington, Va.: NSTA, 1998. 165 pp.

Price: $5.00

NSTA Science Education Suppliers is published annually and distributed in conjunction with the January or February issue of the following NSTA periodicals: Science & Children, The Science Teacher, Science Scope, and the Journal of College Science Teaching. The directory can also be purchased separately. This yearly publication includes lists of suppliers and school science laboratory equipment; lists of firms producing computer hardware and software; manufacturers and distributors of audiovisual materials and other media; and textbook, resource materials, and trade book publishers. Addresses and telephone and fax numbers are provided, as well as e-mail and World Wide Web addresses, where available.

8.23 Only the Best: The Annual Guide to the Highest-Rated Educational Software and Multimedia 1997-1998.

Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1997. 143 pp.

Price: $29.00 (ISSN 1053-4326); on CD-ROM: $150.00

Only the Best is an annual review guide of highly rated educational software and multimedia programs, compiled from the findings of top software and multimedia evaluators. Although software programs on a wide variety of topics are reviewed, science and social studies programs predominate. Each entry includes a program description, cost, grade level, hardware requirements, references for further information, and user tips. The guide, which is organized by subject area, also includes titles and tips for diverse learners, and a directory of software publishers. Only the Best is also available on CD-ROM and at the World Wide Web site of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (see 11.27).

8.24 "Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children for 1997." Science & Children, Vol. 34, No. 6

(March 1997). 6 pp. (Available from Children's Book Council; see app. A.)

Price: $2.00 for a single copy of the 6-page reprint when accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope

"Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children for 1997" (published in the National Science Teachers Association [NSTA] journal Science & Children) is an annotated bibliography of approximately 50 children's science trade books published in 1996. The books, intended primarily for students in grades K-8, were evaluated by a book review panel appointed by the NSTA and assembled in cooperation with the Children's Book Council. Selection for inclusion was based on a book's accuracy of information, readability, and format and illustrations. The books are grouped by subject, and within each section are arranged alphabetically by title. The following subject areas are represented in this edition: anthropology and paleontology, biography, earth science, environment and ecology, integrated science, life science, and physical science. The content standards from the National Science Education Standards (see 7.27) to which each book relates are indicated at the end of each annotation.

8.25 Polystyrene Packaging and the Environment: Classroom Activities Sourcebook.

Washington, D.C.: The Polystyrene Packaging Council, no date. 7 pp.

Price: Free

This sourcebook is a compendium of information and educational resources designed to help teachers educate students about polystyrene packaging and the environment. It is a useful reference tool for teachers in grades K-12 who lack the time or resources to review the large numbers of materials available on this subject. The sourcebook contains a listing of curriculum materials available from several industry and independent sources. Materials are categorized by grade level; information is provided on their content; cost and ordering information are provided. The sourcebook also contains classroom activities designed to provide students with hands-on experiences with polystyrene packaging and other materials.

8.26 Michelle Wolfson. Resources for Teaching Astronomy and Space Science. John Hewitt, ed. Planetarium Activities for Student Success. Vol. 3.

Berkeley, Calif.: Lawrence Hall of Science; Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, N.Y.: New York Hall of Science, 1993. 76 pp.

Price: $11.50

Resources for Teaching Astronomy and Space Science is a volume in a series designed for the experienced

Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
×

planetarium professional as well as for the teacher using a planetarium for the first time. This annotated resource guide covers the wide spectrum of resources available for teaching astronomy and space science in elementary and middle schools. It includes school curricula, books, periodicals, films, videos, slides, software, professional organizations, planetariums, and telescopes. The guide has listings such as camps for students, computer bulletin boards, opportunities for stargazing, and teacher institutes and workshops.

8.27 Maria Sosa and Shirley M. Malcom, eds. Science Books & Films' Best Books for Children 1988-91.

Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1994. 317 pp.

Price: $19.95 (ISBN 0-8058-1879-0)

Science Books & Films' Best Books for Children 1988-91 (see also 8.28) is a guide to recommended children's books and resource materials gathered from reviews published previously in Science Books & Films, the review journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (see 11.2). Subjects covered include the life and physical sciences, mathematics, engineering and technology, medicine, the social and behavioral sciences, and science/language arts connections. Some sections also contain a separate listing of hands-on science books. Entries are arranged alphabetically within broad subject areas, which are then further subdivided into smaller topics. The guide is indexed by author and title.

8.28 Tracy Gath and Maria Sosa, eds. Science Books & Films' Best Books for Children 1992-1995.

Washington, D.C.: American Association for the Advancement of Science, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, 1996. 301 pp.

Price: $24.00 (ISBN 0-87168-586-8)

Science Books & Films' Best Books for Children 1992-95 (see also 8.27) is a guide to recommended children's books and resource materials gathered from reviews published previously in Science Books & Films , the review journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (see 11.2). Subjects covered include the life and physical sciences, mathematics, engineering and technology, medicine, and the social and behavioral sciences. Some sections also contain a separate listing of hands-on science books. Entries are arranged alphabetically within broad subject areas, which are then further subdivided into smaller topics. The guide is indexed by reviewer, author, and title.

