Science Investigators

Long before astronauts ventured into space, scientists and philosophers used models to develop theories about Earth and what lies beyond it. This experimentation guide shows students how they too can create models to forge a deep understanding of topics like the scale of the solar system, how eclipses occur, and the cyclic patterns that govern life on our planet. Through the creation of models, readers learn how to develop and test hypotheses and how to represent their findings visually in graphs and charts.

How does water change form? What is the relationship among pure substances, mixtures, and compounds? How do models help scientists understand the physical world? These are just a few of the questions addressed in this science experiment guidebook. From particle theory to forming a hypothesis, readers are guided through activities that make complicated concepts easy to understand and remember.

Everything contains energy, which manifests in ways such as motion, sound, light, heat, or electricity. Give your students the opportunity to create illustrative models that engage head-on with this phenomenon and its manifestations in areas like the food cycle, renewable energy, and kinetic and potential energy. This book provides essential background information about energy that is aligned to the NextGen Science Standards while also prompting readers to ask questions, think creatively, and apply what they've learned.

As climate change intensifies, it has become more important than ever for students to learn about weather systems and weather patterns. Provide your students with step-by-step instructions for creating models that demonstrate how greenhouse gases get trapped, the importance of the water cycle, and the methods experts use to make weather predictions. Readers are encouraged to refine their models, ask key questions, and synthesize what they've learned.

The pull of gravity and the movement of Earth are just two examples of how force and motion affect every second of our lives. Help your readers explore the laws of motion and much more. Models relating to the physics of magnets, jumping on the moon, and why it's a good idea to wear a helmet while biking are some of this book's activities that leverage experiential learning to foster concept mastery.

Much of human perception is thanks to the transmission of light and sound, from reading a book, to watching television, to walking to school. Explaining deep but foundational topics through modeling, this book helps readers visualize and represent the properties of light and sound, while contextualizing their practical uses. As students experiment with light and sound, they will master key concepts covered in the NextGen Science Standards.