A Primer on Experimental Method for the Teacher in Doubt

The national science standards dictate that science be taught using an inquiry-oriented investigative approach. Do you understand how to teach science in this fashion? If not, you are not alone. Many, if not most, science teachers has limited to no background in such matters, especially elementary teachers, teachers forced to teach outside their major subject area, and home schoolers. Too often the result is a science course taught strictly from a textbook supplemented only with worksheets and few, if any, investigative lab activities.

If any of these descriptions fit you or your science course, this primer is designed for you. Armed with the information in this primer you will hopefully develop the professional self-confidence necessary to begin to provide your students with the opportunity to do at least some investigative science.