This teacher's science workbook is part of the Differentiating Instruction With Menus series which is designed to give advanced and gifted students choice and flexibility in developing their learning. The book is organized in chapters that cover topics in physical science, biology and earth science, most appropriate for advanced third through fifth grade learners.

The concept of the menus, much like the menu you choose from in a restaurant, is to offer students choice in how they practice skills and demonstrate their learning, as opposed to giving the whole class the same assignment or worksheet. After teaching a science unit or topic (using resources outside of the workbook), teachers offer students the opportunity to select from the workbook's menu of choices to demonstrate their learning. The choices offered in the menus are hands-on activities that will engage learners to apply their learning in creative ways, and allows students to leverage their strengths and interests in other domains, such as writing or drawing. Examples of menu activities include: perform a news report for a plan to prevent erosion, or design a working model that shows how wind energy is gathered. All the activities are designed to demonstrate understanding and application, and they rely not only on mastery of the science skill but also on the student's ability to organize and execute the project. Most students should be able to find an engaging activity on any given topic and appreciate the opportunity to choose, but teachers should expect to support even their most advanced students with applying their science skills in this higher order manner, as well as how to make a project plan and execute. The book provides in-depth guidance for teachers of what to expect and how to implement each lesson, including objectives, time frame, grading rubrics, and special notes which includes practical advice.

• Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
• Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
• Presents educational concepts accurately
• Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
• Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
• Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
• Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)

• Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
• Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
• Includes reward stickers
• Visually stimulating and appealing (uses student-centered pictures, colors, and themes)
• Graphics and overall feel of the workbook is appropriate for the target age range
• Relative to most workbooks, fun to use from a child's perspective
• Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
• Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

• Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
• Student should be able to use independently after first use
• Specific topics/lessons are easy to find
• Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
• Overall - Easy to use

• Abstract Reasoning
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Attention
• Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
• General Information
• Assumes specific knowledge or vocabulary without "look-up" options
• Organization
• Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Verbal Reasoning
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Assumes specific knowledge or vocabulary without "look-up" options
• Vocabulary
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Assumes specific knowledge or vocabulary without "look-up" options

The best-selling Differentiating Instruction With Menus series has helped teachers nationwide differentiate instruction for their high-ability learners with easy-to-use menus and exciting tools to challenge and reach gifted and advanced students in the classroom. Each book includes an updated, student-friendly rubric that can assess different types of products, free choice proposal forms to encourage independent study, and new and favorite challenging menus to meet the needs of these diverse higher level learners. Readers will also be able to save time by using updated guidelines the reflect changes in technology for each of the products included in the menus and find direct alignment with standards approved in recent years. Topics addressed in Differentiating Instruction With Menus: Science (Grades 3–5, 2nd ed.) include physical science, biological science, Earth science, and scientists and the tools they use.