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Guest Post Written By Sockmonkey Science

Science comes naturally to most elementary students. After all, observing phenomena and problem solving is the way their young minds develop. However, I notice that although my students are able to tackle big issues and come up with creative solutions, they have difficulty articulating their conclusions scientifically. They can't tell me WHY or HOW. Justifying their work logically is a huge part of what they should be learning in my class, but it always seems to be the area we are most lacking in.

For a long time, I tried following the scientific method to help students explain their thought processes. However, the steps aren't always clear and also seem to vary from publisher to publisher, causing confusion for students (and teachers) as they advance to higher grade levels. Recently, I stumbled across the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) model, and I feel like this simple graphic organizer based approach is something that will really help my students write scientifically and prepare them for more rigorous lab reports in high school.

What is CER?

CER is a writing strategy that helps students analyze information and experiences in an organized, concise manner. The process for elementary students usually starts with a question or prompt from the teacher relating to a scientific concept they are familiar with. The students then use the CER method to answer the question (or make a claim) providing both evidence and reasoning. Seems simple, right? That's because it is! Well, it should be, anyway. Students generally have NO problem making a claim, or even stringing together some evidence to support it, but when it comes to providing the reasoning that connects the claim and evidence students tend to freeze up.

The good news is with proper introduction, scaffolding, and practice, CER should dramatically improve your students' scientific reasoning and writing skills. The GREAT news is that you can turn almost anything into a CER moment. In fact, many educators suggest introducing the concept with something that ISN'T science-related.

One of the best examples I have seen of this comes from Trevor Register, who shows an Audi television commercial, "My Dad's an Alien" to introduce using CER. The commercial shows a young girl listing the evidence of why she believes her father is an alien, and students must decide for themselves if he is indeed an alien. The commercial is pretty straightforward, and the content leads to some thought-provoking and creative discussion from students.

OK, OK...That's great, but how do you use this with actual scientific concepts you are teaching?

Here is an example.

Juan brought his lunch to school in a brown paper bag. Once he has finished, there is nothing left in the bag. However, his friend Mia disagrees. She believes the bag contains air. Who is correct?

So, this option leaves two ways to use CER. The first option is to simply provide students with a data table showing the physical properties of the bag (like mass and volume) when it is full of lunch as opposed to when it is only full of air. The second option, which I prefer, would allow students to conduct the investigation and gather the data. Have students measure the mass of the bag when it is full of lunch, when it is open and empty, as well as when it is inflated with air and closed. Then allow them to make a claim based on their own data, and provide the evidence and reasoning to substantiate their claim!

If you aren't sure how to start incorporating CER into YOUR classroom, Model Teaching has a great article, checklist, and graphic organizer available to download free here.

I have also started creating some CER prompts to tackle real-world science issues! Check it out!

If you like this post, you may like these:

About the Author: Mary is the mother of two amazing little boys. When she is not changing diapers, she is mom blogging, teaching elementary science and creating science resources to share with other teachers. She will complete her M. Ed. later this year, and hopes to become a school counselor in the near future! You can find her on Sockmonkey Science, TPT, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and even subscribe to her blog by email for some cool surprise freebies!
If you like it, then pin it!
Thanks for reading!

Christine Weis is a passionate educator, classroom management coach, wife, and mom of two busy boys. She enjoys teaching, writing, and creating resources for teachers.

Filed Under: Blog

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Claim Evidence Reasoning: Using the C.E.R. Model for Scientific Writing in Elementary - For The Love of Teachers

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CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) is a writing strategy that helps students analyze information and experiences in science.

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I'm obsessed with keeping notebooks. I have drawers full of them for collecting thoughts and ideas generated during faculty meetings, conferences, and workshops. So many treasures: lists of things to do, illustrations to remind me how to replicate, questions, unfamiliar terms, and examples of strategies I want to remember.

So it's hardly a surprise that notebooking is a key practice in my elementary science instruction! I've tried fancy hardcover notebooks with lines, formatted templates with space for drawing, and lined paper. But do you know what works best? The simplest option: blank papers stapled inside of a file folder. Why? Blank pages allow for flexibility and freedom.

Science notebooks evolve throughout the year along with students, becoming more complex as students gain a better understanding of how data is collected and recorded. For example, a kindergarten class starts off with a general notebook for gathering and recording information, then gradually to specific-topic notebooks. A second grade class starts with general observations, then moves towards formal data recording.

