In order to beautify the school environment and further student learning, fourth-graders cultivated a Native Plant Learning Garden. They were responsible for designing a layout, researching garden elements, preparing the area, and planting a variety of native plants. By the completion of this inquiry-based project, students were able to clearly articulate what plants need to survive and how plants have been used in their area throughout history.
[hide full abstract]

Discover discovery bottles! These wide-mouth plastic containers of any size filled with objects of different kinds can be terrific tools for science explorations and a great way to cultivate science minds in a K—2 science classroom. In addition, the author has found them to be a useful, inexpensive, and engaging way to help students develop skills in making predictions, observations, and comparisons. Here she shares a few of her favorite physical science lesson ideas using discovery bottles.
[hide full abstract]

Many things have changed in education in recent decades. There is an obsession with standards and assessments, for example. But one thing hasn’t changed: Teachers rarely have the resources to do their jobs. One thing a resourceful teacher can do is to plan carefully and explore local resources. Another thing they can do is check out our summer issue of Science and Children—its focus is on helping teachers to become even more resourceful. In this month’s column, the editor highlights feature articles related to resourcefulness.
[hide full abstract]

This monthly feature contains facts and challenges for the science explorer.
[hide full abstract]

This monthly feature contains facts and challenges for the science explorer.
[hide full abstract]

As a beginning science teacher working on a science fair for the first time, the author was amazed at the projects submitted—projects that were obviously not completed by the students who turned them in. The students who had parents that were doctors, scientists, and engineers clearly were winning the science fair. It was rare for a student who did not have a parent in a science-related career to compete successfully. As a result, a reconfigured science fair was designed to help every child benefit from the science fair, not just a select few. This article describes this new approach, which is entitled PRISM: Practical Research Investigating Scientific Methods.
[hide full abstract]

The National Science Education Standards encourage teachers to go on their own special path to professional development. Whether your budget and personal schedule allow real travel or vicarious adventure, summer is a great time to take a book along. So, once again this year, the reviewers of NSTA Recommends have come up with suggestions for your summer reading.
[hide full abstract]

Few teachers find themselves with the support to purchase all of the materials they ideally need to supply their classrooms. Buying one or two simple, ready-made items can put a serious strain on anyone’s budget. However, materials for science in the classroom need not be prefabricated or expensive. By looking at the function and purpose of any piece of equipment, a creative teacher can find a suitable replacement for many pre-made science materials, sometimes from the most unlikely places. In this article, you’ll discover how to turn someone else’s “junk into your treasure” by using resources from your local recycling center.
[hide full abstract]

Drawing activities in science can help students conceptualize and reflect on their experiences. In this article, the authors share their experiences incorporating drawing into science lessons for third- and fourth-grade students. While these examples pertain to life science lessons, drawing strategically is appropriate for any topic and is an effective method for the motivation, instruction, and assessment of students of all abilities and levels, including students who are learning English and students with other special needs.
[hide full abstract]

Beginning teachers have much to learn about teaching (Odell 1990), including navigating their own classrooms and learning new school procedures and policies. Mentors can assist beginning teachers in making the difficult transition from student to teacher. Smith and Ingersoll (2004) examined data from a national survey and found that beginning teachers who had the support of mentors and well-planned induction programs experienced increased job satisfaction and self-efficacy. This month’s column describes how experienced teachers can be effective mentors and the benefits of a mentor-mentee relationship that can be obtained as a result.
[hide full abstract]

Let’s see … first you head to a coffee shop and order a mocha caramel chai latte with an extra shot of espresso. Then you turn on your computer, hit the connect button, and start surfing the web. For those who want more detail, read on. To understand how wireless internet (Wi-Fi) works, we need to address three main components—the modem, the router, and your computer.
[hide full abstract]

The next time you hear someone say, “I was never good at science” or “I don’t know enough about science to teach it well,” share this list. There’s bound to be something there for everyone. After all, Science and Children readers love science, and they passionately share this love with colleagues and education students. Or, peruse the list yourself and see where you’d like to beef up your own content knowledge.
[hide full abstract]

Project BudBurst is a national program intended to get students and other “citizen scientists” to participate in a real study about plants, the environment, and climate change. It also provides an excellent opportunity for students to build data-analysis skills. A collaboration of several agencies and universities, the program began last year and attracted thousands of participants from 26 states. The project operates through its user-friendly website and participation is free. This article describes this project and includes a lesson related to how geography can affect plant life cycles.
[hide full abstract]

With summer in full swing and the Sun naturally on our minds, what better time to take advantage of a host of free materials provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Sun Wise program. Sun Wise aims to teach students and teachers about the stratospheric ozone layer, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and how to be safe while in the Sun. Through its website and activity kit, Sun Wise offers numerous resources to help you add some sizzle to your solar science curriculum—while teaching sun-safe practices students can use their whole lives. Best of all the resources are easy to get, easy to use, and FREE!
[hide full abstract]

Many people look forward to planting their own garden and enjoying its fruitage throughout the summer months. Gardening can be an excellent learning experience in many ways because it offers opportunities to learn about plants and to observe changes over time. This column focuses on a long-term project of understanding plant growth and planting your own garden.
[hide full abstract]

For farmers and gardeners, slugs and snails may be serious pests that will limit the amount of harvest, but for a child, they represent a world to be explored. To teachers, however, invertebrates are tools for broadening students’ understanding about animals, the connections between animals and habitats or plants, and an engaging subject to write about. This month’s column describes how science teachers can cultivate an invertebrate garden that will yield a bountiful harvest just in time for the first day of school.
[hide full abstract]

Many teachers regularly use their own money during the year to pay for miscellaneous teaching materials or to help individual students in need. In this article, the author explains how to secure funds and resources for anything science teachers want to do educationally for their classroom. It’s no fantasy; it’s simply a matter of thinking ahead and expending some up-front energy for great returns on the time investment.
[hide full abstract]