NSTA - National Science Teachers Association

Resources and Opportunities

Guidelines for Classroom Safety

This four-page document should be given to students at the beginning of the school year to help them understand their role in ensuring a safe and productive science experience.

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Reward Yourself!

You could win a trip to the NSTA National Conference on Science Education. Apply for NSTA Teacher Awards to showcase your hard work! At the elementary level, Delta Education, SeaWorld, Shell, Vernier, and Zula sponsor awards. In addition, the Sylvia Shugrue Award, the new Aerospace Award, and the Maitland P. Simmons scholarships have niches for the elementary science educator.

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Early Years Blog

The Early Years Blog offers resources and conversation on PreK to 2 science. Topic areas include Activity Ideas, Classroom Management, Integrating Science, and more!

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Award-winning Lesson Plans

The Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary School Teachers honors one elementary school teacher who creates and makes use of interdisciplinary, inquiry-based lesson plans. To qualify, teachers submit a lesson plan with fully referenced sources of information and any relevant National Science Education Standards and benchmarks found in The Atlas of Science Literacy. Since the award's debut in 2007, NSTA has recognized six teachers (we made two awards the first year … the submissions were that good). Please follow the link below to read the award winners' lesson plan ideas.

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Need Help Selecting Resources?

NSTA Recommends®

Our panel of top-flight teachers and other outstanding science educators has designated the best available supplements for your science teaching.

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Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12

Since 1973, NSTA and the Children's Book Council have compiled a yearly list of outstanding children's science trade books. The results from 1996 on are available online.

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