Here are four ways to use science notebooks:

1. Help students create their own reference sheets.

I use a direct approach sometimes, asking students to write down definitions or copy a specific diagram. These entries serve as references for students.

2. Guide students in recording their discoveries.

I use a guided approach and model how to record data and experiences, but leave it up to students to create their own entry.

Open-ended notebook entries are my favorite and the most authentic. Students have total freedom over what they record in their notebooks and how. These entries provide a window to students' thinking and understanding of concepts -- they tell me where and how I can contextualize our experiments.

3. Capture evidence of student learning and understanding.

I often use notebooks to check for students' understanding of concepts and new content vocabulary.

4. Document student growth over time.

Science notebooks provide a permanent record of students' activities and learning and can be included in their portfolios. Notebooks can be used to document student growth and development in science (and literacy) from the beginning of the year.

As a teacher who works with many English language learners and students with disabilities, I appreciate how well all students respond to the opportunities to share their own illustrations, graphs, charts, and words. This improves their ability to organize and explain their ideas and learning. Illustrating a concept in their notebooks can provide a boost of confidence for students who might not otherwise speak up in an oral discussion.

Science notebooks are a powerful way for students to demonstrate understanding of science experiences, and provide teachers with evidence for assessing students' written language development and science learning.

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Four Ways to Think Like a Scientist with Science Notebooks

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I'm obsessed with keeping notebooks. I have drawers full of them for collecting thoughts and ideas generated during faculty meetings, conferences, and workshops. So many treasures: lists of things to do, illustrations to remind me how to replicate, questions, unfamiliar terms, and examples of strategies I want to remember.

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It's time to improve literacy skills during social studies instruction and ensure that readers of all abilities have what they need to access grade-level social studies concepts.

Join us on Thursday, December 7 for a look at scaffolded materials that provide extra literacy support while building key social studies concepts and skills.

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Newsela | Content and assessment platform

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Content Aligned To National & State Standard, Flexible To Support Relevant Curriculum. Find the Perfect Piece Of Content For Lessons. Go beyond the book.

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Students can use for visual note- taking

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Noun Project: Free Icons & Stock Photos for Everything

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Noun Project has the most diverse collection of free icons and stock photos. Download SVG and PNG. Over 5 million art-quality icons and free photos.

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@dianasoriat and @sam_hh to help users begin to feel comfortable with sketchnoting.
Right-click and download the ilinked file or click on it and drag it to your desktop or tap on it to save it to the Camera Roll on your tablet.
​Use it as a background in your favorite drawing program or screencasting program or print it off to use the analog version!

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Sketchnoting, in its purest form, is creating a personal visual story as one is listening to a speaker or reading a text. I also believe the interactive notebook, which includes the process of taking...

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Tap into the power of your visual brain. Sketchnoting is a creative superpower, and I want to help you wield it.Imagine a world where you actually remember and apply the ideas you learn about ... Read More

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Prepare the workforce of tomorrow. Encourage critical thinking and problem solving to inspire young learners to think like engineers. Engineering is Elementary, 2nd Edition presents real world challenges that encourage students to explore multiple ways to solve a problem. Following the Engineering Design Process and using scientific inquiry, students make connections to the real world. Twenty hands-on, standards-aligned engineering units guide students to activate and share prior knowledge as they build communication, perseverance, collaboration, and presentation skills- those skills necessary to be successful in today's world.

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Engineering is Elementary, 2nd Edition | EiE

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Use a 5-step engineering design process to teach hands-on STEM with Engineering is Elementary, a program for young students in grade 1 through grade 5.

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Teachers love using picture books to teach science!

Introducing Picture-Perfect STEM Lessons!

Students love learning through inquiry!

Teachers rave about Picture-Perfect Science Workshops!

Teachers love Picture-Perfect Science workshops!

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Teachers love using picture books to teach science! Introducing Picture-Perfect STEM Lessons! Students love learning through inquiry! Teachers rave about Picture-Perfect Science Workshops! Teachers love Picture-Perfect Science workshops!

