Elementary Science Methods: An Assets-Based Approach to Teaching, Learning, and Advocacy, Grades K-6, Second Edition

Lauren Madden is a professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education at The College of New Jersey, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate science teaching methods courses and degree capstone courses. She has published science education articles in many peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Science Teacher Education, Science and Children (NSTA), Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, Research in Science Education, Environmental Education Research, CITE Journal (Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education), and International Journal of Science Education. Her research interests include scientist-educator collaboration, intersections of Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Curriculum Standards, preservice teacher perspectives and attitudes on STEM education, and the uses of interactive science notebooks.

• ForewordAcknowledgmentsChapter 1: An Introduction to Assets-Based Elementary Science TeachingChapter 2: A Developmental Perspective on Science Teaching and LearningChapter 3: Inquiry-Based Teaching: Connecting Theory to StrategyChapter 4: What Is (and Isn’t) Science Anyway?Chapter 5: The Next Generation Science Standards: An IntroductionChapter 6: Asking Good Questions and Developing LessonsChapter 7: Connecting Science to Language Arts and MathematicsChapter 8: STEM and STEAM: Creativity and Problem-Solving in Elementary ScienceChapter 9: Beginning to Use Science to AdvocateChapter 10: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Science Teaching Chapter 11: How Do We Know What We Know in Science?Chapter 12: Science Outside of SchoolChapter 13 Advocating for ScienceGlossaryReferencesIndexAbout the Author

This second edition equips preservice teachers with the tools to teach elementary science through inquiry, advocacy, and a student-centered lens. It retains its strong focus on assets-based teaching, NGSS-aligned strategies, and interdisciplinary connections, while introducing timely updates on assessing resources for science instruction and the teaching of controversial science topics, including vaccine denial. With practical guidance on asking effective questions, fostering creativity, and integrating science with literacy and math, it prepares future educators to design purposeful, inclusive, and engaging science and STEM/STEAM lessons. This newest edition deepens its commitment to preparing teachers scientific literacy, and will help teachers to become confident, reflective agents for science.