Discover the secrets contained in fossilized feces. Few topics in middle school classrooms capture students' enthusiasm and interest as do coprolites. These trace fossils offer classroom opportunities for integrated life and Earth sciences study, a stranger-than-fiction history of science, and an opportunity to solve mysteries.
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Understanding coral reefs and the threats they face is an essential precondition in preserving them. This activity helps to educate middle school students about coral biology and the problem of coral bleaching. It will inspire students to participate in marine conservation initiatives.
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Understanding coral reefs and the threats they face is an essential precondition in preserving them. This activity helps to educate middle school students about coral biology and the problem of coral bleaching. It will inspire students to participate in marine conservation initiatives.
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Science Scope’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue.
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Learn how to create a pinwheel to explore wind power. In this lesson, students will construct a simple pinwheel-type windmill to test the power generated by different designs.
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Explore how melting ice sheets affect global sea levels. Sea-level rise (SLR) is a rise in the water level of the Earth's oceans. There are two major kinds of ice in the polar regions: sea ice and land ice. Land ice contributes to SLR and sea ice does not. This article explores the characteristics of sea ice and land ice and provides some hands-on activities to help clear up any misconceptions about melting ice.
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Explore how melting ice sheets affect global sea levels. Sea-level rise (SLR) is a rise in the water level of the Earth's oceans. There are two major kinds of ice in the polar regions: sea ice and land ice. Land ice contributes to SLR and sea ice does not. This article explores the characteristics of sea ice and land ice and provides some hands-on activities to help clear up any misconceptions about melting ice.
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Create your own speakers for an MP3 player while exploring the science of sound. Review of science notebooks, students' intriguing cabinet designs, and listening to students talk with a musician about the physics of an instrument show that complex concepts are being absorbed and extended with each new iteration. Science that matters to students makes its own points and reaches everyone.
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This column identifies and corrects misinformation in the classroom. This month’s issue explores claims of extraterrestrial life and our efforts to communicate with inhabitants of worlds outside our solar system. Even though there's no "proof positive" for extraterrestrial life-forms of any flavor, we've set the stage for applying a battery of critical-thinking skills to the valid analysis of scientific data.
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Science is passion, science is wonder. The best books about science stir the minds and hearts of readers in very special ways, and when they do, the impressions they make can last for years. Read about the 2010 award-winning trade books that are sure to educate, entertain, and inspire students.
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This column shares safety information for your classroom. In this month’s issue the author discusses how to navigate field trips safely through careful preparation and planning. The field trip is priceless and helps make science come alive for students!
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This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. In this month’s issue learn the astronomy behind the changing of the seaons. Students know that we mark the change of seasons with the position of the Sun over certain parts of the Earth. The specific time and date for the change of seasons is determined by the posiiton of the Sun, not above the horizon necessarily, nor geographically, but rather where the Sun is using astronomical coordinates.
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Take a look at the latest classroom technology. Learn about the latest movie software for your computer that allows you to create your own instructional materials and students to present their own multimedia projects.
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This column provides classic demonstrations and experiments with a new twist. This month’s issue presents an option for covering biology content while engaging students in an investigation that highlights the spirit of Halloween. Students are engaged in the story line and have fun trying to solve the mystery kidnapping by using science skills to examine the evidence and eliminate some ghoulish suspects.
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There was a doughnut thief loose and the students were determined to put their science skills to use to track down the culprit. They would use forensic science to eliminate suspects and identify the thief who stole the doughnuts. School staff take on the role of the likely suspects. It was their goal to develop an interdisciplinary unit that engaged students as critical thinkers, communicators, and investigators. It was successful in this regard.
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