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A love note to education conferences
In my suitcase I have a collapsible jug, tube, funnel, glitter, pebbles, foam hearts, sea shells, and empty plastic bottles—all part of the materials I need for a presentation at the 2017 ECSTEM conference (February 3-4), organized by The Children&...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I’m looking for ideas to incorporate writing into my general biology classes. I’ve tried term papers but many of my students struggled and it took a lot of class time. Any ideas for other relevant writing assignments? —V., Ohio...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Science 2.0: Help Students Become Innovative Designers
Our past three columns described how teachers can implement the first three Empowered Learner Standards established by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). This month, we focus on classroom strategies to support the fourth ...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Ideas and inspiration from NSTA’s K-12 journals–January 2017
Science Scope – Systems Thinking...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
What Are the National Academies and How Can You Use Them to Transform Your Teaching?
During Recognition Week for the 2006 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, awardees gathered in a Washington, DC, hotel for a federal agencies breakfast. While all 10 agencies present that morning provided award...
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
Here's Why Space Nerds Need to Be at #NSTA17 LA
We didn’t invent the term space nerds; we just invited the two most interesting people on the planet who are proud to own it to speak at NSTA’s 2017 National Conference in Los Angeles: March 30–April 2....
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
I am a new elementary librarian, and I want to prioritize science nonfiction. I’m looking for suggestions to help teachers who often do not have time to collect books from the library. I also need ideas for books to purchase. — J., New York...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Health Wise: Why Teens Need the HPV Vaccine
About 79 million Americans have human papillomavirus (HPV), the nation’s top sexually transmitted disease. “Nearly all sexually active men and women get it at some point in their lives,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Pr...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
P-47 and the Double Wasp Engine
In “P-47 and the Double Wasp Engine,” fighter pilot Benjamin Cassiday emphatically states, “It was an aircraft that could get you home.” While adrenaline filled the veins of these courageous WWII pilots, likely there was no greater rush than ...
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
One of the most familiar WWII airplanes carries the trademark of the Flying Tigers—a long nose painted with a menacing shark mouth....
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
Children use technology to send messages
Children like to share their work and tell their families what they do at school or at other times when they are not together. While babysitting for a friend, I appreciated her 2-year-old child’s excitement when she discovered that a toy firetr...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
My ninth grade students enjoy doing labs. But afterward, most do not participate in the debriefing. How can I improve this? —A., Washington You could try an alternative to teacher-led discussions. Here’s one that worked with my students....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Embark on Your STEM Odyssey in LA at #NSTA17
Editor’s Note: This blog originally listed the wrong featured speaker for this strand. ...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Engaging Students in the STEM Lab
In the STEM Lab at Englewood Middle School in Englewood, Colorado, eighth graders...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
I sponsor an after-school science club for upper elementary students. They’d like to expand the recycling program at the school. I’m looking for suggestions on what they can do. – C., Pennsylvania...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Citizen science + Photos of signs in public spaces = literacy and spatial awareness
If you and the children need to be active to stay warm outdoors in cold temperatures, consider walking fast on a walking field trip to locate and document signs around your community....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Recently, I did a hands-on workshop for other teachers on science apps and probes. I thought it went really well, and no one had any questions at the end of the session. But now, I’m getting lots of messages and phone calls for help. My colleag...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Argument-Driven Inquiry in Physical Science
Interested in teaching your students how to make and support their science explanations in the classroom? We’ve got just the thing. The newest books in the Argument-Driven Inquiry Series from NSTA Press is here....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
What did you do before the navigation apps on your smartphone? Just a few (OK, several) years ago we were all using paper road maps, or finding our way using local landmarks. But think about the lack of landmarks for a WWII fighter pilot navigating o...
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
Focus on Physics: How E = mc2 Helps Us Understand Nuclear Fission and Fusion
Nuclear physics has an undeserved reputation for being tough for students. This article may reduce this “toughness” by showing how Einstein’s familiar equation E = mc2 relates to the reductions in mass and enormous releases of energy that o...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
P-47 and the Turbo Supercharger
You have to wonder about the engineering design advantages of a P-47 Thunderbolt airplane when WWII pilot Archie Maltbie recalls, “I flew the P-47 Thunderbolt in the 365th (Hellhawk) Fighter Group . . . and I know without doubt that I owe my life t...
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
Health Wise: Keeping Track of Sugar
Students should consume no more than 25 g (6 tsp.) of added sugar per day, recommends the American Heart Association (AHA 2016)....
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Ideas and inspiration from NSTA’s December K-12 journals
Elementary and middle school teachers have a real gold mine this month – both journals have the theme of Energy....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Seeing the Real Me: Using Loose Parts from Nature to Create Self Portraits
Guest bloggers Stacey Francois MS, and Hannah Goble presented a poster session at the national conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. I was delighted to be able to talk with them about their work and am pl...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Congress left town last week after the Senate averted a government shutdown and approved a continuing resolution (CR) that will fund the government at FY17 funding levels through April 28....
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
The Harmful Particles in 3-D Printers
As three-dimensional printers are starting to become more common in science, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), and Fab labs, recent research indicates that 3-D printers pose serious health and safety concerns....
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
After a recent observation, my supervisor commented that the students did not seem engaged in the activity. I was surprised because the students were busy working. How can you tell if students are really “engaged”? —P., Oklahoma Ask you...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
This week friends who live on opposite sides of the country messaged me to go look at the Moon and a bright “star” in the southern skies, the planet Venus. The Geminid meteor shower is also happening but the urban light pollution in my area plus...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Statistics for younger students
Our math department wants students in all subjects and grade levels to do more with statistics and graphing. I do graphing with my students in elementary science, but are younger students ready for statistics? —G., Pennsylvania...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
We Are Not Forgotten: How One Teacher's Dedication Brought Rewards for Many
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By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
The morning of December 7, 1941, Stuart Hedley wakes early to meet his girlfriend for a picnic near Pearl Harbor. As we all know, the picnic never took place. But Stuart Hedley lived to tell us about the events of that day....
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
Inquiring Scientists, Inquiring Readers in Middle School
Reading can be fun. For science-loving kids, using science-based texts can be an exciting way to increase understanding of concepts. A new NSTA Press book provides a plethora of ways to use nonfiction texts for inquiry-based science instruction....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
REcharge Labs: Solar Cork Boat Kit
REcharge Labs: Solar Cork Boat Kit Introduction...
By Edwin P. Christmann
Blog Post
The Texas Instruments TI-Innovator Hub: A Magic Box to Code
The TI-Innovator Hub is essentially a micro controller system offering plug-and-play interaction with some TI graphing calculators. Using a coding language entered on the keypad of Ti-84 Plus CE and better calculators, the TI-Innovator Hub will respo...
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
#NSTA16 Columbus: Prizes for Everyone
Science teachers from all over the world came to #NSTA16 Columbus to become a champion of science! They heard from amazing speakers like science evangelist Ainissa Ramirez and gained knowledge that they will share with their colleagues and use in the...
By Korei Martin