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The NSTA Next Generation Science Standards Hub offers information, resources, news, professional learning opportunities, and expert advice in understanding and implementing the Next Generation Science Standards - NGSS

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Science Fair Project Ideas, Answers, & Tools

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Free Topic Selection Wizard, science fair project ideas, step by step how to do a science fair project, Ask an Expert discussion board, and science fair tips for success.

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Tools for

Ambitious
Science
Teaching

Companion Book available now on Harvard Ed Press

Pressing for evidence- based explanations

Planning for engagement with important science ideas

Supporting on-going changes in thinking

Eliciting students' ideas

What is Ambitious Science Teaching?

Great teaching can be learned. This web site provides a vision of ambitious science instruction for elementary, middle school and high school classrooms. Ambitious teaching deliberately aims to support students of all backgrounds to deeply understand science ideas, participate in the activities of the discipline, and solve authentic problems.

We feature 4 core sets of teaching practices that support these goals. These core sets make up the Ambitious Science Teaching Framework. The framework has been based on classroom research from the past 30 years-research that has asked, "What kinds of talk, tasks, and tools do students need in order to fully engage in meaningful forms of science learning?"

If you are a member of a group of science educators committed to the improvement of teaching, the vision, practices, and tools here will furnish a common language for you about teaching. You will be able to identify "what we will get better at" and how to get started.

Become Part of a Community That Shares a Common Vision of Excellence in Teaching.

Because ambitious science teaching focuses on doing four things really well in the classroom (the core practices), members of our community can speak a common language about how to continually improve instruction and support student learning. We can frame problems together and work towards solutions with help from each other. The expertise of our community comes from our members (teachers, instructional coaches, teacher educators) as well as from extensive empirical classroom research. On this site you can explore how other professionals are using core practices and the tools that go with them.

Explore New Tools That Support Student Learning

This site provides a constantly evolving set of tools to help improve student participation and learning. Some of these tools will help you plan for student engagement with "big" science ideas. Some will help students reason publicly with each other about science ideas. Others will help students engage in scientific modeling, explanation and argument with evidence. Still others will scaffold science-specific writing and talk. We have unique sets of tools for teachers, instructional coaches, and teacher educators.

But here's what is really important about our tools-they belong to the community, meaning that they need to be continually tested under different classroom conditions in order to be improved and diversified.

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Pressing for evidence- based explanations Planning for engagement with important science ideas Supporting on-going changes in thinking Eliciting students' ideas Great teaching can be learned.

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Early science education is crucial for children's academic success, yet is too often missing from California schools. CRS empowers teachers and scientists to bring science and engineering learning to life for children. Children build understanding of their world through exploration, while discovering their own talents and interests. We all benefit from a more scientifically literate citizenry and a diverse, creative STEM workforce.Our goal is simple: help teachers give students more opportunities to "do science" - to ask questions, test ideas, get their hands on real science activities.
We need to inspire the next generation of thinkers, makers, problem solvers, and leaders!

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Community Resources for Science - Practical Support for Great Science Teaching!

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Early science education is crucial for children's academic success, yet is too often missing from California schools. CRS empowers teachers and scientists to bring science and engineering learning to life for children. Children build understanding of their world through exploration, while discovering their own talents and interests.

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ATTENTION Educators: Due to a recent Google Drive security update the majority of the links on this webpage including the curriculum guides are currently not working. Our team is working on developing a solution, please be patient as we work to restore access to curriculum materials.

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Act before December 31! All donations to the National Geographic Society will be matched dollar for dollar through the end of the year. Make your tax-deductible gift today and make TWICE the impact for Explorers working to preserve threatened species around the world.

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Education Resources | National Geographic Society

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Inspire learners to explore National Geographic through interactive lesson plans, maps, storytelling and a wide variety of resources to illuminate their world.

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Browse Science Hands-on Activities | Education.com

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Browse Science Hands-on Activities. Award winning educational materials designed to help kids succeed. Start for free now!

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CER_GraphicOrganizer with transition words for writing.pdf

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Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

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Mystery Science offers open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science. The hook, visuals, and activity have all been prepared for you. Less prep, more learning.

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The STEM Teaching Tools site has tools that can help you teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). We are currently focused on supporting the teaching of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) . Each tool is focused on a specific issue and leverages the best knowledge from research and practice.

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The Wonder of Science was created to support the next generation of science teachers. All of the resources are licensed under Creative Commons licensing.

