New Standards-Based Lessons for the Busy Elementary School Librarian: Science

A helpful collection of co-teaching lessons for elementary school librarians and science teachers. In each lesson, Keeling—an elementary school librarian—includes resources and valuable handouts to aid in the development of the school’s library collection and the ability of the librarian to further support classroom teachers and the elementary level science curriculum. The Next Generation Science Standards, English Literacy Common Core Standards, and the AASL Standards are connected to each lesson. An interdisciplinary approach is employed throughout as each lesson includes a focus upon inquiry-based learning, teamwork, and students learning from one another. The highlight of the book is the lessons that include essential research skills: for example, in “What Is In A Pond?,” there is a beneficial small group research component for elementary learners that employs illustrations, essential details, and simple text from nonfiction books to develop research skills in the library. In “Engineering a Plane,” students learn about engineering, conduct research in small groups, and then follow a guided worksheet to create and build their own paper airplane.