Teaching Science Through Sensemaking

This textbook serves as an essential resource for early childhood and elementary educators seeking to engage young learners in science through curiosity, investigation, and sensemaking. The lessons were created by, for, and with teacher candidates and practicing teachers as they planned for and engaged in the work of teaching science. The book offers thoughtfully developed 5E lesson plans that support students in exploring scientific phenomena, developing and revising ideas, and connecting science learning with their experiences and the world around them. Each lesson includes an overview that orients educators to the lesson and its learning goals, along with teacher notes embedded throughout the lesson to provide guidance for planning and enactment. These notes highlight considerations for facilitating student thinking, navigating activities, and making instructional decisions as the lesson unfolds. The lessons support inquiry and exploration while creating opportunities for children to develop and communicate their scientific thinking and build understanding of important scientific concepts. The book is suited as a principal text for elementary science teaching methods courses and as a resource for practicing educators and professional development, offering concrete examples that educators can use, adapt, and build upon within their own classrooms, communities, and curricular contexts.