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Nat Geo Kids makes it fun to explore the world with weird, wild, and wacky videos featuring awesome animals like sharks, tigers and lions, cool science, funny pets, and more! Come back every week for new videos! Fuel kids’ curiosity with magazines designed to inspire and empower children ages 3 an…

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Peep and the Big Wide World - YouTube

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Peep and the Big Wide World gives wings to the innovative idea of teaching science to preschoolers. Set in and around a pond, a bush, and a tin can, the show follows a newly hatched chicken named Peep, and his friends Chirp and Quack (a robin and a duck), on their daily adventures. Surrounding them…

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From the team behind the YouTube series SciShow comes SciShow Kids! Join Jessi, Mister Brown, Squeaks the Robot Lab Rat, and all their friends at the Fort as they conduct experiments, research new questions, and talk with experts to learn about the science-filled world around us. There’s always s…

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Welcome to Crash Course Kids! This bi-weekly show from the producers of Crash Course is all about gradeschool science. We'll look at Earth, Habitats, Space, Chemical Reactions, Engineering, and much much more with host Sabrina Cruz. So, join us every Tuesday and Thursday for new uploads.

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The bestselling first edition of Science Notebooks inspired thousands of teachers to use science notebooks as a powerful way to help students reveal and develop their thinking about scientific concepts, engage in the work of scientists and engineers, and exercise language skills. Lori Fulton and Brian Campbell make the Second Edition even more valuable by showing how science notebooks support implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards as well as the Common Core State Standards for ELA. The authors have also added new material to every chapter, including:

strategies to scaffold science notebook instruction

how science notebooks help students develop explanations and arguments based on evidence

strategies for collecting and analyzing science notebooks for formative assessment

new interviews with scientists and engineers that spotlight the use of science notebooks in their work.

Student samples and classroom vignettes from a variety of settings illustrate the transformative effect of science notebooks on students' scientific thinking as well as their literacy skills.

Download a chapter!

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Science Notebooks, Second Edition: Writing About Inquiry

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Amazon.com: Science Notebooks, Second Edition: Writing About Inquiry: 9780325056593: Fulton, Lori, Campbell, Brian: Books

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I'm obsessed with keeping notebooks. I have drawers full of them for collecting thoughts and ideas generated during faculty meetings, conferences, and workshops. So many treasures: lists of things to do, illustrations to remind me how to replicate, questions, unfamiliar terms, and examples of strategies I want to remember.

So it's hardly a surprise that notebooking is a key practice in my elementary science instruction! I've tried fancy hardcover notebooks with lines, formatted templates with space for drawing, and lined paper. But do you know what works best? The simplest option: blank papers stapled inside of a file folder. Why? Blank pages allow for flexibility and freedom.

Science notebooks evolve throughout the year along with students, becoming more complex as students gain a better understanding of how data is collected and recorded. For example, a kindergarten class starts off with a general notebook for gathering and recording information, then gradually to specific-topic notebooks. A second grade class starts with general observations, then moves towards formal data recording.

Here are four ways to use science notebooks:

1. Help students create their own reference sheets.

I use a direct approach sometimes, asking students to write down definitions or copy a specific diagram. These entries serve as references for students.

2. Guide students in recording their discoveries.

I use a guided approach and model how to record data and experiences, but leave it up to students to create their own entry.

Open-ended notebook entries are my favorite and the most authentic. Students have total freedom over what they record in their notebooks and how. These entries provide a window to students' thinking and understanding of concepts -- they tell me where and how I can contextualize our experiments.

3. Capture evidence of student learning and understanding.

I often use notebooks to check for students' understanding of concepts and new content vocabulary.

4. Document student growth over time.

Science notebooks provide a permanent record of students' activities and learning and can be included in their portfolios. Notebooks can be used to document student growth and development in science (and literacy) from the beginning of the year.

As a teacher who works with many English language learners and students with disabilities, I appreciate how well all students respond to the opportunities to share their own illustrations, graphs, charts, and words. This improves their ability to organize and explain their ideas and learning. Illustrating a concept in their notebooks can provide a boost of confidence for students who might not otherwise speak up in an oral discussion.

Science notebooks are a powerful way for students to demonstrate understanding of science experiences, and provide teachers with evidence for assessing students' written language development and science learning.

