NSTA WebNews Digest

Education News: Feature

Are There Really Treefrogs Living in the Schoolyard?

4/1/2007 - Brooke L. Talley and Melissa A. Henkel
In this activity, students assess the viability of their schoolyard as a habitat for treefrogs using sampling events and observation.

Directed Student Inquiry: Modeling in Roborovsky Hamsters

4/1/2007 - Nancy L. Elwess and Adam Bouchard
Students develop their analysis, inquiry, and design skills by observing Roborovsky hamsters in the classroom.

From a Bird’s Eye View: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Migration

4/1/2007 - Juliann Benson
Get students excited about the world of birds by allowing students to “become” birds.

Using Sound Knowledge to Teach About Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

4/1/2007 - Jacqueline T. McDonnough and Juanita Jo Matkins
Use a set of “science circuses” to educate students on sound, hearing loss, and the role of personal sound-producing electronics.

Building Leaves and an Understanding of Photosynthesis

4/1/2007 - Patty Littlejohn
In this lesson, students deepen their understanding of cellular respiration by building their own model leaves, plant cells, and animal cells.

Using Video Games to Understand Thermoregulation

4/1/2007 - Jeremiah Dibley and Jamie Parish
A video game serves as a model for the concept of homeostasis and allows students to explore it in order to build their understandings.

Waves and Tsunami Project

3/1/2007 - K.M. Frashure, R.F. Chen, R.A. Stephen, T. Bolmer, M. Lavin, D. Strohschneider, R. Maichle, N. Micozzi, and C. Cramer
Students learn about waves by rotating through five stations and using the Plymouth Wave Lab website to complement the hands-on classroom activities.

Using Clay Models to Understand Volcanic Mudflows

3/1/2007 - Eric Laney and Steve Mattox
This lesson focuses on mudflows and demonstrates simple ways for students to predict their paths using 3-D clay models.

Weather Tamers

3/1/2007 - Wendy M. Frazier and Donna R. Sterling
Students learn about the science behind weather events by planning, constructing, and testing models of cities exposed to a series of simulated hurricane and tornado conditions.

Rock Showdown

3/1/2007 - Aris Laroder, Deborah Tippins, Vicente Handa, and Lourdes Morano
Incorporate service learning in partnership with the community with these project-based activities.

Fires, Floods, and Hurricanes: Is ENSO to Blame?

3/1/2007 - James W. Mjelde, Kerry K. Litzenberg, Julie E. Hoyle, Sharon R. Holochwost, and Sarah Funkhouser
Teach students climate science and forecasting with an in-depth study of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12

3/1/2007 - Children’s Book Council
The best books of 2006 for science students.

Encouraging Balanced Scientific Research Through Formal Debate

3/1/2007 - Nancy Yurgelun
Help students understand the fundamentals of research, debate, and expressing opinions.

Middle School and pH?

2/2/2007 - Susan Herricks
In this hands-on laboratory, students conduct pH testing of common household products and learn about the water molecule, dissociation, and powers of 10.

Taking Flight: Using a Wind Tunnel to Teach Aeronautic Principles

2/2/2007 - Carla Zembal-Saul, John H. Huckans, Dean C. Walker, Kimber Hershberger, Nathan A. Kurz, Diane Reed, and Milton W. Cole
Use this activity to help students understand abstract flight principles such as lift, thrust, and drag and Bernoulli’s principle.

Paint-Stirrer Submarine

2/2/2007 - Jocelyn Young and Kevin Hardy
Teach students about buoyancy, Archimedes’ principle, and motion with this exercise, where students build their own submarines.

Using Web-Based Simulations to Promote Inquiry

2/2/2007 - Mel Limson, Crystal Witzlib, and Robert A. Desharnais
Use the Virtual Courseware Project to engage students in an inquiry-based study of the principles of genetic inheritance.

Incorporating Scientific Argumentation Into Inquiry-Based Activities With Online Personally Seeded Discussions

2/2/2007 - Victor Sampson and Douglas Clark
Foster productive argumentation in your classroom with the personally seeded discussion.

The Station Approach: How to Teach With Limited Resources

2/2/2007 - Denise Jaques Jones
Increase students’ interest, keep them motivated, and eliminate many behavior problems with this approach.

Tabizi Pythons and Clendro Hawks: Using Imaginary Animals to Achieve Real Knowledge About Ecosystems

1/4/2007 - Michael Rockow
In this activity, made-up organisms teach students about food chains and energy flow, food webs, and the effects of natural and humanmade events on ecosystems.

Summarizing With Drawings: A Reading-Comprehension Strategy

1/4/2007 - Janine Elliott
Motivate and engage students in the reading process and improve their reading comprehension with this strategy.

Incorporating Amphibian Malformations Into Inquiry-Based Learning

1/4/2007 - Brooke L. Talley
Use these labs to instruct and engage students about conservation biology and to address amphibian declines and malformations.

Books, Biodiversity, and Beyond!

1/4/2007 - Donna Governor and Sarah Helms
Enhance your curriculum and engage students with these alternative reading resources.

Coaching to Build Support for Inquiry-Based Teaching

1/4/2007 - Paula Bransfield, Patrice Holt, and Patricia Nastasi
Use coaching to support inquiry-based teaching, which starts by changing the culture from within and empowering teachers.

They’re M-e-e-elting! An Investigation of Glacial Retreat in Antarctica

1/3/2007 - Samuel R. Bugg IV, Juanita Constible, Marianne Kaput, and Richard E. Lee, Jr.
In this activity, students melt glaciers and examine alterations to the Antarctic food web—without leaving the classroom!

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