NSTA - National Science Teachers Association

Resurrection Plant: Making Science Come Alive! By: Thomas O'Brien A chapter from Even More Brain-Powered Science: Teaching and Learning With Discrepant Events Average User Rating: An inanimate, seemingly dead, 3–5 in. ball-shape brown object placed in water and exposed to sunlight is observed to “come back alive” and turn into a vibrant green photosynthetic plant over a period of anywhere from several hours to one day. When...  [view full summary] An inanimate, seemingly dead, 3–5 in. ball-shape brown object placed in water and exposed to sunlight is observed to “come back alive” and turn into a vibrant green photosynthetic plant over a period of anywhere from several hours to one day. When removed from water, the object gradually returns to its dried up, ballshaped, dead-looking appearance. This cycle is repeatable. The resurrection plant provides an engaging, discrepant introduction to concepts such as the characteristics of life, water as an essential requirement of life, photosynthesis, plant adaptations, and species evolution and survival of the fittest to specific environments (even “extreme” ones). [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

5 E(z) Steps Back Into “Deep” Time: Visualizing the Geobiological Timescale By: Thomas O'Brien A chapter from Even More Brain-Powered Science: Teaching and Learning With Discrepant Events Average User Rating: In this chapter, you will explore a sequence of fun, participatory activities juxtapose everyday popular culture and human time perspectives with the geobiological timescale of Earth’s history of millions and billions of years. The overall timescale...  [view full summary] In this chapter, you will explore a sequence of fun, participatory activities juxtapose everyday popular culture and human time perspectives with the geobiological timescale of Earth’s history of millions and billions of years. The overall timescale of Earth’s history as a planet, the sequence of events in its ongoing evolution-driven story of life, and the miniscule percentage of Earth’s history represented by written human history are all quite discrepant to most learners. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Osmosis and "Naked" Eggs: The Environment Matters A chapter from Even More Brain-Powered Science: Teaching and Learning With Discrepant Events Average User Rating: Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane. Given their size and availability, the hard exterior shell of eggs provide a convenient macro-scale model of the system-level phenomenon of osmosis. Once the shell...  [view full summary] Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane. Given their size and availability, the hard exterior shell of eggs provide a convenient macro-scale model of the system-level phenomenon of osmosis. Once the shell of a fresh, uncooked chicken egg is removed in an acid bath, the egg’s intact, selectively permeable cell membrane is elastic enough to noticeably swell and shrink without bursting in response to changing osmotic pressure. In this activity, students will see how the “Naked” egg-solution system demonstrates how constancy and change define biological systems. This free selection includes the Table of Contents, Introduction, a Science Education Topics section, and the Index. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

The Demands of the Middle School Learner: Socialization, Autonomy, and Structure By: Olaf Jorgenson, Jackie Cleveland, and Rick Vanosdall A chapter from Doing Good Science in Middle School: A Practical Guide to Inquiry-Based Instruction Average User Rating: Whether you are a grizzled veteran of the middle-level trenches or a relative newcomer to science in the middle, your success with students in grades 5-8 will depend on your ability to adjust instruction to the cognitive, emotional, developmental, social,...  [view full summary] Whether you are a grizzled veteran of the middle-level trenches or a relative newcomer to science in the middle, your success with students in grades 5-8 will depend on your ability to adjust instruction to the cognitive, emotional, developmental, social, and psychological demands of the middle school learner. This free selection from the book, Doing Good Science in Middle School, provides insight into your ever-changing middle school students and describes how this age group is especially suited to inquiry-based instruction. The Table of Contents, the Preface, and About the Authors are all included in this free section. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Middle School

What Causes Night and Day? By: Page Keeley and Cary Sneider A chapter from Uncovering Student Ideas in Astronomy: 45 New Formative Assessment Probes Average User Rating: The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the day-night cycle. The probe is designed to find out if students can relate the shape of the Earth and its spin to why we have day and night. The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the day-night cycle. The probe is designed to find out if students can relate the shape of the Earth and its spin to why we have day and night. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Glue Mini-Monster: Wanted Dead or Alive? By: Thomas O'Brien A chapter from Even More Brain-Powered Science: Teaching and Learning With Discrepant Events Average User Rating: A drop of clear, colorless, viscous liquid (i.e., a specific brand of modeling glue) assumes the role of an unknown macroscopic, single-celled organism in this demonstration. When placed in a petri dish of water, it is observed to move and interact with...  [view full summary] A drop of clear, colorless, viscous liquid (i.e., a specific brand of modeling glue) assumes the role of an unknown macroscopic, single-celled organism in this demonstration. When placed in a petri dish of water, it is observed to move and interact with other organisms, food, and its aqueous environment in a seemingly lifelike way. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

What Is Scale? By: M. Gail Jones, Amy R. Taylor, and Michael R. Falvo A chapter from Extreme Science: From Nano to Galactic Average User Rating: Scale is one of the big ideas that cross the science domains. Whether one is talking about the weight of a blue whale, the size of a galaxy or a molecule, or the age of a mountain range, scale is an essential tool in understanding the universe in a scientific...  [view full summary] Scale is one of the big ideas that cross the science domains. Whether one is talking about the weight of a blue whale, the size of a galaxy or a molecule, or the age of a mountain range, scale is an essential tool in understanding the universe in a scientific way. But what exactly is scale, and why is it important? In this investigation, students explore size and scale by examining the wide range of scales that are investigated in science. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

What’s Moving? By: Page Keeley and Cary Sneider A chapter from Uncovering Student Ideas in Astronomy: 45 New Formative Assessment Probes Average User Rating: The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about Earth’s orbit. The probe is designed to find out whether students recognize that the Earth orbits around the Sun. The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about Earth’s orbit. The probe is designed to find out whether students recognize that the Earth orbits around the Sun. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Essay: Creating a Foundation Through Student Conversation By: Ann S. Rosebery, Chèche Konnen Center, TERC and Cynthia Ballenger, King Open School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Chèche Konnen Center A chapter from Teaching Science to English Language Learners: Building on Students’ Strengths Average User Rating: This essay discusses a pedagogical practice called Science talks. Science talks allow students to use their diverse language practices and life experience to understand scientific phenomena and allow teachers to see new connections between students’...  [view full summary] This essay discusses a pedagogical practice called Science talks. Science talks allow students to use their diverse language practices and life experience to understand scientific phenomena and allow teachers to see new connections between students’ ideas and those of science. Science talks are a time when all students can think together about scientific ideas and practices and when all teachers can listen carefully to their students’ comments and conversations with one another. This free selection includes the Table of Contents, Introduction, and Index. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

Comments on Students’ Writing By: Inez Fugate Liftig Edited by: Jodi Wheeler-Toppen A chapter from Science the “Write” Way Average User Rating: As science teachers, we must provide feedback on both the science content and quality of writing demonstrated in their assignments. Unfortunately, our schedules do not always allow us to hold individual writing conferences or ask for extensive rewrites...  [view full summary] As science teachers, we must provide feedback on both the science content and quality of writing demonstrated in their assignments. Unfortunately, our schedules do not always allow us to hold individual writing conferences or ask for extensive rewrites or revisions of papers. Consequently, the comments we include on students’ papers are often the only personal feedback we can provide. Therefore, it is vital that our comments are focused and coherent, providing valuable suggestions to help improve students’ writing. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School