Using Internet Primary Sources to Teach Critical Thinking Skills in the Sciences

by Carolyn Johnson

Take a cyber journey through the world of science! Presenting more than 150 websites with primary source documents and authoritative data, this versatile book helps educators guide students on virtual scientific fieldtrips in all areas of science, from astronomy, biology, and chemistry to genetics, physics, and space science. Students can meet past and present scientists, follow along on scientific explorations, and learn about scientific conclusions and deductions. Each website listing includes a summary with historical background. Lively activities and questions are designed to motivate students to interact with the site, read and analyze the material, and draw their own conclusions. The questions and activities meet the standards set forth by the National Science Teachers Association and are designed to help students build critical thinking skills. Source material includes letters, journals, speeches, and papers. Related Web site suggestions, as well as appendices with additional science sites, periodicals, and organizations are also provided. This latest addition to the highly acclaimed Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides in School Librarianship Series helps teachers and librarians enrich the science curriculum and foster critical thinking skills. Instead of relying on paraphrased information, students will learn firsthand about such topics as the Hippocratic oath and the Human Genome Project, making this an essential resource and lesson guide.

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Carolyn M Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book (published in 2003) features a unique way of discovering the wonders of science. Noteworthy primary science publications that are on the Internet (following public domain or fair use laws) are referenced in chapters with their urls. Questions and activities based on each work are provided by the author/compiler. These Q's and A's have been written in ways that aim to entice students to be eager to find out what the scientific work is all about. Primarily for secondary school and beginning college/university students, but a few works for middle-schoolers have been included.