SCIENCE IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL


children are doing in other grades, read the other books in one
or more series for all grade levels. This procedure will be valu-
able for general content background, for planning work, and for
the selecting and understanding of many experiments suitable
for pupils.
 C. Try experiments found in books on the grade levels
above and below the grade which you teach. This will be of
value for suggesting suitable activities for retarded pupils, and
will prevent your feeling lost when the more advanced pupils
propose new ideas.
 D. Read widely in children's literature in science. It not
only provides information but also enables you to direct indi-
viduals to appropriate books. The amount of attractive, reliable
material in this area is constantly increasing.
 E. Study carefully, when specific information is needed,
science text books on the junior high school level. These will
give you much advanced science information. They will prove
helpful in planning experiments and activities and in anticipating
questions of children.
 F. Read several current magazines which contain science
information. They will be an aid to the teacher because they
contain selected materials, topics for study, suggestive experi-
ments, and current bibliography. For suggestions as to helpful
magazines see Chapter V of this bulletin.
 G. Spend a few days exploring your school and community
for the resources you can call on for help in enriching your
science program. Find out what science there is in your school
yard, in the nearest park or wood lot. Discover a few of the
people in your community who have information, skill, or ma-
terials that you can use. For a guide in making such a survey
see Chapter III of this bulletin.
 H. Attend a campus workshop or help plan for a county
workshop that includes science where you can confer with other
teachers and consultants, explore materials, study, and develop
plans for the year.
 I. Attend a summer school course in science at the ele-
mentary school level, either one in methods of teaching science
or a survey course in science subject matter if that meets your
needs.
 J. Be a guide. Science is a field where the teacher is the
guide to the pupil in his activities. The teacher need not know
all the answers but he can direct the pupil to find information,
to bring materials for use in the classroom, to help plan for
field trips, and he can see that all pupils have the opportunity
to take part in the class activities.