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What did you learn today, teacher?
I’m teaching a science methods class. I’d like to know: What was the most important thing you learned in your undergrad science methods classes? What do you wish you had known about science teaching that you didn’t learn in undergrad? ...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Resources from previous NSTA conferences
Have you revisited the sessions from previous NSTA conference to check out the resources posted by presenters? Begin with the 2017 Elementary Extravaganza that has 27 resources listed, both documents and webpages. It was held on Friday, March 31 at t...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
STEMcoding project releases "Physics of Video Games" Hour of Code activity
Until recently, the world’s most popular K12 computer science website, hourofcode.com, did not have any physics-focused coding activities. This was the case until Professor Chris Orban of Ohio State University initiated an effort to develop co...
By Edwin P. Christmann
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Build the Science Department: Stories of Success
How can your science department become a site for developing teachers’ professional learning?...
By Carole Hayward
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Quick Lab and Activity Assessments
I would like to include a rubric when students are completing various labs and activities in science. Could you share any examples? – A., Iowa I have found that checklists, in particular, are good assessment tools during a lab. The objective...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Discovery bottles: Learning moments for children and adults
“Discovery bottles” are one way to allow children to use small objects without putting them in their mouths. These bottles for open-ended exploration can be constructed to relate to many different science concepts and topics. Other bottles are ma...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
A Learning Trajectory for Sensemaking in Science
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) offer teachers the opportunity to consider teaching science in a new way. We help students engage with, wonder about, and make sense of natural phenomena, which closely resembles how scientists perceive th...
By Cindy Workosky
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Asking Questions and Defining Problems by Making Cultural Connections
My goal for students in my eighth-grade middle school science class is to enter high school with the absolute certain knowledge that they can “do” science. They know that when presented with the inevitable problems and questions of everyday life,...
By Susan Cohen
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Science for All Students: A Teacher’s Perspective
Like many classrooms around the country, my diverse fourth-grade classroom consisted of regular education students, special education students, English learners, gifted students, students receiving free and reduced-cost lunches, and students from dif...
By Rita Januszyk
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By Kate Falk
Blog Post
7 Safety Guidelines for Guest Presentations
Although guest presenters can offer real-life science experiences to students, they may not be familiar with the safety practices that need to be in place to create safer learning experiences. In October 2012, for instance, two fourth graders were ru...
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
This is my first year of teaching physics and I can’t think of generic substitute plans for this class. Can you suggest some generic/emergency plans that could help me? – E., Michigan...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Ideas and inspiration from NSTA’s November 2017 K-12 journals
Looking for lessons that align with NGSS? Teaching NGSS-Aligned Lessons in Science Classrooms has several examples that illustrate three-dimensional learning. Science & Children – Vocabulary in Context...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Teach Students to Design Innovation
What if you could challenge your third grade students to design the train of the future? The exciting new book Transportation in the Future, Grade 3: STEM Road Map for Elementary School shows students how to do just that....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
A Tree is Nice—Exploring seasonal changes WHEN the season changes
In regions where trees drop their leaves in fall, this big change draws children’s attention to the existence of seasonal changes. More subtle changes and incremental changes, such as more or less rain and slowly dropping or rising air temperatures...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I have been thinking about getting a thermal imaging camera. Specifically, an attachment for an iPhone that allows it to do thermal imaging. If you had one in your classroom, what would you use it for? – R., Alaska...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Educating Students About Veterinary Science
Oregon State University’s Summer Veterinary Experience informs academically talented high school students from underrepresented populations about diverse career options in veterinary medicine. PHOTO COURTESY OF OSU COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE...
By Debra Shapiro
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Ed News: Educators Are More Stressed At Work Than Average People, Survey Finds
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By Kate Falk
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STEM Certificate: The View from AAPT
For the last several months, the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) has been a partner with NSTA and other professional organizations discussing the implications of a STEM certificate. There are many challenges in this venture–not ...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
We are incorporating more writing opportunities in our middle school and high school science classes, both “formal” and ”informal” writings. How can one teacher grade more than 180 pieces of writing in a timely fashion with feedback that all...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Spiders and ants and bees, oh wow!
Are you seeing a lot of spiders this last week in October?...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Digging Deeper: Peeling Back the Practices: What Did High School Students Think?
One of the big shifts in the NGSS is the integration of Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) with Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs) and Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs). In other words, content is not taught in isolation: The teacher consciously include...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Engineering: From Trial-and-Error to NGSS-Aligned
Four years ago, when the other seventh-grade science teacher and I started redesigning our curriculum for the NGSS, we knew we would have to include engineering. At that time, my understanding of engineering was pretty limited. I knew that engineers ...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
As our first-grade class was returning to our classroom after recess, a learner directed our attention to our school’s newest retaining wall. He asked, “Why is the wall always falling apart on that side?”...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
The Engineering Design Process: A Middle School Approach
To support the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Middle School Engineering Design, we have three goals for our students: to define problems accurately, design the best solution using a rigorous process, and evaluate and improve their designs b...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
I hope that everyone has learned who the most important adults in the school are: the support staff! Custodians, administrative assistants, teachers’ assistants (TAs)— these people are invaluable and can make your life much easier. Many of these ...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
UL Xplorlabs: Fire Forensics – Claims and Evidence
Introduction ...
By Edwin P. Christmann
Blog Post
Ideas and inspiration from NSTA’s October 2017 K-12 journals
Having just completed an online course on climate change, I was interested in the Commentary: Why the Scientific Consensus on Climate Change Matters for Science Education, from The Science Teacher, and the important role science teachers play in help...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Student Talk: The Use of Dialogue and Discussion
This summer a group of Oregon teachers prepared to launch the Oregon Science Project, which focuses on professional development for rural teachers around NGSS. During our 3-day facilitator’s training we focused on dialogue not discussion. As a gr...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
I’m a new teacher and I can’t believe how ragged I feel—I seem to be just barely ahead of the class. I have lessons that are not going to plan and I feel like I’m just running around non-stop. Please help! —W., Virginia...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Preparing for Medical Emergencies
Science teachers need to know the necessary actions to take in the event of a medical emergency. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) provide insight on this issue by means of workp...
By Kenneth Roy
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Ed News: Educators Gain Valuable Tech Experience Through Industry Certifications
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By Kate Falk
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Creating a STEM Culture for Teaching and Learning
Creating a STEM Culture for Teaching and Learning by Jeff Weld offers insight for educators, policy makers, and business leaders about why STEM education matters and where it’s headed next. This new NSTA Press book includes case studies and real li...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Figuring out what seeds need to sprout
Do seeds need soil to sprout? Many people would say yes. Preschool children may know, or at least are able to recite, that plants need “dirt,” water, and sunshine to grow....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Science Teaching Stories: 140 Characters at a Time
In the world of Twitter we use 140 characters to tell wonderful and informative stories. And, in the world of NSTA, stories about excellence and innovations in science teaching are abounding. When joining the two worlds we make #NSTAchat�...
By Korei Martin