Insights: An Elementary Hands-On Inquiry Science Curriculum
To download a detailed profile of Insights, click here.
2nd Edition Now Available–with FOUR NEW MODULES
The Weather (Gr. K–1)
Rocks, Minerals, & Soils (Gr. 2–3)
Sun, Earth, & Moon (Gr. 4–5)
Music to My Ears (Gr. 6)
- Revised and more extensive assessment structure with new guidelines for formal assessments; assessment questions throughout the learning experiences; and new recording strategies, including class records and individual student profiles
- Clear goals and story line for each module with correlations to the National Science Education Standards
- Literacy connections emphasizing writing, including the use of science notebooks; language development; and reading different text genres
- Mathematics connections emphasizing the use of quantitative data collection where appropriate
- Web sites and software suggestions to enrich the learning experiences
- New Resources section with up-to-date materials (print, Web, and other media) for students and teachers
- Optional Student Science Notebook includes reproducible Science Notebook pages from the Teacher Guide and pages for additional student work
Published by Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Insights: An Inquiry-Based Elementary School Science Curriculum is a K-6 curriculum designed to meet the needs of all children in grades K-6 while specifically addressing urban students.
The curriculum and accompanying materials were developed by a coalition of EDC science curriculum specialists and teams of innovative elementary school teachers from Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York, Montgomery County (Maryland), and San Francisco school districts. Each module was pilot-tested by team teachers, revised, field-tested on a larger scale, and rvised a second time before reaching the publication stage. The Center for the Study of Testing, Evaluation, and Educational Policy (CSTEEP) at Boston College provided evaluation and assessment specialists for the project.
The curriculum materials are designed to:
- develop children's understanding of key science concepts;
- improve students' abilities to think creatively and critically;
- encourage problem solving through experiences in the natural environment;
- foster the development of positive attitudes about science;
- bridge science concepts to current social and environmental events; and
- integrate science with the rest of the curriculum, particularly with language arts and mathematics.
The Insights curriculum:
- reflects current knowledge of children's learning and therefore provides
- direct experiences with the real world;
- developmentally appropriate subject matter, skills, and materials;
- content that is directly relevant to the child's environment, experiences and interests;
- extensive opportunities for language development;
- integration of content areas; and
- activities that support different approaches to learning.
- reflects current knowledge about teaching and therefore incorporates instructional strategies that
- encourage critical and creative thinking;
- provide a balance of teacher- and child-initiated activities;
- support cultural, racial and linguistic diversity; and
- enhance cooperative learning.
- reflects current knowledge of school-system, school and classroom realities and is therefore
- correlated with major textbook scopes and sequences as well as with state and local mandates;
- designed to stand alone or be used in conjunction with an existing program;
- responsive to teacher needs for clear scientific background information, guidance in instructional and management strategies, and assistance with assessment procedures;
- responsive to a diversity of teachers and children; and
- a complete package of written and hands-on materials at a reasonable cost.
- reflects a definition of elementary science content that is
- a balance of attitudes, skills, knowledge, and values;
- a balance of life, physical, and earth science;
- integrated with the ongoing learning and life experiences of the child; and
- focused on a limited number of concepts and themes in depth and breadth.
The Insights curriculum for the elementary years is a core curriculum of seventeen, 6- to 8-week modules, each of which includes a comprehensive Teacher's Guide and set of materials.
Each Teacher's Guide includes:
- an Introduction that provides an overview of the module, specific teaching and management strategies, an overview of the frameworks for teaching and learning science thinking and process skills, and assessment techniques
- detailed Teaching Sequences for each learning experience including an overview of the activity, objectives, suggested time frame, list of materials needed, science terms, advance preparation, daily assessments, and discussion questions
- reproducible masters for student Science Notebook Pages and Group Recording Sheets
- reproducible masters for Home-School Work assignments
- Extension Activities in science, language arts, and social science
- Assessment materials including an Introductory Questionnaire, an Embedded Assessment, and a Final Questionnaire consisting of performance and written components
- a Science Background section
- Teacher Resources, including annotated lists of children's books, teacher reference books, and technological aids.
The Insights module topics emerge from a review both of children's experiences and interests and of the basic science phenomena and concepts appropriate for each age level and rich in potential for hands-on exploration. The topics also reflect a balance of life, physical, and earth sciences. Modules can be taught independently as supplements to existing curricula but are conceptually linked to help lead students to a broader understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Additional Information
To place an order or for more information, contact Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company at 800-542-6657, ext.1042.
For additional information from the developers about the elementary Insights curriculum, please direct your inquiries to Karen Worth at kworth@edc.org.
