Analysis of activities in chemistry chapters of middle school science textbooks for the 2009 revised science curriculum: Focus on 8 science practices

This study analyzed activities in chemistry chapters of middle school science textbooks for the 2009 revised curriculum using 8 science practices. All the activities that students could experience inquiry were analyzed in this study. There were the most activities in 'Molecular motion and change of state' and the least activities in 'Heat and our life' of three textbooks. There were the most science practices in 'Features of substance' in two textbooks, but there were the least science practice in 'Heat and our life' of three textbooks. 'Investigation planning and performing', 'data analyzing and interpreting', and 'explanation composition and problem solution designing' were frequently included, but 'asking questions and defining issues' was not included at all. For 'Investigation planning and performing', 'data analyzing and interpreting', and 'explanation composition and problem solution designing', a variety of achievement goals were targeted while a few goals were frequently targeted. Two to four kinds of science practices were frequently included in an inquiry activity. There were few activity that includes over 5 different kinds of science practice.