Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding, Volume II, Grades 3-5, is a seamless continuation of the science curriculum begun in the popular and successful Volume I of the Elementary Science Education series.Veteran scientist, teacher and author Bernard J. Nebel, Ph.D., has designed a curriculum that is unique in several ways. It minimizes details and technical terminology. It recognizes that learning entails an ongoing developmental progression that is reinforced and solidified by being put into practice. It acknowledges that children are capable of more sophisticated thinking than they're generally given credit for. Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding puts these principles into practice by: - Focusing on developing critical understanding of the basic ideas and principles underlying each of the major areas of science- Providing lessons that build in a logical, systematic and stepping stone manner, each providing a natural review of what went before and providing a platform for what comes next- Encouraging students to use their lessons in interpreting everyday experiences- Developing students' cognitive skills by guiding them to derive conclusions through their own observations and rational thoughtUnderstanding the constraints of budgets, Nebel has also designed these lessons so that they require a minimum amount of specialized materials and equipment. Teachers and home-schoolers will also be happy to discover that a particular science background is not required and, in fact, as they conduct their lessons, they will learn along with their students and by doing so, will be excellent role models for them. "Best elementary science curriculum I have found." -April Duritza "Far surpasses any other material I have run across." -Deanna SchmidtThe "Elementary Science Education: Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding" (BFSU) curriculum is unique in several ways. - Minimizing details and technical terminology, BFSU focuses on developing critical understanding of basic ideas and principles underlying each of the major areas of science. - Recognizing that learning entails an ongoing developmental progression, the lessons in BFSU build in a logical, systematic, stepping-stone manner, each providing a natural review of what went before and providing a platform for what comes next. - Recognizing that learning is reinforced and solidified by putting it to use, BFSU lessons draw students to use their lessons in interpreting every-day experiences. - Recognizing that children are capable of more sophisticated thinking than generally credited, BFSU lessons develop students' cognitive skills through guiding them to derive conclusions through their own observations and rational thought. - Recognizing budgetary constraints, lessons are designed to require a minimum of specialized materials or equipment. - Teachers/homeschoolers will discover that particular science background is not required; in conducting lessons they will learn along with their students and be excellent role models in doing so. Users write: "Very solid book for teaching science..." -Saramarie "Best elementary science curriculum I have found..." -April Duritza "Wish my teachers had used this curriculum..." -M. Soto "Far surpasses any other material I have come across..." -Deanna Schmidt "Nebel doesn't underestimate Children..." -Lydia Netzer(see detailed reviews on Amazon.com) All users are invited to join an ongoing Yahoo support group at no charge (see inside).