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Introducing guest blogger, Patty Born Selly
Who better to meet, in this winter season, than someone from Minnesota who shares her ideas on how to enjoy the outdoors with children in her blog, Small Wonders? (I especially enjoyed the post about wrestling with discussing possible truths about a ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Interested in what using the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) could look like in a classroom?...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Next Generation Science Standards–understanding based on "prior experiences"
A preK student acquires prior experience with sunlight needed to demonstrate understanding of NGSS Performance Expectations....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
As the editor notes, “You can’t just wing it” with middle-level science (or any level for that matter)....
By Mary Bigelow
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Project based learning and the Next Generation Science Standards
Guest blog by Andrew Miller...
By Mary Bigelow
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Scientific and engineering practices
If you’re concerned or apprehensive about the NGSS, this month’s Commentary Preparing for the New Standards should be on your to-read list....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
During the past few years, this blog has addressed several questions about formative assessments. These just-in-time assessments embedded in instruction help a teacher understand what students are learning, identify misconceptions, and adjust instruc...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
In the late fall as the weather alternated between 40°F and 70°F overnight, bumblebees sometimes got caught by cold temperatures and spent the night on the zinnia flowers in my garden....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I attended an event where we cleaned out the science warehouse for our school system. I got a lot of great stuff for my elementary science classes, including a box of rock and mineral samples that have little stickers with letters or numbers. I’...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Earth structures, processes, and history
It’s not hard to get students interested in earth science. They can see the value of learning about the weather and climate, soil, water, tides, volcanoes, earthquakes. The featured articles this month highlight the processes that are all a...
By Mary Bigelow
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Exploring natural and human-made materials
“I found these two rocks in the sandbox and I think they’re from a volcano.” Children like to share their special found objects and talk about where they came from and what they might be....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
When I was a child, one of my favorite toys was a set of wooden blocks, in a variety of shapes and sizes. We would play for hours, sometimes building models of structures and other times experimenting with designs and patterns. We also had Lincoln Lo...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Should I take a student teacher?
I was asked if I would take a student teacher. This would be my first one. What should I consider in making the decision? —Mark, Queens, New York...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Festive holidays and winter weather can be disruptive for the classroom schedule at this time of year but can also provide inspiration for appealing science activities. Take advantage of cooking themes to teach some chemistry or take a cue from weath...
By Claire Reinburg
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NSTA conferences as professional development
The 2012 NSTA conference season is over, concluding with the last sessions in Phoenix this morning. The variety of presentations and workshops had something for everyone–some addressed specific content topics and others related to teaching and ...
By Mary Bigelow
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Learning from "mistakes?"
I’d like to try hands-on labs with my fourth graders, but I’m worried they’ll make mistakes. I guess I’m afraid they won’t learn the concepts if they don’t get the right answers. Is there a way to make the activiti...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Five things you should put on your iPad Camera
The tablet computer like the iPad can be a magic box of inquiry. For instance, it has a camera, and in particular a front facing camera. Why that is important is because students can manipulate objects on the camera and collectively view the results....
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
Baby laughter…what do they laugh at?
While you’re looking forward to winter break, here’s a way you can have fun and do a little bit of science data collecting to contribute to a citizen science project....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Tools and resources for science teachers
As I browse through tweets and Facebook pages, I sometimes feel overwhelmed at the wealth of resources that are available for teaching STEM topics! I’ve learned to skim selectively, looking at some right away and bookmarking others that relate ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Reading some standards for early childhood science teaching
The non-profit Minnesota coalition SciMathMN, published A Guide for Parents: “What Should I Look for in the Science Program in My Child’s School?”...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Gallery walks for middle school
I participated in a “gallery walk” during a session at an NSTA conference. Would this be appropriate for middle school students? —Carolyn from Pennsylvania...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
In addition to sentences and paragraphs, the typical science textbook includes diagrams, photographs, flowcharts, graphs, maps, tables, and sidebars. Many of these (along with animations and videos) are also found in online or electronic resources....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Your favorite professional development opportunity
This month’s topic for Continuing the Conversation focuses on discussing your favorite professional development opportunity that you participated in during your career. These could be online for face to face courses, a seminar, institute, fello...
By Christine Royce
Blog Post
Science-and-early childhood, at the NAEYC 2012 annual conference
Did I meet you at the NAEYC 2012 conference in Atlanta this month? I met many early childhood educators who are interested in some of the same questions I find most interesting, such as “What science topics are appropriate to teach about in ear...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
“Why do we have to learn this?” I’m sure we’ve all heard this in our classes, and most students aren’t satisfied by answers such as You might need this information later in life or It’s an important part of science...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Promote and participate in early childhood science inquiry professional development
Share Your Expertise: Be Part of the National Conversation on STEM! Don’t miss a chance to participate in the NSTA 2013 STEM Forum & Expo, in St. Louis, MO, May 15-18. The deadline to submit a proposal to share your STEM expertise is quick...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
In my sixth grade science class, I try to involve the students in fun activities. But they don’t take them seriously unless I require something in writing or give a quiz. And then the students don’t seem to be able to connect the activity...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
It’s easy to find activities in science, especially with the Internet. But integrating content and activities/investigations in a planned and purposeful (and engaging) way can be a challenge for teachers....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I am new to NSTA and having difficulty finding activities/lesson plans on the website for my middle school classes. Right now, I’m looking for ideas on earthquakes and Newton’s laws. Where is the best place to find them? —Chris, Kutztow...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I’ve been following a discussion on another organization’s website on the topic: What is the number one thing students think they need to learn? So far there have been more than 20 responses, and the majority mention teachers who know the...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Resource: Helping children rebound after a natural disaster
NOAA’s GOES-13 satellite image of Hurricane Sandy, October 29 at 9:10am EDT, NASA GOES Project...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
In this month’s Leaders Letter, the topic for the building content area focused on the recent record setting sky (or should we say space) jump conducted by Felix Baumgartner. The undertaking was sponsored by Red Bull Stratos which has a histor...
By Christine Royce
Blog Post
Online events and resources via Twitter
Even if you don’t tweet to any followers, it’s a great idea to use Twitter for updates, news, and suggestions. #scichat and #nsta are two hashtags that are a must for science teachers. Just this morning, I saw quite a few online events an...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
As the S&C editor notes, most of us have had struggled with hard-to-teach concepts....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
iPad Science Exploration: Visualizing Brainwave Entrainment
Brainwave entrainment or “brainwave synchronization,” is any practice that aims to cause brainwave frequencies to fall into step with a periodic stimulus having a frequency corresponding to the intended brain-state (at least according to ...
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
We’re having a discussion in our secondary school science department. Some of us think our lessons should incorporate more opportunities for students to learn how to write, while others maintain there’s little time for writing and that...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Middle school students are curious about genetics, and most have an awareness of the use of genetic testing and DNA samples from popular television programs. The featured articles this month show how teachers can capitalize on this interest with inte...
By Mary Bigelow