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NSTA publication monthly features
In addition to articles on a featured theme for each issue, NSTA journals have monthly columns that offer suggestions on content and teaching strategies for K-12. If you subscribe to a journal as a member, you have access to all of these!...
By Mary Bigelow
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Discovering Science: teaching science and observation skills (roots, grades 2-3)
Every science lesson requires students to listen, look, and learn. But do all students have the keen observations skills it takes? Watch what is happening during a science lesson. Students are busy working together. But are they carefully observing a...
By admin
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NSTA's e-mail lists: PD gold mine
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) members are an active bunch!...
By Debra Shapiro
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Discovering Science: learning to draw science (clouds, K-1)
Young children love science. For some, it may be the excitement of going to a science lab or the interesting activities they see or do. Science gives them an understanding of the world around them and makes concepts more concrete....
By admin
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How can a patch of grass be described as fast or slow? It’s certainly not going anywhere! For those of you whose closest look at a golf green is from the car window as you’re driving by, the speed of a green refers to how fast or slow a ball will...
By admin
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Discovering Science: lessons plans and experiments for the classroom
Science curriculum is so important today! Yet, as educators we already have so much curriculum to cover — little time remains in the day for science. That’s why we created Discovering Science: Lesson Plans and Experiments. We wanted to help you a...
By admin
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Reflecting on What Being an NSTA New Science Teacher Academy Fellow Means
Ryan Rudkin, 2008-2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy Fellow...
By Carole Hayward
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NSTA's 2013 National Congress on Science Education
2013 NCSE Planning Committee...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
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Science resources for teaching younger learners
As a SciLinks webwatcher, I have the opportunity to look at many web-based project sites during the process of adding resources to the database. Many of the projects focus on high school science, but I recently discovered two that feature activities ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Argumentation–respectfully disagreeing when making a scientific claim
Is there an age at which we can expect children to understand that disagreement can be about an idea—not a personal statement of dislike—that they can have a different opinion and still “be friends?” Dr. Amelia Church, Lecturer in Master of T...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Professional development for science teachers
With budget issues facing many of the schools I’ve worked with, district-sponsored professional development (PD) has been scaled back. But teachers have a professional obligation to stay current with new findings about student learning, teachin...
By Mary Bigelow
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What to do on the first day of school
I’m looking for suggestions on what to do with students on the first day of school. I’m starting my first year teaching science at a middle school. —Shelly, Illinois...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
This month I was able to spend unstructured time with a 2.5 year old and her family. In my position as an observer, not teacher, care-giver or parent, I could enjoy only observing—observing without a purpose outside my own interest....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Although golf is a game that is often thought of as elitist, it has many egalitarian aspects, such as the handicapping system! Find out more about it in Science of Golf: Handicap Index. Haven’t been golfing long? Or, like me, enjoy walking the cour...
By admin
Blog Post
Science of golf: evolution of golf club
The United States Golf Association (USGA) took the 2013 U.S. Open to the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, just outside Philly. It was the fifth Open Championship to be held there in the 101 years since the East Course opened. Here, on this ...
By admin
Blog Post
“Engaging in argument from evidence” is one of eight practices described in A Framework for K-12 Science Education and the NGSS. Teachers may be wondering what this might look like in a middle school classroom, where students seem to have...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Science of golf: volume and displacement
Further your STEM efforts with the Science of Golf video series from the partnership of NBC Learn, the United States Golf Association (USGA), Chevron, and NSTA. As the governing body for the sport, one aspect of the USGA’s role is to regulate and t...
By admin
Blog Post
Science of golf: work, energy, power
Welcome to the Science of Golf! NBC Learn has partnered with the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Chevron to bring you this video series highlighting the science, technology, engineering, and math behind the sport. And once again, NSTA has d...
By admin
Blog Post
I’ve been reading NSTA’s K-12 journals for many years. This is the first time I can remember that all three have the same theme at the same time. The summer issue for each—Science & Children, Science Scope, and The Science Teacher h...