8.29 Carolyn Phelan. Science Books for Young People.

Chicago, Ill.: American Library Association, Booklist Publications, 1996. 80 pp.

Price: $9.95 (ISBN 0-8389-7837-1)

Science Books for Young People is an annotated bibliography of more than 500 science books for students in grades K-8 published from 1990 to 1995. Most of the entries are based on reviews that appeared in Booklist, the reviewing journal of the American Library Association. The books listed are generally limited to pure science. They are organized by subject—for example, astronomy, life science, plants, reptiles, and mammals. Reference books and books of science experiments appear within subject areas.

8.30 Science Curriculum Resource Handbook: A Practical Guide for K-12 Science Curriculum.

Millwood, N.Y.: Kraus International Publications, 1992. 384 pp. (Available from Corwin Press; see app. A.)

Price: $29.95 (ISBN 0-803-96373-4)

This resource book provides basic information on the background of science curriculum design. It presents current information on trends in science teaching and curriculum development in grades K-12 and includes a step-by-step guide to creating or revising curriculum, information on grants for program development, exemplary science curriculum guides, comparisons of state requirements, and sources of ideas and materials for special projects. Rather than prescribing any particular form of curriculum, the handbook gives a sense of the available options and is a practical reference for curriculum developers, teachers, and administrators. It includes an annotated source list for materials, publishers, and project ideas, and provides an index to reviews of science textbooks, videos, software, and support materials.

8.31 Mary Budd Rowe. Science Helper K-8: Version 3.0.

Armonk, N.Y.: The Learning Team, 1993.

Price: $195.00

Science Helper is a CD-ROM produced by the Knowledge Utilization Project in Science. It contains plans for 919 elementary science and mathematics lessons and 2,000 activities, compiled from 7 elementary science curriculum projects funded by the National Science Foundation during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Lessons are included from the following projects: Conceptually

Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
×

Oriented Program in Elementary Science (COPES), Elementary Science Study (ESS), Elementary School Science Project (Astronomy) (ESSP), Minnesota Mathematics and Science Teaching Project (MINNE-MAST), Science: A Process Approach (SAPA), Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS), and Unified Science and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES). Lesson plans or activities can be located on the CD-ROM using the following criteria (alone or in combination): grade level, subject, process skills, keywords, content themes, and programs. Each lesson plan has a detailed abstract that can be viewed on the screen, printed out, and used to find other, related lessons. Background information on each lesson is available, including an introduction, a listing of responsible authors, and the book's original table of contents. All lessons can be printed and copied as often as needed. Science Helper can operate on either the PC or the Macintosh platform.

8.32 Smithsonian Resource Guide for Teachers 1997/98.

Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Office of Education, 1997. 81 pp.

Price: $5.00

The Smithsonian Resource Guide for Teachers 1997/98 is an annotated listing of educational materials and resources available from the Smithsonian Institution. Science materials are included in the following subject areas: anthropology/human life, astronomy/space sciences, botany/plant life, general science/ecology, geology/minerals/paleontology, and zoology/animal life. Materials are grouped by subject, and within each section are arranged alphabetically by title. The booklet also lists catalogs, visitor guides, periodicals, and information on electronic access to the Smithsonian Institution.

8.33 Project WILD and the World Wildlife Fund. Taking Action: An Educator's Guide to Involving Students in Environmental Action Projects.

Bethesda, Md.: Project WILD, 1995. 74 pp.

Price: $7.00

The purpose of Taking Action is to inspire ideas and provide models for conducting effective environmental action projects that engage students from start to finish. The book begins with nuts-and-bolts information on the whats, whys, and hows of action projects. It also presents a summary of the specifics of planning, implementing, and evaluating effective environmental action projects. It analyzes more than 30 actual projects from elementary, middle, and high schools around the country. The themes of such projects include adopting species in need, using agriculture on the school grounds, protecting coastal and ocean habitats, conserving energy, and influencing lawmakers. Following each group of success stories is a list of ideas for similar projects and additional resources. Finally, the guide lists national student organizations, telecommunications networks, fundraising programs, and other resources to help teachers incorporate environmental action into their activities.

8.34 TESS: The Educational Software Selector CD-ROM. 1996 ed.

Hampton Bays, N.Y.: Educational Products Information Exchange (EPIE) Institute, 1996.

Price: $82.50 (Updates $32.50)

This CD-ROM provides an annotated listing of essential information on 18,000 educational software programs for preschool through college from more than 1,300 software publishers. Nearly 4,000 science titles are included. Subjects covered by the science-oriented programs include anatomy and physiology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, oceanography, ecology and environment, general science, geology, horticulture, meteorology, natural history, physical science, physics, scientific measurement, technology education, and zoology. The detailed entries include a program description and software requirements. Search parameters include computer type, grade, price, program type, software title, review score (where available), subject, and supplier.

8.35 Phyllis J. Perry. The World of Water: Linking Fiction to Nonfiction.

Literature Bridges to Science series. Englewood, Colo.: Teacher Ideas Press, 1995. 165 pp.

