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STUDENT MADE—MAKING MODELS AND MOREStudents can learn abstract concepts in several different ways, but teachers who want to make their lessons more exciting often turn to hands-on activities. Involving students in building projects is one approach to helping students learn difficult concepts in a fun and easy way. In this issue of Science Class, you will find several resources—news and journal articles, books, and websites—to help you plan creative lesson plans that will enable your students to build or make models while learning the science they need to succeed. Making Models in the News Article summaries provided by the NSTA WebNews Service. Encouraging middle school students to build things can be fun and educational. Learn how several middle level teachers in Michigan recently taught their students lessons in science and math while allowing them to build their own futuristic models of cities. Click here to read the latest: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-04/news_stories_middle.htm Making Models on the Net SciLinks® is an interactive, web-based service from NSTA that connects your lesson and/or course materials (certain textbooks, NSTA books, and journal articles) with online content chosen just for your selected topics. Using Models: http://www.scilinks.org/retrieve_outside.asp?sl=9263565510441033 Making Models in NSTA Journal Articles The following journal articles are sorted by grade level to provide you with ideas for classroom lessons and activities related to making models. From this month's Science Scope issue: http://www.nsta.org/middleschool From the Science Scope archives: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-04/middle.htm Books on Making Models Check out these titles from NSTA Recommends: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-04/books_middle.htm Professional Development The U.S. Department of Education publishes a report of Exemplary and Promising Science Programs. Each description includes a general overview, a discussion of related professional development, program costs, a description of program quality, evidence of the program's effectiveness and success, the program's educational significance and usefulness to others, and ordering and contact information. The Eisenhower National Clearinghouse brings you that report. Click here to learn more: Exemplary and Promising Science Programs 2001 Part 1 (PDF version) http://quine.enc.org/web_graphics/documents/ART/002978/exemplary2001_1.pdf Exemplary and Promising Science Programs 2001 Part 2 (PDF version) http://quine.enc.org/web_graphics/documents/ART/002979/exemplary2001_2.pdf
Write for NSTA's Journals To learn more, visit: Science Scope (Grades 5–8) http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-04/scope.htm Meet Author Lynne Cherry! The award-winning author of The Great Kapok Tree will answer your questions throughout the month of April. Lynne Cherry's book is aimed at elementary students, but readers of all grade levels are invited to join the discussion. Click here to join the discussion: http://www.nsta.org/main/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=47 Next Month's Theme: AstronomyIf your colleagues would like to subscribe to Science Class, please direct them to: http://www.nsta.org/newsletters. If you have a text-only browser or are having any difficulties with our links, please visit http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-04/member_middle.htm. THE FINE PRINTThis
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