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Four Ways to Think Like a Scientist with Science Notebooks

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I'm obsessed with keeping notebooks. I have drawers full of them for collecting thoughts and ideas generated during faculty meetings, conferences, and workshops. So many treasures: lists of things to do, illustrations to remind me how to replicate, questions, unfamiliar terms, and examples of strategies I want to remember.

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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Sample our easy-to-implement strategies and lessons to bring science notebooking into your classroom or home!

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Climate Kids is produced by the Earth Science Communications Team at

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ReadWorks | Award-Winning, EdTech Nonprofit Organization

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ReadWorks is an edtech nonprofit organization that is committed to helping to solve America’s reading comprehension crisis.

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Multicultural Steam Books for Children

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STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) has been an important part of the school curriculum for many years now. More recently, art has been added in order to emphasize the importance of creative thinking, and so STEM became STEAM.

This list of multicultural STEAM books for children should have something for everyone: Girls, Boys, Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School - I even found a science board book series for babies!

50+ Multicultural STEAM Books for Children

Babies & Toddlers

"Bird can fly. How does Bird fly?" With accurate facts, yet simple enough for babies and toddlers, Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering! explores the fascinating physics of flight, from birds to aeroplanes and rockets. The visually stimulating illustrations are sure to keep even the littlest readers' attention. ~ African - Babies & Toddlers

More in the Baby Loves Science series: Baby Loves Thermodynamics! // Baby Loves Quarks! // Baby Loves Quantum Physics!

Little scientist Ada has a boundless imagination and curiosity. Why are there pointy things stuck to a rose? Why are there hairs growing inside your nose? When her house fills with a horrific smell, Ada embarks on a fact-finding mission and conducts scientific experiments. Inspired by real-life female scientists, best-selling Ada Twist, Scientist promotes girl power in science with playful rhyme and cartoon illustrations. ~ African - Preschool

More great picture books released in 2016: The 40 Best Multicultural Picture Books of 2016

Move It! explores the physics of why and how things move. Loaded with surprising facts and hands-on activities, this is a fun picture book that taps into young children's fascination with the everyday world and is sure to hold their interest. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building is a fun collection of illustrations, poetry and photographs that shows how young children's constructions, created as they play, are reflected in notable works of architecture from around the world. ~ Diverse - Preschool

"When I grow up, I know what I want to be..." Doc Like Mommy is a new picture book release that teaches little girls that they can be anything they want to be. The cute illustrations will appeal to young readers. ~ African - Preschool

A young boy wants to write a story, just like his big sister, but he only knows letters, not words. "Why don't you start with a letter?", his sister encourages him. So the boy does and soon discovers that he has everything he needs to write his own perfect story. With lively graphic novel style illustrations, A Squiggly Story is a sweet book that celebrates imagination, creativity and self-expression. ~ Diverse - Preschool

"So into the earth, / and into the sky, / we question the how, / the where, when, / and why." With cute illustrations and poetic text, What Is Science? is a fun introduction to the intriguing world of science, from stars and planets to rocks, soil, hurricanes and aeroplanes. Children learn that science is about curiosity: asking questions and exploring possible answers. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Look What Brown Can Do! tells of the accomplishments from yesterday's and today's Black heroes. From painters, dancers and scientists, to musicians, writers, and athletes, this engaging picture book captures a variety of interests and is sure to help children understand that greatness can be achieved in every shade of brown. ~ African - Preschool

The latest book in the award-winning Sunlight series explores how water flows around the Earth and the sun's important role as it changes between liquid, vapour, and ice. With bright artwork and easy-to-understand scientific explanations, Rivers of Sunlight introduces young readers to the water cycle and shows them how to conserve one of our planet's most precious resources. ~ Diverse - Preschool

More from the Sunlight series: Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring The Earth To Life // Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas // Buried Sunlight: How Fossil Fuels Have Changed the Earth

In a Malawian village, Kondi is determined to make a galimoto - a toy vehicle made of wires. Despite his brother laughing at the idea, Kondi gathers up the wire he needs and starts to construct the push car. By nightfall, his car is finished and all the village children enjoy playing with it. With expressive watercolour illustrations, Galimoto tells of a young boy's creativity and determination. ~ African - Preschool

More books about recycling: 22 Multicultural Children's Books for Earth Day

More books set in Southern Africa: 23 Children's Books set in South Africa

A young boy abandons his beloved digital device when his dad's old-fashioned zigzag ruler causes his imagination to run wild. He turns it into a house, a car, an elephant, a tree, and finally a water-spouting whale. The Carpenter is a beautifully illustrated, wordless picture book that inspires imagination and creativity. ~ African - Preschool

.

