E l e m e n t a r y E d i t i o n
M a r c h 2 0 0 7
ENERGY
Energy. It cooks our food, heats our homes, lights our streets, and powers our automobiles. As evidenced by recent headlines, it is also one of the most complex and challenging issues of the 21st century—crucial to both our nation’s and our planet’s prosperity. In her March 2007 Editor's Note in Science and Children, Field Editor Chris Ohana explains, "It is easy to see why we don’t teach much about energy in elementary years. Energy is a difficult topic to conceptualize. It isn’t like matter—you can’t sink your teeth into it. Students can’t hold it and see it. But I would argue that students can contemplate and generalize about energy. What first grader hasn’t heard, 'My, you certainly have a lot of energy today' from some frustrated, amused, maybe envious adult? And the first grader knows what it means.'" This issue of Science Class will help you address key energy-related questions with your students. Energy in the News Article summaries provided by the NSTA WebNews Digest (visit http://www.nsta.org/mainnews for national news for science educators). Stories selected for this month’s theme discuss various forms of energy and related topics. Visit http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2007-03/news_stories_elementary.htm to read more. Energy on the Web In this month's elementary-level journal, Science and Children, NSTA members can read "Spring into Energy" at http://www.nsta.org/gateway&j=sc&n=53506. For the complete Science and Children March 2007 Illustrated Table of Contents, visit http://www.nsta.org/gateway&j=sc&n=53530. SciLinks® is a web-based service from NSTA that provides online content chosen to augment printed articles and books. It does so through keywords; the keyword for this issue is Energy: http://www.scilinks.org/retrieve_outside.asp?sl=9263562110331010771011 In January, Bill Robertson, author of the NSTA Press Stop Faking It series, presented a Web Seminar on Energy. To learn more about the Web Seminar and to view a recording of the session, visit http://institute.nsta.org/fall06/energy/webseminarI.asp. NSTA Journal Articles on Energy These articles from the NSTA journal archives discuss how to teach energy to elementary students. Click here to read more: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2007-03/elementary.htm Books, Books, Books To read about Energy in NSTA Press® and NSTA Recommends® books, visit http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2007-03/books_elementary.htm. To read about the newest titles available from NSTA Press, visit http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2007-03/newbookselem.htm. To receive the latest NSTA catalog for your specific grade level, visit http://ecommerce.nsta.org/catalog_signup. Professional Development NSTA Symposia The following NSTA Symposia will take place at the National Conference on Science Education in St. Louis, Missouri, March 29 – April 1, 2007: Impact
of Polar Climate Change on Living Systems, presented by NSF,
NASA, and NOAA Visit http://institute.nsta.org/default.asp
for registration information.
Global Science Teaching Out-of-Touch Teachers Hobble Science Studies A recent story in the Sydney Morning Herald reports "An aging workforce and rapid advances in technology could have a serious impact on the quality of science teaching, an analysis commissioned by the [Australian] Federal Government warns. The study concludes: 'It is probable that a significant proportion of science teachers may be out of touch with contemporary science and also lack the skills to change their teaching to meet new challenges.'" Click here to read more: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/outoftouch-teachers-hobble-science-studies/2007/03/04/1172943275712.html NSTA Opportunities The Early Years
Call for Papers Science and Children (grades preK–5) has issued a Call for Papers on specific topics. Click here to find out more: Next Month's Theme: Ecosystems If your colleagues would like to subscribe to Science Class, please direct them to http://www.nsta.org/newsletters.
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