ELEMENTARY SCIENCE METHODS: A CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACH, Fifth Edition, is based on two fundamental and complementary ideas: it is more important for children to learn how to do science than to learn about science, and elementary science teachers do not need to know a great deal of science but rather should be co- inquirers with their students.

To facilitate learning, this text features a wealth of exercises, including open-ended inquiry activities that help teacher candidates construct their own personal conceptualizations about science content and teaching methods. The text also contains over 170 process-oriented, open-ended activities, organized by grade level, that practicing teachers can use to encourage children to develop and perform their own investigations.