JoinAll Blog Posts
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
...
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
Blog Post
Help Us Name NSTA’s New NGSS Newsletter
Science teachers, you’ve spoken up about your Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) implementation needs, and NSTA has listened. Thanks to the input of many of you, NSTA is moving forward on a new resource to help you get your arms around the ex...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Trump’s Pick for Education Secretary and Changes on Capitol Hill
As widely reported, President-elect Trump has nominated Betsy DeVos to be the next U.S. Secretary of Education. DeVos, 58, chaired the American Federation for Children, an advocacy group that has aggressively pushed to expand charter schools and scho...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Take 20 Percent Off the Top 20 NSTA Press Titles for 20 Days
...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
The seasonal decline in the amount of direct sunlight in North America is bringing an end to my garden growing season. The leaves of deciduous trees in my region are mostly off the trees now. Children have been helping rake them into big piles to ju...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I have a degree in biology and teach high school. Although I love teaching at this level, I miss doing real scientific work myself. Any suggestions on how I can still stay engaged and current in science? —T., Illinois...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Four New Books for Young Scientists
Studies show that science is students’ favorite subject when they enter school for the first time. Why? Kids are curious and creative. They love asking questions based on their observations. They love discovering everything. When kids are young, th...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
I have a chance to contribute to the design of the science classrooms in a middle school. What should be on a “must-have” list? —S., Connecticut...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Ideas and inspiration from NSTA’s November K-12 journals
Educators at all levels will find ideas on helping students with Meeting the Challenges of Communicating Science in his month’s Science and Children. Many of the strategies can be adapted for other levels....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Positive environments: Early childhood education conferences
Two early childhood conferences I attended this month, a national conference and a local regional conference, were awash with sessions on science, STEM, and STEAM education. Although science education is my main focus, I enjoy attending conferences b...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Health Wise: Too Many Teens Have High Cholesterol
About one in five U.S. kids and teens ages 6 to 19 has abnormal cholesterol levels, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS 2015). And among the 16-to-19 age group, the number rises to more than one in four....
By sstuckey
Blog Post
What’s Ahead for Science and STEM Education in the Trump Administration?
With the election now in the rear view mirror, what’s ahead for education and science education in the new Administration? Short answer, it’s too early to tell. During the campaign, education was largely ignored, so the education priorities for t...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
I’m a first-year biology teacher. How do I decide how many labs I could or should do each week. My colleagues have different ideas about this. —L., South Carolina...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
The Green Room: Losing Sight of Our Stars
Making Your Teaching More Environmentally Friendly Los Angeles at night...
By sstuckey