Physical Science

by Michael J. Padilla

Science Life, Earth, and Physical Science Physical Science Student Edition Lead author Michael Padilla offers outstanding middle school science content that builds a solid inquiry approach to Life, Earth, and Physical Science. This 3-book series gives you the exceptional features you've come to expect from the Science Explorer strong reading support, and multiple opportunities for hands-on inquiry. Whether using the text alone or in a tandem with exceptional ancillaries and technology, teachers can utilize differentiated instruction components to meet the needs of every student at every learning level. Unparalleled technology activates text content and takes science beyond the classroom and into the real world.

A proven formula for reading success Before, during, and after reading support in every lesson enables students to fully understand the big ideas of science.Integrate labs with ease! More than 1,500 labs and activities are right at your fingertips with the Lab zone™ Easy Planner CD-ROM. Easily search all labs by time, content, or standard.Graphics come alive online Active Art helps students see text art in a new way by providing interactive, hands-on explorations of key concepts that reinforce learning.A Prentice Hall Exclusive Partnership! Emmy Award-winning Discovery Channel School™ videos and DVDs provide visual support for every chapter.

842 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Michael J. Padilla is Director of the Eugene T. Moore School of Education and Associate Dean of Educational Collaborations at Clemson University, since Spring 2007. Before then he was Aderhold Distinguished Professor of Science Education at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

Padilla received a B.S. in biology from the University of Detroit in 1967, an M.Ed. in science education from Wayne State University in 1972, and a Ph.D. in science education from Michigan State University in 1975.

He began his career as a middle and high school science teacher, and then taught at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. In 1978 he went to the University of Georgia, where he rose from assistant to full professor, to associate dean.

National Science Teachers Association

In 2005-2006 he was president of the National Science Teachers Association, from which he had received the NSTA Distinguished Service Award in 2003. Padilla is well known to the international science education community and engaged in a cooperative research project with Japanese scholars on Japanese education. The theme of his presidency was "Developing a World View for Science Education."

When President George W. Bush suggested teaching Intelligent design in classrooms, then NSTA president Padilla replied: "It is simply not fair to present pseudoscience to students in the science classroom," and that "Nonscientific viewpoints have little value in increasing students' knowledge of the natural world."

He is currently the chairman of the NSTA's International Advisory Board.

He helped develop the National Science Education Standards and has written extensively about science education, writing many articles, books and book chapters, among them the Science Explorer series . Michael has inspired the team in developing a program that meets the needs of middle school students, promotes science inquiry.

Resources: Prentice Hall Science Explorer (books).

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is essentially two sections: chemistry and physics. While reading the chemistry section, I could feel myself forgetting the information as I read. The physics section was more engaging. The writing itself is well-structured and easily lends itself to note-taking.