Science as Active Inquiry: A Teacher's Guide to the Development of Effective Science Teaching

This new text lays out the rationale for teaching science as active inquiry and presents a “teaching for thinking” theoretical framework that is rooted in extensive field research and classroom practice. This introductory section is followed with information and guidelines for how teachers may organize their science programs with a focus on hands-on student involvement in active inquiry. The last section includes 60 “sciencing” activities that are grouped according to teachers’ expressed concerns about their “messiness.” With the current emphasis on distance learning, the use of IT as instructional tools and more child-centered practices, this new book should serve as a valuable resource for opening teachers’ and students’ minds to the values of teaching science in the ways in which scientists actually do their work. More than theory, the book offers practical and clear help to teachers to want to pursue teaching science as an investigative process.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgements Introduction: This Book is for Teachers Section I: Perspectives Chapter 1: Perspectives on Science and Sciencing Chapter 2: Perspectives on Children Chapter 3: Perspectives on Play Chapter 4: Perspectives on Teaching for Thinking in Science Chapter 5: Perspectives from the Classroom: The Play-Debrief-Replay Instructional Model Section II: Organizing the Classroom for Science as Active Inquiry Chapter 6: Preparing Students for Sciencing Chapter 7: Gathering the Materials Chapter 8: Making Room for Sciencing Chapter 9: Guidelines and Ground Rules Chapter 10: Debriefing: Interactions that Promote Thoughtful Inquiry Chapter 11: Thinking and Decision Making in Science Section III: 58 Sciencing Activities Chapter 12: Introduction to the Activities Chapter 13: Category A: Wet, Wetter, Wettest: Activities 1 - 11 Chapter 14: Category B: No Fuss, No Muss, No Sticky Stuff: Activities 12 - 48 Chapter 15: Category C: Who’s Afraid of Spiders?: Activities 49 - 58 Section IV:: Journey Into the Unknown Chapter 16: Evaluating Student Growth Chapter 17: Journey Into the Unknown Appendix Bibliography

About the Author :
Selma Wassermann is professor emerita in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. She is the author of more than twenty books and the recipient of the University Excellence in Teaching Award. J. W. George Ivany is President emeritus of the University of Saskatchewan and an author of texts and research papers on science teaching.

Review :
Students love the opportunity to “be scientists!” Wassermann and Ivany have provided engaging, thoughtful and challenging ways to have learners to understand and practice science as inquiry rather than rote memory, as evolving rather than static, and as creative rather than prescriptive. This book is a treasure for all ages! Teaching Science as Active Inquiry is an outstanding resource for educators interested in inquiry-based teaching who wish to instil a love for science in their students and promote a deeper understanding of and skill in the processes of science. Wassermann and Ivany provide detailed supports for curriculum design, implementation, and the promotion of student autonomy. In the midst of the pandemic, it is propitious that a new book, Teaching Science as Active Inquiry by Wassermann and Ivany is now available. This new volume utilizes their highly successful Play-Debrief-Replay model that puts students in the central role of scientific investigators. The authors, very much on the side of teachers, provide them with many examples of challenging, hands-on activities to implement their science program. This is very much a book for the 21st century, with the urgency of a subject that impinges on us every minute of our lives. The book’s a knockout. It could not be more timely. What the world needs now is a citizenry that is scientifically literate and knows how to think. The word Science is bandied around by politicians and the media as being a static, certain entity which it is not. Science and thinking are often taught (if taught at all) as having one predetermined correct answer. This book is a delicious alternative for teachers to help students sustain their innate sense of wonder into the world around them through a "play - debrief - replay" teaching strategy and the use of learning centres. It is based on child centered pedagogy and includes 58 inquiry activities that can easily be implemented in the classroom. I highly recommend this book for all teachers.