ERIC Number: EJ722110
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Sep
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8148
EISSN: N/A
Teaching for Conceptual Understanding
Kang, Nam-Hwa; Howren, Carrie
Science and Children, v42 n1 p28-32 Sep 2004
One of the most difficult jobs of elementary school teachers is teaching science for conceptual understanding. Conceptual understanding requires students to organize facts and ideas into a meaningful concept in science. Facts and concepts form webs that can help students make connections between the concepts of science and their experiences. Moving beyond rote memorization of facts, conceptual understanding enables students to align intuitive ideas with scientific ones, making meaningful connections. Therefore, students can apply their understanding of concepts to multiple contexts. This article describes a unit to develop second-grade students' conceptual understanding of Earth's movement.
Descriptors: Elementary School Teachers, Scientific Concepts, Comprehension, Science Instruction, Elementary School Science, Grade 2, Astronomy
National Science Teachers Association, 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782 (Toll Free); Web site: http://www.nsta.org.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A