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Many of us remember building models in school—replicas of the solar system, atomic structure, or the double helix of DNA. But in the era of the Next Generation Science Standards, models should not just be built as an arts-and-crafts activity, but a...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Learning more about the NGSS (Part 2)
In a previous post, I touched on the resources I’m using to familiarize myself with NGSS. In addition to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) app, I’m finding quite a few additional online resources t...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
This October, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) will feature a special strand “Bridging to the Next Generation Science Standards—What’s in It for Me?” at our Conference on Science Education in Portland, OR, October 24-26, 2...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
This October, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) will feature a special strand “Bridging Elementary and Secondary Science and the Common Core” at our Conference on Science Education in Portland, OR, October 24-26, 2013. Adopted by m...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Science of Golf: friction and spin
It’s the Sunday round on TV and the leader lands short of the green. He (or she) pulls out a wedge and gives the ball a mighty whack. The ball lands well past the pin, then suddenly starts spinning backwards! Before you know it, the ball has snugge...
By admin
Blog Post
This November, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) will feature a special strand “Merging Literacy into Science Instruction” at our Conference on Science Education in Charlotte, NC, November 7-9. NSTA recognizes that the grow...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
California's Decisions Show that NGSS is State Driven
The California State Board of Education unanimously adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) this week, making it the sixth state to do so. The decision not only represents a move forward for evidence-based science instruction but also hi...
By MsMentorAdmin
Blog Post
Is a series of single digit numbers really that hard to mentally add up? Seems that many high school golfers think so. Even as a senior excelling in calculus, my golfer daughter and her competitors would whip out their cell phone calculators after a ...
By admin
Blog Post
Apply for a Leadership Position on NSTA's Board and Council
Are you looking for a way to hone your leadership skills and give back to the science education community? Consider sharing your time and talents with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) by applying for a nomination to the NSTA Board of ...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Engaging students in a variety of instructional strategies
What would implementing the NGSS “look like” in a classroom? Each of the featured articles in this issue highlights several classroom strategies that you can use to start making connections to the disciplinary core ideas, practices, and c...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Google Glass: A Lab on the End of your Nose
Over the summer I had the privilege of watching a 5th grader take Google Glass for a spin. The student was far faster at mastering the interface than I was, and also much more creative in his application of Google Glass....
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
Uncovering Student Ideas in Science Workshops at NSTA’s Area Conferences This Fall
“Uncovering Student Ideas is highly recommended for teachers at every level; it contains a set of essential tools that cross discipline, grade, and ability levels. There’s no better way to guide your planning and decision-making process.”...
By Wendy Rubin, Managing Editor, NSTA Press
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Kick off the school year with NSTA competitions!
Slightly cooler air and the smell of freshly cut grass and sharpened pencils can only mean one thing – school is back in session! NSTA and its sponsors are kicking off another exciting school year of rewarding and recognizing high-performing scienc...
By Brian P. Short
Blog Post
Picture-Perfect Science Workshops at NSTA’s Area Conferences This Fall
Learn how to make elementary science instruction come alive in your classroom!...
By Wendy Rubin, Managing Editor, NSTA Press
Blog Post
What’s Your Favorite Science App???
Word of mouth (or in this case text of blog) is one of the greatest ways to share ideas and new information. While some apps have a fee associated with them and others do not, the ability to utilize apps in the classroom is priceless – IF they ar...
By Christine Royce
Blog Post
Preparing the classroom and school grounds for science exploration
As we set up our classrooms and examine the school grounds we can make space for science exploration by putting out some simple tools and seeking advice from experienced teachers. If you have advice on setting up a classroom to support science explor...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Why am I at the table with a laptop, a tablet and a smartphone? Is this the ultimate example of multitasking? Have I finally leaped into geekdom?...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
New element for the Periodic Table
Just when we finally got our heads around the idea that Pluto is no longer considered a true planet, now we have evidence of another element to add to the Periodic Table. Here is a roundup of recent news articles on the topic to share with students:...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Science of Golf: water conservation
If you’ve ever flown into a city of any size, you know you can spot a golf course a mile away. The well-manicured fairways, even when snaking around natural contours, contrast sharply with the local vegetation. Nowhere is this more apparent than in...
