Synopses & Reviews
After-school and out-of-school programs--as well as home schooling--have been growing steadily for nearly a decade, but instructors are still searching for high-interest content that ties into science standards without the rigidity of current classroom canon. The author draws on more than 20 years of experience doing hands-on science to facilitate tinkering: learning science while fooling around with real things.
In this book, you'll learn:
- Tinkering techniques in key science areas
- How to let kids learn science with hands-on tinkering
- Engaging techniques for science learning at home, in school, or at a makerspace or library
- Step-by-step instructions for activities that don't end with a single project, but that provide many paths for "tinkering forward".
About the Author
Curt Gabrielson runs the Watsonville Environmental Science Workshop and works with science education in East Timor. He has been a science educator for more than 20 years, with positions in the California public schools, the National University of East Timor, and San Franciscos Exploratorium Teacher Institute.
Table of Contents
Dedication; Foreword; Preface; How to Use This Book; Conventions Used in This Book; Safari® Books Online; How to Contact Us; Acknowledgments; Chapter 1: Sound; 1.1 Drum Set; 1.2 Torsion Drum; 1.3 What's Going On?; 1.4 Keep On; 1.5 Internet Connections; 1.6 Standards Topic Links; 1.7 More Tinkering with Music; Chapter 2: The Value of Tinkering in the Learning Process; 2.1 Why Tinkering Is Essential; 2.2 Tinkering Throughout History; 2.3 Not for Everyone?; Chapter 3: Magnetism; 3.1 Magnet Toys; 3.2 Electromagnetic Dancer; 3.3 Keep On; 3.4 Internet Connections; 3.5 Standards Topic Links; 3.6 More Tinkering with Magnetism; Chapter 4: A Good Tinkering Session; 4.1 Tinkering Schemes; 4.2 Frameworks for Tinkering; 4.3 Characteristics of a Good Tinkering Session; 4.4 Students; Chapter 5: Mechanics; 5.1 Basketball Hoop; 5.2 Carnival Ball Game; 5.3 What's Going On?; 5.4 Keep On; 5.5 Internet Connections; 5.6 Standards Topic Links; 5.7 More Tinkering with Mechanics; Chapter 6: Tinkering Logistics; 6.1 Tinkering Space; 6.2 Stocking Your Space; 6.3 Materials and Tools; 6.4 Tinkering Projects; 6.5 Facilitating Projects; 6.6 A Few More Tinkering Considerations; Chapter 7: Electric Circuits; 7.1 Flashlight and Magic Wand; 7.2 Steadiness Circuit; 7.3 Keep On; 7.4 Internet Connections; 7.5 Standards Topic Links; 7.6 More Tinkering with Circuits; Chapter 8: The Learning Community and Differentiated Learning; 8.1 The Learning Community; 8.2 Differentiated Learning; Chapter 9: Chemistry; 9.1 Floating and Sinking with Colors; 9.2 Chemical Reactions; 9.3 What's Going On?; 9.4 Keep On; 9.5 Internet Connections; 9.6 Standards Topic Links; 9.7 More Tinkering with Chemistry; Chapter 10: Dealing with Questions and Dishing Out Answers; 10.1 Questions; 10.2 Answers; Chapter 11: Biology; 11.1 Arm Model; 11.2 Foot and Ankle Model; 11.3 What's Going On?; 11.4 Keep On; 11.5 Internet Connections; 11.6 Standards Topic Links; Chapter 12: Standards and Assessment in the Tinkering Environment; 12.1 Standards; 12.2 Assessment; Chapter 13: Engineering and Motors; 13.1 Hovercraft; 13.2 Motorized Art Spinner; 13.3 What's Going On?; 13.4 Keep On; 13.5 Internet Connections; 13.6 Standards Topic Links; 13.7 More Tinkering with Motor Engineering; Chapter 14: Final Notes; Academic Research On How Learning Works; Evaluation Questionnaire for Students; Index; Colophon;