Customer Reviews

Nurturing Inquiry: Real Science for the Elementary Classroom

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4 star:		(1)
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Wow! This book is full of wonderful ideas for teaching elementary science. Don't expect the usual recipes for science experiments--instead, expect to find ways to empower your students to be scientists and to take the lead in their learning. Read about inquiry time, using an outdoor classroom, discovery boxes, and the amazing Kids' Inquiry Conference. A must-have for anyone who wants their students to research their own questions, design their own experiments, share their new understandings, and develop a genuine love of science.

I'm a teacher who reads many books, but I'm finally writing my first review because every elementary teacher and middle school science teacher needs to know about this book. Charles Pearce describes how he uses inquiry periods, discovery boxes, the Kids' Inquiry Conference (KIC), and more to set up an inquiry-rich environment in this amazing book that definitely extends beyond the elementary age group! He also provides useful forms for tracking student inquiry. For anyone frustrated with the misuse of the word "inquiry" as a buzz word synonymous with "hands-on," this book describes true inquiry: students asking questions, designing investigations, and sharing their findings. I've used his strategies and done my own KIC with my 7th grade students. If you want to find out more about KIC, read his book written in collaboration with other teachers from the Elementary Science Integration Project (ESIP) called Beyond the Science Fair: Creating the Kids' Inquiry Conference. With the ESIP strategies, you'll see that science enhances literacy instruction and doesn't have to "take away time" from the "testable" subjects.

I just discovered this remarkable book and immediately decided to recommend it to all schools that invite me as a visiting author. My school visits are designed to promote inquiry-based science and cross-disciplinary learning, and this book provides a solid grounding in educational theory and a wealth of practical advice for both. Kids are natural scientists, and Mr. Pierce has never lost his childlike appreciation for the subject. This book makes clear why he won the President's Award for excellence in teaching science. I'd love to be a kid again so I could be in Mr. Pearce's class.

Before reading this, I was always told to do inquiry science in class, but never really told what it is or how to do it. This book gives a step by step of what one teacher did to include inquiry in the classroom and is a wonderful guide to direct any teacher into inquiry.

This product was also received prior to the expected date, which was great. The product was in a great reuseable condition. Overall, very satisfied with the product.