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I recently received the first seed catalog in the mail. For those of us in the northern states, seeing the pictures of flowering plants is a harbinger of spring! In the same delivery was this issue of S&C, themed around plants. A coincidence?...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I’m very fortunate to be attending NSTA’s National Conference on Science Education this year. I’ve never been to an event of this size, and I want to get the most I can out of it. Do you have any suggestions for a first-timer? —Renee, Fli...
By MsMentorAdmin
Blog Post
Spring flowering bulbs planted where they can be seen
Are the daffodils blooming yet at your school? My across-the-street neighbors get about 6 more hours of direct sunlight on their front yards in February and March than I do, so I always have a preview of what nature happening will be coming next to...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth (February 12), the Science Section of the New York Times (February 10, 2009) has several fascinating articles. Even if you don’t teach biology, they’re worth reading! Here are links a...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Planting peas—who will help students record the growth?
I’m wondering what crops your class grows—Peas? Collards? Cilantro? Zinnias? Marigolds?...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Must haves—flashlights, mirrors, and sunshine
Sometimes as a teacher leads an activity, a student verbalizes all the observations and new questions that were hoped for, making one think, “Was this child coached to say these things, or am I really eliciting all this learning!?” I like to beli...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Count the birds you see on February 13–16 for just 15 minutes!
I’ve never taken part in the Great Backyard Bird Count but it sounds like an interesting way to learn about collecting data and become part of a greater group contributing to knowledge about bird population trends....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I have to attend a workshop on teaching reading in the content areas. Is it really the job of a secondary science teacher to teach students how to read? —Sofia, Visalia, California Short answer—Yes, it is the job of science teachers to help their...
By MsMentorAdmin
Blog Post
How does cartoonist Richard Thompson do such a splendid job of channeling the thoughts of preschoolers with their questions about the order of the world? In the world of Cul de Sac, Blisshaven Preschool reminds me of Every School where the goals of...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
As mentioned in NSTA Reports, the new year has been designated Year of Science 2009 The website has many suggestions for YoS events and ideas for building interest in science....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Remembering a snow from 1/3 of a lifetime ago
Finding a covering of the season’s first snow on their car, my 3-year-old neighbor helpfully suggested, “Use that tool, that small brush,” to her father. Was she recalling last winter? It is possible that she had seen the snow brush/scraper in ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I have always loved science – earth and space sciences especially. Although I’ve had a variety of jobs, since I began home schooling, I’ve discovered I absolutely love teaching. I’m thinking about getting my bachelor’s degre...
By MsMentorAdmin
Blog Post
I’ve worked with several schools that are framing their curriculum and units of instruction around big ideas, key understandings, generative topics, or themes (the terminology depends on which model is being used). The rationale for using an ov...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
In this Year of Science, this early childhood science teacher is excited to have a President who says, “When it comes to science, elevating science once again, and having lectures in the White House where people are talking about traveling to th...
By Peggy Ashbrook