Level I Astronomy Real Science-4-Kids (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781936114177)

Rebecca W. Keller incorporated Gravitas Publications Inc. (www.gravitaspublications) in 2003 to develop and publish core sciences curricula under the Real Science-4-Kids imprint. She has authored and published Real Science-4-Kids student texts, teacher manuals, and student laboratory workbooks in chemistry, biology and physics for the home school, private, and public school markets. Her 26 textbooks serve kindergarten through eighth grade. In 2008, Keller wrote and directed the development of a series of interdisciplinary companion texts called Kogs-4-Kids(tm), which show how science is connected closely to all other areas of study and how it affects everyday life. The categories for the Kogs series are: history, language, philosophy, arts, technology, and critical thinking. Her textbooks present students with up-to-date scientific facts and the steps of the scientific method, together with the critical thinking tools needed to help students evaluate scientific conclusions. Dr. Keller's books are as philosophically neutral as possible and do not impose any single overall philosophical interpretation such as Darwinism, Intelligent Design, or Creationism. Instead, they allow students to make up their own minds about what the data show. Her view has been summarized in her Gravitas Geeks blog as: "In the sciences, let's teach what we know and admit what we do not actually know. Let's train children to explore authentic inquiry, evaluate the evidence, and decide for themselves what conclusions they might draw. There is nothing more important for children studying science than to learn to ask 'What if?' and then to be free to follow the data wherever it leads." A former research assistant professor at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Keller worked in the chemistry, neuroscience, and molecular biology departments while homeschooling her three children. In 2001, her success in engaging kids in science prompted her to launch a formalized training program to equip non-science teachers (usually other moms) to feel comfortable teaching science. Real Science-4-Kids and Kogs-4-Kids offer solid science concepts in a manner understandable for youngsters. Today Real Science-4-Kids is taught in 50 states as well as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe, Japan and Korea. Keller's team continues to develop and test products.