JoinAll Blog Posts
Blog Post
Two NSTA Books Encourage Young Readers to Keep Questioning, Searching, and Expressing Wonder
NSTA Press author Emily Morgan wants young readers of her books to be filled with a sense of wonder about ordinary objects or phenomena—like bees—and to never stop exploring the “whys” of our natural world. ...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
I want to demonstrate different states of matter and need activities for third graders for gases. — D., Georgia It’s hard to teach about something we can’t see! Here are a few ideas: Perfumes: Open a bottle of cologne in the room. Students ...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Helping Students Take Control of Their Learning
I am responsible for teaching my students how to think, learn, solve problems, and make informed decisions. I firmly believe that science is everywhere and affects all aspects of our daily lives, from the food we eat to the way we communica...
By Cindy Abel
Blog Post
A Physics Teaching Approach That Supports Real-World Science by Matt Holsten
Traditional physics education can leave many students confused, bored, or without the conceptual understanding of the equations they are required to memorize. I prefer an approach that allows students to use evidence to express, clarify, and justify ...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Modeling How Students Can Share Ideas and Make Sense of Phenomena by Aaron Mueller
One of the most important steps I take to elicit student ideas in the classroom is to establish a classroom culture that makes students feel comfortable sharing their ideas. I take the time to develop a strong, receptive culture at the beginning of t...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Finding Partners for Elementary Science
Guest blog post by Wendi Laurence and Laura Cotter One of my favorite things is discovering new people who can become partners in elementary science programming. While sometimes it is very hard to find those amazing partners; this is a short stor...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
Guest blog post by Anne Lowery As the traditional school year winds down, it is time to bring explorations to an end or at least to a good stopping place. One of the best ways to signal an end or a transition is through science storytelling....
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
Chemistry is not my strength. Any hints or resources for teaching chemical equations at a basic level? — M., Maryland I find it useful to demystify why we use chemical equations....
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Ed News: How to Engage All Students in STEM
This week in education news, CTE pathways prepare students for the rigors of STEM careers by giving them foundational skills and allowing for a broader interpretation of STEM; new report finds that 32% of teachers with one year or less of teachi...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Encouraging Creativity in STEM Class
Creativity often may be overlooked in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), but STEM teachers are finding ways to make their lessons and courses innovative and encourage their students to be creative....
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Ed News: What Does ‘Career Readiness’ Look Like in Middle School?
This week in education news, California schools preparing to ramp up course offerings and equip teachers to lead computer science courses; teaching students together and having them help one another learn may have more benefit to them and societ...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Some plants can be started from seed in the garden in midsummer’s warmest weather and still grow plants that reach maturity before the first killing frost in the fall. With multiple experiences handling and planting seeds children grow the...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
How does one model a 5E lesson plan for each topic covered when teaching a split grade level?— C., Illinois...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Observing children observing bees
Some children feel a kinship with all kinds of living things. They may reach out to touch a bumble bee on a flower or hug a worm too tightly....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Many of the girls in my kindergarten class are showing a lot of interest in space. Space is not part of my curriculum, so how would you recommend I address their interest? Can you recommend any resources? —M., New Mexico...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Learning About STEM Through BMX
Fourth graders at Liberty Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona, build a scale BMX track as part of the USA BMX Foundation’s Track Modeling Program....
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
For veteran science educators Laura Tucker and Lois Sherwood there is no debate about climate science....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Safety Labels for Hazardous Chemicals
The OSHA Laboratory Standard 29 CFR 1910.1450 details specific recommendations when labeling and storing hazardous chemicals within school laboratories....
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
I am interested in high school engineering projects. I’m looking for fun, engaging, and challenging projects for my honors students.—T., Rhode Island...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Guest blog post by Paul Orbe Dear NSTA Members: I would like to take this opportunity to share my experience with NSTA, our professional organization. Before I embark in storytelling I deem necessary to offer a quick overview in how I became a...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
Ed News: What Are the Blind Spots in Teacher PD?
