Science Terms Made Easy: A Lexicon of Scientific Words and Their Root Language Origins

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Understanding the terms used in science is important in order to succeed in science - students at all levels need to quickly recognize terminology in order to do well in the lab, on tests, and in the real world of the working scientist. But this terminology can be confusing because so much of it conists of combinations of roots, prefixes, and suffixes from other languages, primarily Latin and Greek, and students are often required to waste precious class time in rote memorization. Science Terms Made Easy is a dictionary of several thousand common science terms that are broken down into their component parts. Students using the work will soon learn the meaning of common suffixes, prefixes and roots, and they will begin to quickly understand the meaning of scientific terminology without resorting to memorization or frequently referring to standard dictionaries. Science Terms Made Easy both saves time by avoiding rote memorization and encourages students to use their analytical skills to figure out meanings.

Reviews

Science Terms Made Easy contains a wealth of accurate information not found in most dictionaries and encyclopedias. The book would be a helpful resource for improving students' science vocabularies. * SB&F *
Elias believes that an etymological exploration of common scientific vocabulary can help middle and high school students understand and retain their meanings better than simple memorization. This book, intended for those students and their instructors, offers such an exploration in alphabetical format, describing the root language origins and current definitions of secondary-level terms. Sidebars throughout the volume place major concepts and people in historical concepts, and the appendices list common roots and prefixes. This book is not intended as an exhaustive reference but as a supplementary tool for connecting scientific vocabulary to its ancient origins. * SciTech Book News *

Author Bio

Joseph S. Elias is an Associate Professor of Science Education at the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. He holds a B.S. in biology (Kutztown University, 1971), a M.S. in science education (Temple University, 1976), and a doctorate in science education (Temple University, 1989). He has been teaching pre-service secondary education science majors for over 14 years. He also is a university supervisor of secondary education clinical students and teacher interns. Dr. Elias teaches in the graduate school at Kutztown University as well. His graduate courses include methods of research in biology and methods of teaching science to middle and high school students. Prior to teaching at Kutztown University, Dr. Elias taught as an adjunct faculty member in the biology departments of Cedar Crest College and the Lehigh Carbon Community College.