All the kids in Mr. Tiffin's class get to have a guess how many seeds there are in a big, a medium, and a small pumpkin. Surprisingly, the smallest one has the largest amount of seeds. Charlie, the smallest boy in the class, happily exclaims: "Small things have a lot going on inside of them!" How Many Seed in a Pumpkin ? is a fun counting book that makes a great read-aloud companion to any maths or science curriculum. ~ Diverse - Preschool

In the first book of this series, Zoey finds a glowing photo and discovers that injured magical animals come to her backyard barn for help. When a sick baby dragon appears, Zoey and her cat Sassafras need to figure out what's wrong before it's too late. With easy-to-read text and cute illustrations, Dragons and Marshmallows balances scientific and fantasy elements perfectly, making it an appealing book for young readers. ~ African - Preschool, Elementary School

More multicultural series: 40+ Multicultural Book Series for Girls & Boys

Swift Walker's speedy legs take him to all the planets in our solar system. Kids can join him on his space adventure with this fun picture books that will power your child's imagination with real information. Swift Walker: A Space Adventure is a perfect book for home, school, and homeschool. ~ African - Preschool, Elementary School

More books in the Swift Walker series: Swift Walker: A Continental Journey // Swift Walker: A Journey Around the Oceans // Swift Walker: World Geography Coloring Book

Elementary School

Clouds encourages children to look up at the sky and observe the clouds in order to find out what the weather will be. With simple text and folk-art style illustrations, this colourful picture book introduces 11 different types of clouds according to their positions in the atmosphere. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

From bean seeds to oak seeds, this charming book explains in simple words how fast different seeds grow. With realistic watercolour illustrations, How a Seed Grows encourages children to follow each aspect of the growing process. ~ African - Elementary School

More books about growing seeds: 21 Multicultural Children's Books: Growing Your Own Food

Roll, Slope, and Slide: A Book About Ramps
by Michael Dahl

Roll, Slope, and Slide is a simple concept book that describes the different kinds, uses, and benefits of inclined planes and ramps. Includes an activity. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

Born just after slavery ended and orphaned at age seven, Sarah Breedlove Walker went on to become the richest African American woman of her time. Going bald as a young woman from years of poor nutrition and hard labour, she created a formula to restore the health of both hair and scalp and built her business into the Mme. C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, one of the biggest companies in America. Rich in historical detail and with expressive illustrations, Visions of Beauty is the rags-to-riches tale ofa powerful role model for girls and women of all races. ~ African - Elementary School

More books about inspiring female role models: 32 Multicultural Picture Books About Strong Female Role Models //
26 Multicultural Picture Books about Inspiring Women & Girls
Meet Katherine Johnson, the brilliant mathematician whose unparalleled calculations (done by hand!) helped plan the trajectories for NASA's Mercury and Apollo missions (including the Apollo 11 moon landing). Part of the "You Should Meet" series, this Level 3 Ready-To-Read biography teaches children about one of the greatest American minds of all time in a fun way. Includes info on history and math, plus inspiring careers for math lovers. ~ African - Elementary School

If your daughter is dreaming of blasting off into space, being a dancer or a doctor, she should meet Mae Jemison! Despite a lot of discouragement and discrimination, Mae Jemison became the first African American female astronaut. Part of the "You Should Meet" series, this Level 3 Ready-To-Read biography introduces young readers to the amazing achievements of this fascinating multi-talented woman. ~ African - Elementary School

Tyree Guyton loved his childhood home where his grandpa Sam taught him to "paint the world." But with vacant lots, abandoned houses and lots of trash, his old neighbourhood was in trouble. So Tyree started to transform everyday junk into magic trash with his paintbrush, and soon local families joined him in rebuilding their neighbourhood. Magic Trash is a colourful picture book biography that shows the power of community and art. ~ African - Elementary School

More books about community: 12 Multicultural Children's Books about the Power of Community

