Nationally known science educator Page Keeley—principal author of the hugely popular, four-volume NSTA Press series Uncovering Students Ideas in Science—has teamed up with physicist and science educator Rand Harrington to write this first volume in their new series on physical science. They begin with one of the most challenging topics in physical science: force and motion.
The 45 assessment probes in this book enable teachers to find out what students really think about key ideas in force and motion. The Teacher Notes, which can be used before and after administering the probe, provide background information on
• the purpose of the probe;
• related concepts;
• an explanation—for the teacher—of the force and motion idea being taught;
• related ideas in Benchmarks for Science Literacy and the National Science Education Standards;
• research on typical student misconceptions related to the force and motion concept; and
• suggestions for instruction and assessment.
The book specifies grade spans—K-4, 5–8, 9–12—for each probe, based on state and national standards, and suggests ways to adapt a probe for a different grade span or context.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Jim Minstrell, FACET Innovations
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction. Force and Motion: Research, Teaching, and Student Ideas
Section 1. Describing Motion and Position
Concept Matrix
Related Curriculum Topic Study Guides
Related NSTA Science Store, Journal Articles, and Learning Center Resources
1. How Far Did It Go?
2. Skate Park
3. Following Jack: Part 1
4. Following Jack: Part 2
5. Go Cart Test Run
6. Checking the Speedometer
7. Speed Units
8. Rolling Along
9. Crossing the Finish Line
10. NASCAR Racing
11. Roller Coaster Ride
12. Rolling Marbles
13. String Around the Earth
Section 2. Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion
Concept Matrix
Related Curriculum Topic Study Guides
Related NSTA Science Store, Journal Articles, and Learning Center Resources
14. Talking About Forces
15. Does It Have to Touch?
16. Force and Motion Ideas
17. Friction
18. A World Without Friction
19. Rolling to a Stop
20. Outer Space Push
21. Riding in the Parade
22. Space Ships
23. Apple on a Plane
24. Ball on a String
25. Why Things Fall
26. Pulling on a Spool
27. Lifting Buckets
28. Finger Strength Contest
29. Equal and Opposite
30. Riding in a Car
Section 3. Mass, Weight, Gravity, and Other Topics
Concept Matrix
Related Curriculum Topic Study Guides
Related NSTA Science Store, Journal Articles, and Learning Center Resources
31. Pizza Dough
32. What Will Happen to the Weight?
33. Weighing Water
34. Experiencing Gravity
35. Apple on the Ground
36. Freefalling Objects
37. Gravity Rocks!
38. The Tower Drop
39. Pulley Size
40. Rescuing Isabelle
41. Cutting a Log
42. Balance Beam
43. Lifting a Rock
44. The Swinging Pendulum
45. Bicycle Gears