It’s Time to Start Writing!
Science and Children is seeking manuscripts on the following themes.
States of Matter: December 2008
Manuscript Deadline: June 1, 2008
The study of solids, liquids, and gases is a common unit in elementary school science.
States of matter is an important but sometimes tricky concept to develop. Students
will often confuse something like salt or powders with liquids because they can
be poured. We encourage submission of innovative ideas to deepen student understanding
of states of matter and the behavior of matter in different states. Topics to consider
include: properties of the different states, change in state due to energy changes,
and evaporation of liquids.
Communicating/Record Keeping (Record Keeping in Science): January 2009
Manuscript Deadline: July 1, 2008
In science (as in other fields) keeping a record of our observations is essential
to make sense of the data, organize it, and communicate results. Yet, record keeping
is rarely thought of as a topic in and of itself that requires teaching. We beg
to differ. Record keeping in the classroom can take on a variety of forms—charts,
graphs, filed notes, notebooks, and others—all central to investigations. Share
your best ideas for teaching these skills, and help us put together a blockbuster
issue about this important but often ignored topic.
Plants: February 2009
Manuscript Deadline: September 1, 2008
Plants are another “perennial” favorite. Often students plow through the same types
of lessons, year after year, growing bean seeds or alfalfa sprouts as a mother’s
day gift. Our instruction sometimes inadvertently leads to misconceptions about what plants need to grow and how they get energy. Please submit creative and effective
lessons that will help students understand the growth and life cycle of plants,
the characteristics of plants, and the function and contribution of plants in our
environments.
Classification : March 2009
Manuscript Deadline: October 1, 2008
We all have experiences with classifying in science. We memorize Linnaean systems.
Plant or Animal? We memorize the classification of elements in a periodic table.
Noble gases and metals. Classification is often presented as a mechanical arrangement
of trivia. But classification can be very dynamic. The recent debate over Pluto’s
status as a planet wasn’t particularly important in the conclusion, but the process
of defining what constitutes a “planet” and examining the evidence for the classification
was intriguing. Do you have a lesson or unit that helps students understand classification?
Its relationship to math? The purposes of classification?
Social Studies Integration: April/May 2009
Manuscript Deadline: November 1, 2008
The NSES promote learning science through a broad and connected curriculum that
“includes natural phenomena factual information and science-related social issues
that students encounter in everyday life.” Connecting science to other school subjects
creates capable students who can apply their science knowledge to everyday lives
and helps them understand science as a social enterprise. We welcome manuscripts
that describe how you connect standards-based social studies (history, civics, economics,
etc.) with standards-based science to the benefit of student understanding.
Science, Technology, and Society: Summer 2009
Manuscript Deadline: December 1, 2008
Our lives are continually being changed by technology. Science is woven into society
and the interactions with science often come through technology. Society has been
shaped by technology in profound ways. Do you have lessons that teach how science
is connected to technology? How technology changes society? How problems in society
are addressed by changes in technology? How do we design solutions to modern problems?
Sometimes, our solutions create additional problems, such as pollution and other
environmental issues. Send us your novel and effective lessons or units dealing
with the interactions between science, technology, and society.
Nervous about writing? Start small—send us your Teacher’s Picks!
This annotated list of your favorite early child resources is published each month in The Early Years, S&C’s early childhood column. Visit science.nsta.org/earlyyearsblog
for more information, including a list of upcoming themes and how you can receive a free book!
Science and Children at a Glance
- April/May 2008: Assessment/Classroom-Based Professional Development
- Summer 2008: The Resourceful Teacher
- September 2008: Astronomy
- October 2008: Investigation Skills
- November 2008: Literacy
- December 2008: States of Matter
- January 2009: Communicating/Record Keeping in Science
- February 2009: Plants
- March 2009: Classification
- April/May 2009: Science and Social Studies Integration
- Summer: 2009 Science, Technology, and Society
- September 2009: Habitats
- October 2009: Problem-Solving Skills
- November 2009: Literacy
- December 2009: Light, Heat, and Electricity
Details, Details
Your 2000-word manuscript should describe a set of connected lessons or investigations that build an idea or content area. They should include assessments (pre-, post- and formative) as well as enough detail that another teacher could replicate the lessons in the classroom. Examples of student work are encouraged.
Please read our manuscript guidelines before submitting your manuscript. You can find more tips in Write from the Start (PDF). Manuscripts should be submitted electronically at authors.nsta.org; once online, follow the steps for New Author Registration. For more information, contact field editor Chris Ohana at chris.ohana@wwu.edu or managing editor Monica Zerry at mzerry@nsta.org.
Don’t see a topic you’re interested in?
There’s always a need for original manuscripts on these topics:
- Early Childhood Science
- Earth Science
- Heat and Light
- Life Science
- Physical Science
- Science for Special Needs Students
- Sound
- Teaching the History and Nature of Science