More books about recycling: 22 Multicultural Children's Books for Earth Day

How do you heal when you cut your skin or break a bone? How does your body keep making new blood or brain cells? How does a plant keep growing larger? Stem Cells Are Everywhere is an engaging introduction to stem cells that keeps the subject simple enough for young readers. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

How Much Is a Million? "Taller Than The Tallest Buildings / Higher Than The Highest Mountains. If you wanted to count from one to a million / It would take you about 23 days." In simple words, supported by busy, whimsical illustrations, Marvelosissimo the mathematical magician explains inconceivable numbers. A magical math class young readers will love! ~ Diverse - Elementary School

Three amazing books in a beautiful box set! With dynamic drawings and enchanting story lines, Creatrilogy celebrates the power of creative thinking. The Dot invites children to express themselves without worrying about the end result, Ishteaches them that thinking "ishly" leads to a far more wonderful outcome than "getting it right", and Sky Color shows them that if we open our eyes and look beyond the expected, inspiration will come. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

This beautiful new picture book tells the inspiring story of brave ichthyologist Eugenie Cark. After seeing sharks at the aquarium for the first time in the early 1930's, 9-year-old Eugenie decided to dedicate her life to studying them and sharing their beauty with the world. She went on to become an internationally respected scientific authority as well as a fierce advocate for the misunderstood predators, earning her the nickname "Shark Lady." ~ Asian - Elementary School

For a more in-depth review, go to: Multicultural Book of the Month: Shark Lady

This stunningly illustrated picture book biography tells the story of modern art phenomenon Jean-Michel Basquiat who shot to fame in the 1980s. With vivid text and bold artwork - inspired by Basquiat's style -, Radiant Child captures the artist's energy beautifully and sends the powerful message to young readers that art doesn't have to be neat or conform to anything to be beautiful. ~ African - Elementary School

For a more in-depth review, go to:Multicultural Book of the Month: Radiant Child

What does your brain really do?This fun and engaging introduction to the anatomy and functions of the brain will empower young readers to stretch and grow their brains. Your Fantastic Elastic Brain shows children that they can strengthen their brains by trying new things and not giving up. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

Little Summer has a big dream: She wants to become a TV Meteorologist. Summer loves sharing weather facts and wonders why everyone laughs at the thought of her on T.V. The Meteorologist in Me is an inspirational story about overcoming fears and gaining the courage to reach for your dreams. ~ African - Elementary School

In a Guatemalan village, the tiny schoolhouse desperately needed expansion. When the money ran out before the project was finished, someone had a creative idea: Why not use readily available soda bottles for the walls? The Soda Bottle School teaches children that thinking outside the box can lead to the perfect solution. ~ Hispanic - Elementary School

Sasha Savvy is a super smart 10-year old who is trying o decide which class to take for summer camp. Her mom, a software developer, suggests she'll give the coding for girls class a try. Sceptical at first, Sasha soon starts to enjoy the class. Written by a black teenage girl, Sasha Savvy Loves to Code is an early reader chapter book that will encourage young girls to try out coding. ~ African - Elementary School

What keeps objects from floating out of your hand? What if your feet drifted away from the ground? What stops everything from floating into space? With beautiful illustrations and simple text, Gravity makes a complex subject accessible for young readers. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

More from the same series: // Grand Canyon // Coral Reefs //Island: A Story of the Galápagos

Voted Best Science Book of 2016, Women in Sciencehighlights the contributions of fifty notable women to STEM fields. Although only ten out of the fifty featured scientists are women of colour, it is still an amazing, strikingly illustrated resource that will inspire young girls to pursue careers in science. Includes a timeline, statistics, infographics, and an illustrated scientific glossary. ~ Diverse - Elementary School
Women in Science: 100 Postcards
More books about amazing women: 26 Multicultural Picture Books about Inspiring Women & Girls // 32 Multicultural Picture Books About Strong Female Role Models

One of the most popular toys of all time, the Super Soaker was invented by Lonnie Johnson entirely by accident. Whoosh! tells the story of the inventor's childhood. A love for rockets, robots, and inventions, coupled with a mind for creativity and a passion for problem-solving became the cornerstones for Johnson's career as an engineer and his work with NASA. ~ African - Elementary School

More great picture books released in 2016: The 40 Best Multicultural Picture Books of 2016

