A video library for K-8 science teachers:
25 half-hour video programs and guides
These video case studies take science education reform to a personal level,
where individual teachers struggle to make changes that matter. Follow Donna,
Mike, Audrey, and other science teachers as they work to adopt one or
more research-based interventions to improve science teaching and learning.
Each case follows a single teacher over the
course of a year and is divided into three modules: the teacher's
background and the problem he or she chooses to address, the chosen
approach and implementation, and the outcome with assessment by the
teacher and his or her advisor. Average running time: 1/2 hour.
Program guides and supporting materials (PDF)
Program guides and supporting materials (Link)
Produced by the Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory
with support from Annenberg Learner.
Elsa — K
Elsa, a kindergarten teacher, is implementing discovery-oriented activities to make science more active.
Jennie — K
Jennie, a kindergarten teacher, wants to design grade-level appropriate science activities.
Ingrid — Grade 1
Ingrid, a first-grade teacher, works with students' ideas while focusing on specific learning goals.
Najwa and Pat — Grade 1
Najwa and Pat, first-grade teachers, want to teach
special needs students more effectively
in an integrated classroom.
Patricia — Grade 1
Patricia, a first-grade teacher, wants to increase
her students' role in their learning.
Linda — Grades 2-4
Linda, a resource specialist for second through
fourth grade, works with teachers to help their
students build scientifically accurate ideas.
Jo-Ann and Richard — Grade 2
Richard and Jo-Ann, who teach second grade, are integrating both math and science into their classroom activities.
Jean — Grade 3
Jean, a third-grade teacher, searches for ways
to meet the needs of diverse learners.
Terez — Grade 4
Terez, a fourth-grade teacher, is developing
an assessment strategy that is more student centered.
Donna — Grade 5
Donna, a fifth-grade teacher, is incorporating
the diverse backgrounds of her students
into the science curriculum.
Erien, Year One — Grade 5
Erien, a fifth-grade teacher in her first year,
strives to include and manage
class discussions in science learning.
Erien, Year Two — Grade 7
Erien, now in her second year of teaching,
wants to increase her seventh-grade
students' higher-level thinking skills.
Margarita — Grades 5-8
Margarita, a bilingual teacher of
mixed-grades five through eight, is working
with non-English speaking students
to accelerate their science skills.
Sarah — Grade 5 Sarah, a fifth-grade teacher, wants to ensure
that her students understand core science concepts.
Tom — Grade 5 Tom, a fifth-grade teacher, is working to assess
his students' science understanding accurately and fairly.
Greg — Grade 6
Greg, a sixth-grade student teacher, is designing
hands-on, minds-on science activities for his class.
Jeff — Grade 6 Jeff, a sixth-grade student teacher, is exploring
problem-centered learning with his students.
Paul — Grade 6 Paul, a sixth-grade science teacher, wants to
involve his students in the minds-on components
of science tasks.
Dotty — Grade 7 Dotty, a veteran seventh-grade teacher, is incorporating
the use of technology in a science-technology-society
approach to teaching.
Mike — Grade 7 Mike, a veteran seventh-grade teacher,
is working to involve girls more in science
and strengthen their self-confidence.
Raquel — Grade 7 Raquel, a seventh-grade teacher, is increasing the
involvement of girls and students of color in science.
Nancy — Grade 8
Nancy wants her eighth-grade students to develop
more autonomy and critical thinking skills.
Pat — Grade 8
Pat, an eighth-grade life sciences teacher, is working
to bring focus to inquiry-oriented science activities.
Audrey, Year One — Grade 8
Audrey, a social studies teacher who is teaching
eighth-grade science for the first time,
is developing an approach to science that
empowers students.
Audrey, Year Two — Grade 7
Audrey, in her second year of teaching science,
is helping her seventh-grade students
develop critical thinking skills.