Price: $21.50 (ISBN 1-56308-321-3)

The World of Water is designed to help teachers plan a middle-grade integrated unit of study involving oceans, rivers, and lakes. The first 4 parts of the book are on (1) Ships, Diving, and Treasure; (2) Animals and Plants Living in and around the Sea; (3) Understanding, Exploring, and Surviving; and (4) Environmental Concerns. Each of these parts contains detailed summaries of fiction books, with discussion starters for each book, summaries of related nonfiction books of various lengths and levels of difficulty, and ideas for multidisciplinary activities based on both types of books. Between the fiction and nonfiction books listed in each section is the summary of a book or video that combines factual information with fiction to enable readers to make an easy transition from one type of material to another. The fifth part of the book contains information on additional resources and linkages. All books suggested in

Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
×

this volume were published after 1980 and are easily available. The titles were selected from a large number of books recommended by children's librarians with special expertise in books for young adults.

8.36 Phyllis J. Perry. The World's Regions and Weather: Linking Fiction to Nonfiction.

Literature Bridges to Science series. Englewood, Colo.: Teacher Ideas Press, 1996. 173 pp.

Price: $22.00 (ISBN 1-56308-338-8)

The World's Regions and Weather is designed to help teachers plan a middle-grade integrated unit of study involving regions of the world and weather. The first 4 parts of the book are on (1) Snow, Hail, and Ice; (2) Drought, Dust, and Dunes; (3) Clouds, Rain, and Floods; and (4) Winds: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and Typhoons. Each of these parts provides detailed summaries of fiction books, with discussion starters for each book, summaries of related nonfiction books of various lengths and levels of difficulty, and ideas for multidisciplinary activities based on both types of books. Between the fiction and nonfiction books listed in each section is the summary of a book or video that combines factual information with fiction to enable readers to make an easy transition from one type of material to another. The fifth part of the book provides information on additional resources and linkages. All books suggested in this volume were published after 1980 and are readily available. The titles were selected from a large number of books recommended by children's librarians with special expertise in books for young adults.

8.37 World Resources Institute. World Resources 1996-1997.

New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 1996. 384 pp.

Price: $24.95 (ISBN 0-19-521161-8)

World Resources 1996-1997 reports on conditions and trends in the world's natural resources and in the global environment. It provides data, presented in tables, maps, and graphs, for almost every country in the world. Part I, on the urban environment, includes a comparison of urban conditions and trends throughout the developing and developed world; information on the impacts of urban environmental conditions on health and productivity; an analysis of how urban transportation systems are contributing to, or reducing, environmental problems; and strategies for improving the urban environment based on case studies from cities and communities across the globe. Part II is a collection of global statistics and trend reports that cover basic economic indicators, population and human development, food and agriculture, forests, biodiversity, energy and materials, water and fisheries, and atmosphere and climate. Extensive source references and technical notes are included.

Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
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Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
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Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
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Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
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Page 285
Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
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Page 286
Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
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Page 287
Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
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Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
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Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
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Suggested Citation:"8. Science Book Lists and Resource Guides." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1998. Resources for Teaching Middle School Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5774.
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Next: 9. Periodicals »
Resources for Teaching Middle School Science Get This Book
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With age-appropriate, inquiry-centered curriculum materials and sound teaching practices, middle school science can capture the interest and energy of adolescent students and expand their understanding of the world around them.

Resources for Teaching Middle School Science, developed by the National Science Resources Center (NSRC), is a valuable tool for identifying and selecting effective science curriculum materials that will engage students in grades 6 through 8. The volume describes more than 400 curriculum titles that are aligned with the National Science Education Standards.

This completely new guide follows on the success of Resources for Teaching Elementary School Science, the first in the NSRC series of annotated guides to hands-on, inquiry-centered curriculum materials and other resources for science teachers.

The curriculum materials in the new guide are grouped in five chapters by scientific area—Physical Science, Life Science, Environmental Science, Earth and Space Science, and Multidisciplinary and Applied Science. They are also grouped by type—core materials, supplementary units, and science activity books.

Each annotation of curriculum material includes a recommended grade level, a description of the activities involved and of what students can be expected to learn, a list of accompanying materials, a reading level, and ordering information.

The curriculum materials included in this book were selected by panels of teachers and scientists using evaluation criteria developed for the guide. The criteria reflect and incorporate goals and principles of the National Science Education Standards. The annotations designate the specific content standards on which these curriculum pieces focus.

In addition to the curriculum chapters, the guide contains six chapters of diverse resources that are directly relevant to middle school science. Among these is a chapter on educational software and multimedia programs, chapters on books about science and teaching, directories and guides to science trade books, and periodicals for teachers and students.

Another section features institutional resources. One chapter lists about 600 science centers, museums, and zoos where teachers can take middle school students for interactive science experiences. Another chapter describes nearly 140 professional associations and U.S. government agencies that offer resources and assistance.

Authoritative, extensive, and thoroughly indexed—and the only guide of its kind—Resources for Teaching Middle School Science will be the most used book on the shelf for science teachers, school administrators, teacher trainers, science curriculum specialists, advocates of hands-on science teaching, and concerned parents.

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