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Blog Post
Lemonade Stands and Summer Activity Resources
Thanks to a teacher who was moving and in a new job, I received boxes of resources from Zoobooks to CESI publications to posters that will interest children and convey concepts today as well as they did 30 years ago—sorting by an attribute and meas...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Science of Golf: Newton 1 & 2
From 0 to 175 mph in a fraction of a second, today’s top golfers can turn a golf ball into one of the fastest projectiles in sports. Science of Golf: Newton’s First and Second Laws of Motion showcases the insights of Suzann Pettersen, a p...
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
NSTA’s K-College Science Education Journals: July 2014 Issues Online
Science teachers get a break from lesson planning this month, so it’s a nice time to ponder other questions: What informal science experiences are valuable for elementary students? Can middle school students discuss whether or not we are alone ...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
The set of Laser Blox classroom lasers that I received for review contained:...
By Ken Roberts
Blog Post
Think of it as a linear particle accelerator, but instead of atoms, golf balls are propelled at speeds up to 200 miles per hour through a corridor that is 70 feet long and banked with infrared sensors. That’s the tool the United States Golf Associa...
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
What About Lecturing? Recent Study States Not As Effective
“To lecture or not to lecture” – that seems to be the question that has received much attention in recent years. It is similar to topics such as the positive/negative effects of drinking red wine, eating chocolate or eggs in that the pendulum...
By Christine Royce
Blog Post
But Why Does the Balloon Stick to the Wall After I Rub It on My Hair?
What types of materials can be electrically charged? How does current flow in a circuit? Will a magnet pick up any kind of metal?...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Literacy and science: Writing and communicating
This is a continuation of a question about Literacy and science: Reading and comprehension. The question dealt with incorporating literacy practices and activities into science instruction and the role of the science teacher in doing so....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
eCYBERMISSION 2014: Standout STEM Students Succeed
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) congratulates the national winners of the 12th annual eCYBERMISSION competition, which NSTA administered for the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program....
By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
Children play year-round but some media for play is more easily used in summer. Some recent play that I’ve observed: Observing the motion of wood chip mulch as it is shaken back and forth on a spring rider. ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Science of Golf: potential and kinetic energy
For the first time ever, the women are playing their U.S. Open on the same course as the men. Watch 2010 U.S. Women’s Open champ Paula Creamer in Science of Golf: Potential and Kinetic Energy to see the energy transformations they’ll use to power...
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
Pinehurst No.2, the site of the 2014 U.S. Open, was not the lush, green, wall-to-wall carpet that most people expect to see at one of golf’s majors. This year’s U.S. Open featured green only near the center of the fairways with browning turfgrass...
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
Literacy and science: Reading and comprehending
One of our goals for the coming year is to incorporate more literacy practices into science instruction. Some of our teachers are eager to do more of this, while others are more skeptical about taking on this responsibility. As the department chair, ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
From Viruses to Whales, Help Your Students Learn the Common Patterns of Evolution
What’s it like to study evolution as a scientist? That’s the question Judy Diamond, with the help of Carl Zimmer, E....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Q&A about natural spaces for children
It was a perfect early summer day with temperatures in the low 70s (F) and a gentle breeze that make it easy to be outdoors for hours. We had a combination of shade, sunscreen or hats to protect from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation and a pitcher of...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
How to Turn Your Schoolyard into a Year-Round Scientific Classroom
It would take mere seconds for any one of us to explain how technology has improved our everyday lives....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Among the misconceptions that students may have is their perception of the “mad scientist” — a solitary person in a white coat who works in a laboratory with odd smells and beeping noises. So when teachers refer to students as scien...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Science of Golf: torque and moment of inertia
Welcome back to the Science of Golf! U.S. Open play is underway at Pinehurst No.2 in central North Carolina! This year’s Science of Golf series reunites NBC Learn with the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Chevron to bring you the science, ...
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
Imagination Wins at the NSTA/Toshiba ExploraVision 2014 Competition
2014 ExploraVision Participants...
By Juliana Texley
Blog Post
Reflections on the year and connections for moving forward
Even if your program is moving to a new location over the summer, or you are beginning your summer job as soon as your school year job ends, you will probably find yourself reflecting on the past year....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I am a first grade teacher, applying for a STEM position as a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA). This will be the first time a position like this has been offered in our district, and ours is the first elementary school to have a STEM focus. What ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
What Are They Thinking? Wouldn’t You Like to Know?
A day in the life of a young child could be described as one big scientific experiment with its limitless opportunities for exploration of the natural world....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
NSTA Sweeps the REVERE Awards!
June 18 Update! We’re presenting these award-winning books at 10% off between now and midnight on June 27, 2014. Be sure to use promo code AWARD when you order any of the featured titles....
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Organizing students for learning
I’m thinking ahead to how I will organize my classroom next year. Could you share some thoughts or resources? For example, should I let students choose where they sit each day or have a seating chart? Should I keep the desks separate or arrange...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
A Professional Development Approach to the NGSS
Today’s Guest Blogger is author Eric Brunsell, an Associate Professor of Science Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Coordinator of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the University of Wisconsin-Oshk...
By Eric Brunsell
Blog Post
NSTA Launches Two New Blog Series
As another school year draws to a close, NSTA launches two new blog series: Why Membership Matters and Making the Most of Your Membership. Debuting this month, these series will go into detail on how NSTA member benefits can help you throughout your ...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Welcome to NSTA’s Newest Volunteers: Standing Committee, Advisory Board, and Review Panel Members
On behalf of the staff of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), its leadership, and members, I would like to welcome and thank the following members of our Standing Committees, Advisory Boards, and Panels whose terms of appointment began ...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Continue the Coversation on Debunking Myths or Pseudoscience
A few days ago, the Leaders Letter for May was sent out to those on the distribution list and it included a report about the Third National Climate Assessment and What Science Teachers Need to Know. While current information is always a positive fo...
By Christine Royce
Blog Post
Each issue of Science & Children, NSTA’s elementary school journal, features the column Science 101 with explanations of various topics and phenomena. These are written for teachers and include many examples and illustrations....
By Mary Bigelow