All Blog Posts
Blog Post
Simple Ways to Make the Best Schedule for Your Grade Level at #NSTA18 Charlotte
NSTA’s 2018 Charlotte conference on science education is right around the corner (November 29–December 1)....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Spiders and other small creatures—do we want children to be afraid?
Huge anatomically incorrect ‘spiders’ with legs as long as a Daddy Longlegs’ took over the neighborhood these past weeks, crawling up webs ‘spun’ on the sides of houses. Dropping out of trees are others with more fuzzy hair than a troll dol...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Education and the November Election, What You Need to Know
It’s trick or treat time, and I’m not talking Halloween. This important election will happen in 8 days and NSTA will still be working on your behalf in 8+1 days. The most important thing for you to do is to vote. We need to ma...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
How to Use the Power of Assessing in Your Classroom
Authors Lisa M. Nyberg and Julie V. McGough have done it again....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Bringing the outdoors indoors.
How do you achieve the full concept of bringing the outdoors, indoors? How do you make sure your students are getting the most out of it? How do you transition smoothly where you do not lose any student’s attention? — K., Louisiana ...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
How a Dog’s Paws Support K-5 In-the-Moment Assessment
What special features of plants and animals can inspire solutions to human problems?...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Shoes! Beaks! They’re All About Structure and Function
As we watch students arrive for class, we notice that Alejandra hangs her jacket on a coat hook, while Calder reaches for scissors to make a fringe on his picture. Tessa replaces her rain boots with the sneakers from her cubby, and Nick searches for ...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Exploring Structure and Function in Insects
As an entomologist, one of my greatest challenges is trying to overcome my students’ feelings of fear and disgust regarding insects. Insects often have negative images in society. Walk through any toy store, and you will likely find plastic insects...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Using Toxic Algal Blooms to Teach Structure and Function
Young children often experience a developmental stage in which they question everything. Why aren’t there dinosaurs anymore? Why do cats purr? Why are some potato chips green? They go from simply observing their surroundings to analyzing, experimen...
By Rebecca Brewer
Blog Post
Pumpkins inspire investigations
Although astronomical fall for the northern hemisphere begins when the autumnal equinox occurs on or around September 22, meteorological seasons vary geographically. October may be when your area “really feels like fall.” Does your school or...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Five Reasons Why You Should Attend the NSTA Area Conference in National Harbor
In less than a month, science educators will convene for the NSTA Area Conference on Science Education in National Harbor, Maryland....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Ed News: The Case for (Quality) Homework
The Case for (Quality) Homework...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Incorporating engineering into lifesciences
Fish Ladder, Bonneville Dam, OR What are some good activities and lessons to incorporate engineering into biology/life science? – K., Connecticut...
By Gabe Kraljevic