Students Can Rise to Real-World Challenges With Roller Coasters, Waves, and Wildfires Through NSTA’s Latest STEM Road Map Books

ARLINGTON, Virginia, Oct. 30 -- The National Science Teaching Association issued the following news release:

What if kindergartners set out to build a roller coaster, first graders crafted musical instruments, and second graders resolved to help communities prepare for natural disasters? With the latest books in the STEM Road Map Curriculum Series, students can take on challenges like these through STEM-themed lessons.

The STEM Road Map Curriculum Series meets the needs of districts, schools, and teachers who want an integrated approach to teaching science, technology, engineering, and math. The NSTA Press(R) series covers all the STEM concepts as students advance from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Each book in the series is an in-depth module that uses project- and problem-based learning. Students are presented with a challenge and then prompted to apply what they learn by using a mix of science, social studies, English language arts, and math. Engaging and flexible, this resource can be used as a whole or in segments. The STEM Road Map Curriculum Series is anchored in the Next Generation Science Standards, the Common Core State Standards, and the Framework for 21st Century Learning.

The three new books focus on the theme Cause and Effect. Their goal is to give students a foundation in understanding how and why things happen as they do. The new books are as follows.

Physics in Motion, Grade K: STEM Road Map for Elementary School turns a fun building project into an opportunity to investigate concepts such as energy, gravity, friction, and speed. Students use an engineering design process while working collaboratively to design, build, and test marble track roller coasters. They also craft a plan for making the roller coaster part of a theme park and then create a flyer to advertise it.

Browse free sample pages (http://static.nsta.org/pdfs/samples/PB425X16web.pdf) at the NSTA Science Store website.( https://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781938946349) (202 pages. Stock # PB425X16; ISBN: 978-1-68140-459-2)

Influence of Waves, Grade 1: STEM Road Map for Elementary Schoolchallenges first graders to learn about waves by creating instruments they can play in their own "Show Me the Waves" musical show. Students discover that different types of waves, such as water and sound, come from different sources and travel in various ways. At the end of the module, they combine their voices and flashlights with guitars and drums they've made themselves to put on a show that demonstrates how to use sound waves and light to communicate and entertain.

Browse free sample pages (http://static.nsta.org/pdfs/samples/PB425X19web.pdf) at the NSTA Science Store website.( https://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781938946349) (202 pages. Stock # PB425X19; ISBN: 978-1-68140-504-9)

Natural Hazards, Grade 2: STEM Road Map for Elementary School spurs second graders to help communities prepare for disasters ranging from floods and wildfires to earthquakes and hurricanes. The goal is for students to learn about the effects--including the economic kind--of natural hazards on people, animals, communities, and the environment. Then they consider ways to minimize those threats and produce a plan to keep a community safe in case of disaster.

Browse free sample pages (http://static.nsta.org/pdfs/samples/PB425X18web.pdf) at the NSTA Science Store website.( https://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781938946349) (180 pages. Stock # PB425X18; ISBN: 978-1-68140-486-8)

For additional information or to purchase any of these three books, other volumes in the STEM Road Map Curriculum Series, or other books from NSTA Press, visit the NSTA Science Store. To order by phone, call 800-277-5300 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET weekdays. Each of the books in this series is priced at $29.95 and discount-priced for NSTA members at $23.96.

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About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teaching Association is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence in science teaching and learning, preschool through college. NSTA's membership includes approximately 50,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business representatives, and others involved in science education.