By Mary Bigelow
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I’m trying to incorporate more inquiry activities into my fourth and fifth grade science classes. The students seem to enjoy them, and I can tell from talking to them and reviewing their notebook entries that they are learning content and skill...
By Mary Bigelow
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Summertime science investigations and International Mud Day
Many children investigate the natural world more fully in summer, building their understanding of natural materials and phenomena through small moments and large. Jumping into water...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Duncan Will Consider State Requests for Flexibility Around Teacher Evaluation and Testing
In this edition:...
By Jodi Peterson
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Today’s news features Voyager 1 as it appears to be reaching the edge of the solar system. It’s hard to believe that Voyager 1 and 2 were launched in 1977—36 years ago—and they’re still sending data (although it takes 17 hours f...
By Mary Bigelow
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What are your thoughts on The Condition of Education Report?
The National Center for Education Statistics Releases The Condition of Education 2013 Report The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released its annual report, The Condition of Education. This year’s report presents 42 indicators of im...
By Christine Royce
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What Could Be More Perfect? Even More Picture-Perfect Science Lessons!
For the lesson on Amazing Caterpillars in Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry’s new Even More Pictu...
By Carole Hayward
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Introducing guest blogger, Sarah Erdman, writing about toddlers
Watching children investigate the world inspires us to examine their methods, especially when we are raising them! Careful observation of infants and toddlers shows how we can support their developing ideas about the natural world. Guest blogger Sara...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Examples of science assessments
Last year I gave a pretest to my classes, consisting mostly of vocabulary. I’ve decided to change the assessment and focus more on determining how students think. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, I’m looking for existing tests or...
By Mary Bigelow
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Teaching about the natural world–at school and at home
Cope’s Gray Treefrog © John White ̵...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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A Key Guide for Implementing NGSS
“Although it sometimes occurs, teachers should never be handed standards, including the NGSS, and then be expected to translate them into classroom practice on their...
By Carole Hayward
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As a SciLinks webwatcher, I spend time every week looking for and reviewing websites on a variety of science topics. I recently came across several biology videos on the Education Portal website....
By Mary Bigelow
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Are you looking for a way to encourage students to pursue topics of interest? To go beyond the information in a textbook? To take advantage of online resources and the electronic devices that are becoming more common in classrooms? To give students a...
By Mary Bigelow
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Everyone talks about the Sputnik Moment, when the nation realized we had to focus on science to remain competitive. But I was more inspired by people closer to Earth. A recent Facebook post wishing Jacques Cousteau a happy (posthumous) birthday got s...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
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At the NSTA conference this spring, I stopped by the booth sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
On behalf of the staff of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the many dedicated members of our leadership team, I would like to welcome and thank the following members of our Board, Council, Standing Committees, Advisory Boards, and...
By Bill Badders
Blog Post
At the end of the school year…
My mentee just finished his first year as an elementary teacher. I’d like to give him some suggestions for how to reflect on his experiences and plan for next year. –—Cindy, Coral Springs, Florida A beginning science teacher had a simi...
By Mary Bigelow
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Accessing nature for lifelong learning
During my volunteer stint at a nearby nature center, which is part of a public park, I observed the people coming in and out. Many of them were focused on using the restroom, but many others did take time to look at the exhibits or ask questions of t...
By Mary Bigelow
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East coast periodic cicadas—prepare children to comfortably view these interesting insects
When I’m introducing young children to a small live animal, such as a worm or a beetle, I may first offer them a chance to use a magnifier to look at a photograph of the animal, up close....
By Peggy Ashbrook
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From reading various tweets and blogs, I often find interesting projects and applications. Some are definitely related to science and math, while others have more of a tangential application. I recently found one of the latter (and it’s pretty ...
By Mary Bigelow
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Searching for evidence of animals using plants for food or shelter
What can tell us if an animal is using a plant for food or for a place to rest or live? What will we see if a caterpillar has been eating a leaf a bird has been roosting on a tree branch? These questions were posed to kindergarten and first grade c...
By Peggy Ashbrook