December 2006 Illustrated Table of Contents

Science&Children
NSTA's peer-reviewed journal for elementary teachers
December 2006
Volume 44, Number 4
This issue's focus: Earth Science

FEATURES

Grades 2–5

22 This Land Is Your Land
Hands-on activities and demonstrations using readily available materials help students learn how to prevent soil erosion.
Ann Kennedy, Tami L. Stubbs, and Jeremy C. Hansen

Grades 4–6
27 Rock Finding
This literature-based activity helps students discover the importance of making
detailed observations.
Katie Rommel-Esham and Susan D. Constable

Grades preK–2
30 Geoscience for Preschoolers
These integrated math and science activities for young children really rock!
David Danisa, Jason Gentile, Kate McNamara, Monica Pinney, Sarah Ross, and Audrey C. Rule

Grades 3–6
34 What Happened to Our Volcano?
Third-grade students discover the roles of weathering and erosion in reshaping their local landscape.
Elaine Silva Mangiante

Grades 4–6
40 Layer-Cake Earth
Students get to the “core” of stratigraphic principles and learn about geologic sampling.
Rebecca Tedford and Sophie Warny

Grades K–2
45 First Graders Can Do Science
Young students investigate their own questions and present their projects at a science inquiry conference.
Candice Marshall

TEACHER RESOURCES

10 In the News

14 Teaching Through Trade Books
Rock Solid Science

18 The Early Years
Rocks Tell a Story

50 Methods and Strategies
Science Homework Overhaul

54 Science Shorts
Nothing but Blue Skies

58 Science 101
Is it possible to turn coal into diamonds?

60 Perspectives NEW!
On Writing in Science

62 NSTA Recommends

68 Finds & Sites

70 NSTA Conferences
www.nsta.org/conferences

IN EVERY ISSUE

6 Editor’s Note

8 The NSTA President’s Message: Feedback and Response
17 Call for Papers
75 Advertisers Index

76 Every Day Science Calendar
December

Copyright © 2006 NSTA