NSTA - National Science Teachers Association

Solids and Holes By: Page Keeley, Francis Eberle, and Joyce Tugel A chapter from Uncovering Student Ideas in Science: 25 More Formative Assessment Probes, Volume 2 Average User Rating: The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about density. The task is designed to find out if students think a solid object will float differently if it has holes poked all the way through it or if they confuse it with mixed density. The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about density. The task is designed to find out if students think a solid object will float differently if it has holes poked all the way through it or if they confuse it with mixed density. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Can It Reflect Light? By: Page Keeley, Francis Eberle, and Lynn Farrin A chapter from Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Vol. 1: 25 Formative Assessment Probes Average User Rating: The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students' ideas about light reflection off of ordinary objects and materials. The probe is designed to find out if students recognize that all non-light-emitting objects that we can see reflect some light...  [view full summary] The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students' ideas about light reflection off of ordinary objects and materials. The probe is designed to find out if students recognize that all non-light-emitting objects that we can see reflect some light or if they believe that only certain types of objects reflect light. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Boiling Time and Temperature By: Page Keeley, Francis Eberle, and Joyce Tugel A chapter from Uncovering Student Ideas in Science: 25 More Formative Assessment Probes, Volume 2 Average User Rating: The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the characteristic property of boiling point. The probe is used to find out whether students recognize that the temperature of a boiling liquid stays constant no matter how long heat...  [view full summary] The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the characteristic property of boiling point. The probe is used to find out whether students recognize that the temperature of a boiling liquid stays constant no matter how long heat is applied. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Estuaries — Where the Rivers Meet the Sea By: Alfredo L. Aretxabaleta, Gregg R. Brooks, and Nancy W. West A chapter from Project Earth Science: Physical Oceanography, Revised 2nd Edition Average User Rating: An estuary is a body of water partially enclosed by land that has a connection to a river or stream, and an opening to the ocean. They are places where freshwater coming from rivers and streams mixes with salty ocean water. In this Activity, you will...  [view full summary] An estuary is a body of water partially enclosed by land that has a connection to a river or stream, and an opening to the ocean. They are places where freshwater coming from rivers and streams mixes with salty ocean water. In this Activity, you will examine a model of an estuary with distinct freshwater and saltwater layers. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

The Speed of Light By: Geoff Holt and Nancy W. West A chapter from Project Earth Science: Astronomy, Revised 2nd Edition Average User Rating: This activity is designed to help students understand that light does have a finite speed and that this has consequences for us. In order to grasp the meaning of the activity, it is important for students to understand that light acts as a messenger in...  [view full summary] This activity is designed to help students understand that light does have a finite speed and that this has consequences for us. In order to grasp the meaning of the activity, it is important for students to understand that light acts as a messenger in the same way that a person can. Students carry messages within a scale model of our solar system from Earth to Mercury, Venus, and Mars (perhaps to Jupiter, too) and back, exploring the consequences of light traveling at a finite speed. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Is It Made of Molecules? By: Page Keeley, Francis Eberle, and Lynn Farrin A chapter from Uncovering Student Ideas in Science: 25 Formative Assessment Probes, Volume 1 Average User Rating: The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about molecules. The probe is designed to find out whether students recognize that various examples of both physical and biological matter, ranging from objects to materials, can be made...  [view full summary] The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about molecules. The probe is designed to find out whether students recognize that various examples of both physical and biological matter, ranging from objects to materials, can be made of molecules. It also helps determine whether students recognize a hierarchy of structure in the composition of matter ranging from molecules to single atoms to parts of an atom. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Is It Matter? By: Page Keeley, Francis Eberle, and Lynn Farrin A chapter from Uncovering Student Ideas in Science: 25 Formative Assessment Probes, Volume 1 Average User Rating: The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas of what matter is. The probe is designed to determine whether students recognize forms of matter and can distinguish between things that are considered to be matter and things that are...  [view full summary] The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas of what matter is. The probe is designed to determine whether students recognize forms of matter and can distinguish between things that are considered to be matter and things that are not (such as energy, forces, and emotions). The probe helps reveal what characteristics students use to decide if something is considered to be matter. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Measurements and Molecules Matter: Less Is More and Curriculum "Survival of the Fittest" By: Thomas O'Brien A chapter from More Brain-Powered Science: Teaching and Learning With Discrepant Events Average User Rating: Many famous scientific discoveries have been made when an experimenter noticed something unusual or a mistake and followed up on the serendipitous discrepancy rather than ignoring it as others had done. This free activity serves as an engaging introduction...  [view full summary] Many famous scientific discoveries have been made when an experimenter noticed something unusual or a mistake and followed up on the serendipitous discrepancy rather than ignoring it as others had done. This free activity serves as an engaging introduction to significant digits and the need for careful measurements as a means of making interesting discoveries. This approach stands in contrast to skills-only labs where students practice for future, potentially more interesting uses. Finally, the activity is one of many that can be used to convince students that the atomic and kinetic molecular theory really is a sensible (i.e., its effects can be experienced through the senses and are logical) and powerful explanatory and predictive model for a wide variety of macroscopic events. 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

Learners, Programs, and Teaching Practices By: David T. Crowther, Joaquin S. Vilá, and Ann K. Fathman A chapter from Science for English Language Learners: K-12 Classroom Strategies Average User Rating: The changing demographics of the United States and recent focus on educational standards have made it increasingly critical to address the needs of the many linguistically and culturally diverse students in our schools. Schools throughout the United States...  [view full summary] The changing demographics of the United States and recent focus on educational standards have made it increasingly critical to address the needs of the many linguistically and culturally diverse students in our schools. Schools throughout the United States are attempting to meet the needs of this diverse population through a wide variety of programs. This chapter describes some of these various programs, explains learning theories related to how a second language is learned as well as the “language” of science, and lastly, it provides some suggestions for best practice in science teaching and language teaching. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Reading Aloud By: Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry A chapter from More Picture-Perfect SCIENCE Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 Average User Rating: This chapter addresses some of the research supporting the importance of reading aloud, tips to make your read-aloud time more valuable, descriptions of Harvey and Goudvis’s six key reading strategies (2000), and tools you can use to enhance students’...  [view full summary] This chapter addresses some of the research supporting the importance of reading aloud, tips to make your read-aloud time more valuable, descriptions of Harvey and Goudvis’s six key reading strategies (2000), and tools you can use to enhance students’ comprehension during read-aloud time. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $2.79 Nonmember Price: $3.49 Grade Level: Elementary School