This week in education news, NEA sees small increase in membership; effective grading practices, classroom technology, and social-emotional competencies among blind spots in teacher professional development; new study finds that 61% of high scho...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Education Appropriations for FY2020
Education Appropriations Part of Four-Bill “Minibus” Being Considered by U.S. House of Representatives Members of Congress are currently working through a slew of amendments as the House of Representatives considers FY20 appropriations bills i...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Building Classroom Community in an NGSS-Aligned Elementary Science Classroom
In an elementary science classroom, it’s not incredibly challenging to motivate students to want to do science and engineering....
By Gretchen Brinza
Blog Post
Three Strategies for Building Classroom Community
As I reflect on the end of this school year, I think about how successful I was in building a classroom community. A key aspect of transitioning my classroom to three-dimensional teaching and learning was discussion. Knowing this, I spent a...
By Nicole Vick
Blog Post
Under Indefinite Construction: Creating an NGSS-Friendly Classroom Community
When the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were first released, I struggled with how to create opportunities that allowed the students to investigate and question. These standards ask alot of our students and require more planning an...
By Megan Rowlands Elmore
Blog Post
What are some ways to improve my students’ understanding of the phases of the moon? Are there more inquiry-based activities for grade 2 students?—S., West Virginia...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Ed News: Teacher Attrition Demands New Approaches to Leadership, Preparation
This week in education news, educators in Indiana have a hard time finding quality resources that focus on climate change; new study finds that the differences in summer learning between poor and wealthy students may not affect long-term achieve...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
How NSTA Expanded My Small Town World
Guest blog post by Pam Devers I grew up as the typical “small town girl living in a small town world” (Journey). In the eighth grade my mind was set that I was going to be a science teacher and teach in my hometown. It took about ...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Experience STEM by the Bay This Summer With NSTA
Guest blog post by Jeffrey LeGrand Douglass...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Ed News Roundup: Women Engineers You Should Know
In this week’s Education News Roundup, USA Today takes a look at salaries and housing costs for teachers; Education Week examines how to make teacher leadership roles more effective; some women engineers you should know, and more....
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
I am planning to teach a lesson on rocks with a third grade class in the fall, but I am unaware as of where to find inexpensive rock/mineral kits. How did you teach the lesson in a way that engaged the students? – A., Pennsylvania Studying rocks is...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award—2019 winners
The Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award recognizes six full-time K–12 teachers of science who successfully use innovation and excellence in their classroom....
By NSTA Web Director
Blog Post
Working with a dream team, learning about engineering habits of mind
Taking a chance, I asked two colleagues if they would work with me on a webinar about supporting young children’s early engineering problem-solving. They each said “Yes!” and in the process I have been learning much from Carrie Lynne Draper, M...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I am student teaching in a first grade classroom and we are going to start covering life cycles. What are some good ideas I can do in my engage section? — G., Oklahoma...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Ed News: How Can We Get More Highly Effective Teachers to Serve as Mentors?
This week in education news, state school board committee approved new science standards for Utah public school students; states are beginning to integrate CTE and STEM-related courses into high school graduation requirements; despite evidence s...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
I first encountered the KLEWS teaching strategy in an article in Science and Children (NSTA 2015), “KLEWS to Explanation-Building in Science.” I shared the article and modeled the strategy with teachers who wanted to support their K–5 students ...
Blog Post
Ed News: How U.S. STEM Practices Compare Internationally
This week in education news, new research finds that the level of level of teacher experience is positively associated with levels of student achievement, particularly for black and Latino students; City of Chicago asking school board to approve $13...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Finding STEM Success in the Post-Secondary Classroom
The 8th Annual STEM Forum & Expo, hosted by NSTA, this July in San Francisco offers a post-secondary track to help educators create STEM-rich learning environments for students....
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
Circle of Life 1.0: Planting seeds
I am working on a lesson plan for the life cycle of a plant for kindergarten. Do you have any activity ideas? — K., Oregon If you’re teaching about life cycles of flowering plants you should incorporate all the life stages....
By Gabe Kraljevic