By admin
Blog Post
Over the summer, I’ve been catching up on articles in NSTA’s Journal of College Science Teaching. One feature I appreciated in the July issue is the NSTA Committee on Research in Science Education’s suggestions of 15 science e...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I need some ideas for what to do when students miss a lab. I’ve tried having them do the activity before or after school when they return, but that is difficult because most of my students ride the bus. —Jennifer, Henderson, Nevada...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Today, SXSW (South by Southwest) is launching their PanelPicker voting for the fourth annual SXSWedu taking place March 3-6, 2014 in Austin, TX....
By Bill Badders
Blog Post
What Are Very Young Students' Ideas About Science? Page Keeley Can Help You Find Out
When I wrote about ...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Ask a question of authors of Spotlight on Young Children: Exploring Science
The National Association for the Education of Young Children published a collection of articles that focus on early childhood science education....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Updating traditional investigations
As a middle school life science teacher, I wanted students to learn about the living things in the habitats of our own community. One of the investigations we did each year was to “inventory” the bit of lawn in front of the school....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Wondering "Why?" with NSTA Kids
“Why are there so many different kinds of rocks?” “Why can’t you see the wind?” “Why does it rain?” “Why, why, why?” Anyone who has spent any time with little kids knows that their inquisitiveness...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Apply to the New Science Teacher Academy: Don't Miss Your Chance!
The August 26 deadline for applying to the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy is almost here, but there’s still time. To highlight the benefits of being accepted into the program, former Academy Fellows share how the experience has had a positive...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Discovering Science: teaching science and sequencing (seeds, grades K-1)
They put down roots and then sprout shoots! Seeds—they are little packages that bring new plants to life. As children discover the steps in a seed’s development, they will also experience the skill of sequencing. Understanding sequence or the...
By admin
Blog Post
Helping students learn the language of science
Science students at all grade levels often struggle with the vocabulary. It’s as if we’re all SLLs—Science Language Learners. Textbooks and websites are full of specialized words that challenge our students. Some are technical and relat...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
New Leadership in the Nexus of Science and Literacy
NSTA Recommends and the Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 (OSTB) list bid a fond farewell to Juliana Texley, who has moved on to a new ro...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
Blog Post
Our middle school teams are encouraged to make interdisciplinary connections. I have some ideas for integrating physical science topics with language arts and mathematics, but we’re struggling with social studies connections. I was considering ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Science of Golf: evolution of the golf ball
Baseballs have their stitching. Soccer balls have their black-and-white pentagons. And golf balls have their dimples! All have the potential to aerodynamically affect the balls’ movement through the air—to the players’ advantage when they know ...
By admin
Blog Post
Discovering Science: teaching science and a sense of history (sun and shadows, grades 4-5)
Do students really know about the importance of the sun and the shadows it casts? They may be fascinated to know that hundreds of years ago the sun was the key to helping people know the time of day. NSTA’s “Discovering Science” lesson ...
By admin
Blog Post
Discovering Science: classifying and categorizing (matter, grades 2-3)
Key critical thinking skills can be easily incorporated into science lessons. And you can keep the “matter” of teaching science exciting, fun, and relevant! NSTA’s “Discovering Science” lesson on matter provides you with a natur...
By admin
Blog Post
The New Science Teacher Academy: The Gift that Keeps on Giving
The August 26 deadline for applying to the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy is fast approaching....
By Cheska Lorena
Blog Post
We are being asked to post “essential questions” in our classrooms this year. I’m not sure of what makes a question “essential” and how this would help students. Would I need a different question each day for my biology ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Discovering Science: teaching science and motivating students (acid rain, grades 4-5)
Think about it. Why would students be motivated to learn about acid rain if they don’t understand what it is and why it is a problem? It’s not difficult to motivate students when you have the right resources and tools to make a science concept au...
By admin
Blog Post
The Next Generation Science Standards has been released and is now available for download. As with any new set of standards, there is always much discussion about the feasibility of implementing them within the classroom – all classrooms.�...
By Christine Royce
Blog Post
Summer eating and learning about the needs of seeds
I am enjoying eating fresh blueberries every day—before that it was mangos. Neither of them grew in my neighborhood but I do have a large enough sliver of sunlight to grow herbs such as mint, rosemary, thyme, fennel and oregano. At the preschool, c...
By Peggy Ashbrook