Middle School

In 1960's Cleveland, Sixth-grader Rufus Mayflower bets he can make a gallon of his own toothpaste for the price of one store-bought tube. He experiments, develops a production plan and starts a successful toothpaste making business with his good friend Kate. The Toothpaste Millionaire is a breezy story with a nice subtle message about treating everyone as equal, irrespective of race or gender. 35th-anniversary edition with exclusive author interview and reader's guide. ~ African - Middle School

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar introduces kids to little-known African American inventors in this vibrant book. From James West who invented the cell phone microphone to Fred Jones who invented the refrigerated truck and Dr. Percy Julian who synthesized cortisone from soy, What Color Is My World? offers profiles of great black inventors who persevered against all odds, framed by a funny contemporary story featuring two feisty twins. ~ African - Middle School

This inspiring book chronicles the life of May Chinn who succeded against the odds to become one of the first African American female doctors in the U.S. May Chinn tells of the doctor's childhood in New York City through to her 50 years as a medical practitioner and researcher. A fascinating read that teaches children about May Chinn's struggles and accomplishments in the world of science. ~ African - Middle School

Since 2012, the organization Girls Who Code has taught computing skills to and inspired over 40,000 girls across America. Written by its founder, Girls Who Code bursts with dynamic artwork, down-to-earth explanations of coding principles, and real-life stories of girls and women working at places like Pixar and NASA. An inspiring and empowering read for girls! ~ Diverse - Middle School

More 'Girls Who Code' books: The Friendship Code #1 // Team BFF: Race to the Finish! #2 // Code It! Create It!: Ideas & Inspiration for Coding

Hidden Figures tells the amazing true story of four African American female mathematicians at NASA. Known as "human computers", they helped achieve some of the greatest moments in the US's space program by calculating the numbers that would launch rockets into space. ~ African - Middle School

More books about inspiring female role models: 32 Multicultural Picture Books About Strong Female Role Models //
26 Multicultural Picture Books about Inspiring Women & Girls
When William Kamkwamba's family lost their crops in a terrible drought in their Malawian village, he started exploring science books in order to find a solution. He eventually came up with the idea to build a windmill out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts. William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land. The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is an inspiring memoir that shows how creative thinking can change a desperate situation for the better. ~ African - Middle School

*You can buy any of the books on this site from Amazon USA by clicking on the book titles or images*

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50+ Multicultural STEAM Books for Children - Colours of Us

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STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) has been an important part of the school curriculum for many years now. More recently, art has been added in order to emphasize the importance of creative thinking, and so STEM became STEAM.

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Unite for Literacy library

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Unite for Literacy provides free digital access to picture books, narrated in many languages. Literacy is at the core of a healthy community, so we unite with partners to enable all families to read with their young children.

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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2016 Science Framework - Science Framework (CA Dept of Education)

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The curriculum framework was adopted by the State Board of Education on November 3, 2016. This is the final published version.

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California | Next Generation Science Standards

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Background: California law requires that all students take two years of science including biological and physical science to be eligible for a high school diploma. The state standards are broken down by grade level for grades K-8, Grades K-5 cover earth, life, and physical sciences each year.

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The UDL Guidelines are a tool used in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning, a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Learn more about the Universal Design for Learning framework from CAST. The UDL Guidelines can be used by educators, curriculum developers, researchers, parents, and anyone else who wants to implement the UDL framework in a learning environment. These guidelines offer a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.

Reenvisioning the UDL Guidelines

Because the UDL Guidelines are meant to be informed by feedback from the field as well as new research, they have been updated several times in the past. We are in the process of updating the Guidelines once again in our UDL Rising to Equity initiative.

This update will focus specifically on addressing systemic barriers that result in inequitable learning opportunities and outcomes. CAST aims to develop a transparent, inclusive, and community-driven process. If you are interested in collaborating and staying updated on our progress, we invite you to complete a brief survey.

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The UDL Guidelines are a tool used in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning, a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Learn more about the Universal Design for Learning framework from CAST. The UDL Guidelines can be used by educators, curriculum developers, researchers, parents, and anyone else who wants to implement the UDL framework in a learning environment. These guidelines offer a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.

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Next Generation Science Videos For K-8 - Generation Genius

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Get instant access to hours of fun, standards-based learning videos, lesson plans, activities, quizzes & more.