E l e m e n t a r y E d i t i o n
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ASTRONOMYWhen students get excited about a topic like meteors, it's easier
for them to see that science is connected to their lives. By integrating
astronomy into the curriculum, you teach children that it is more
than just the stars in the sky. It opens up the opportunity to shape
their understanding of the universe they live in. This may sound
like a very broad topic to tackle in elementary school, but studies
have shown that many of children's science misconceptions focus
on the Earth and its relation to the rest of the universe. Many
of those misconceptions take root in the early years. Don't despair—this
issue of Science Class is full of resources, ideas, and news
to help you prepare your students to look to the skies and to get
a clear picture of what's out there. Astronomy in the News Article summaries provided by the NSTA WebNews Service. Astronomers have made amazing discoveries in recent months. Read various articles from The Washington Times and New Scientist.com that discuss how scientists have found the first dark galaxy and dated the universe's "cosmic" jerk, and are working on a new observatory in the Chilean Andes. http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-12/news_stories_elementary.htm Astronomy on the Net SciLinks® is a web-based service from NSTA that provides online content chosen for printed articles and books. It does so through keywords; the keyword for this month is: Astronomy: http://www.scilinks.org/retrieve_outside.asp?sl=9263562111221033 Astronomy with a Stick provides online activities for you to use in your classroom. To learn more, click here: NSTA Articles on Astronomy The following NSTA journal articles provide you with some ideas on how to bring the study of astronomy into your classroom. Click here to read more: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-12/elementary.htm Books, Books, Books Click here to view Universe at Your Fingertips, Grades K–12 With 800 pages of activities, this enormous collection has sky-high ambitions with down-to-earth activities. Compiled as a result of the Project ASTRO teacher training program, these ready-to-use activities help students discover astronomy for themselves. Conveniently designed in a loose-leaf format, the notebook also gives you reproducibles, updated resource listings, and a guide to reliable (yes, reliable) astronomy information on the Internet. Click here to learn more or to buy: http://store.nsta.org/showItem.asp?product=OK515X Click here to view the new books from NSTA Press: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-12/newbookselem.htm Professional Development The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is in its second year. As the most ambitious federal effort to raise achievement in public schools in decades, it is one of the most complicated education laws passed by Congress. Consequently, many myths and misperceptions surround NCLB. Washington Post reporter Jay Mathews outlines ten frequently heard myths about the law. Click here to read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23818-2003Nov10.html NSTA Opportunities 'Tis the Season to Shop As holiday shopping kicks into high gear, don’t forget about
the science teacher on your gift list, even if it Click here to read more: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-12/www.pdf Online Career Center Are you looking for a challenging new job or career change? Or
do you want to hire the most qualified science teacher? NSTA’s
Career Center has the resources you need to successfully accomplish
all your career-related goals. Click here to learn more: Write for NSTA's Journals NSTA members want to read about your teaching experiences. To find out more, visit: Science & Children (Grades PreK–5) http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-12/sc.htm Next Month's Theme: Science and Mathematics Integration If 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/2003-12/member_elementary.htm. THE FINE PRINTThis
e-newsletter is brought to you by the National Science Teachers
Association
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