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I’ve been one of the SciLinks “webwatchers” for quite a few years....
By Mary Bigelow
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Next week: Professional development in the Washington, D.C. area (webcasted for all others)
The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution will present professional development for early childhood educators on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 with a “Smithsonian Early Childhood Science Education Research Forum.” I’m so glad ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Peggy Carlisle, new Director of the Preschool and Elementary Division
The National Science Teachers Association is an organization of many, contributing their talents towards understanding and promoting best practices in science education. NSTA is committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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I’d like to change my approach to learning vocabulary. Even when I ask students to write definitions in their own words, they don’t seem to understand the terms. Any suggestions? —Ryan, Fort Smith, Arkansas...
By Mary Bigelow
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Not enough progress…but at least the right direction?
This month’s topic focuses on the NAEP results and the fact that while the results from the eighth graders knowledge of basic science test increased from 30% to 32% being rated “at or above proficient” the science education community does not f...
By Christine Royce
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Sometimes I see articles and websites that cause me to reflect and ask my own questions, such as the Girls in STEM poster created by EngineeringDegree.net titled “Girls...
By Mary Bigelow
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Chemistry Now, how atoms bond: ionic bonds
Atoms, molecules, protons, electrons, bonding. Nothing new there, so why don’t your students remember which is which and how it works? A question with many possible answers, but now, perhaps a solution! Use this learning package to introduce, revie...
By admin
Blog Post
One of my principals shared a comment at a faculty meeting: School is where old people do most of the work while the young people sit back and watch. His point was to start a discussion of how (and why) to engage students actively and help them assum...
By Mary Bigelow
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Chemistry Now, wrapping up: chemistry of cellophane
Bizarre advertisement featuring stork holding baby wrapped in cellophane....
By admin
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Chemistry Now, the chemistry of crystals: ice, salt
The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part Of a day I had rued....
By admin
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3 Quarks Daily Science Blogging Prize
Hello Fellow Bloggers and NSTA Members,...
By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director
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Chemistry Now, carbon, captured: carbon dioxide
As a college student in the 70s wracking up science courses for my secondary teaching degree, scientists’ warnings of accelerated global warming made a believer out of me. Recently, looking at photos of Mt. Kilimanjaro or glaciers in Chile taken ov...
By admin
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Chemistry Now, chemistry of fear and fright
Before Samuel L. Jackson battled snakes on a plane and before Indiana Jones infamously muttered “I hate snakes,” there was my Mom, who was terrified of them. Growing up on a small midwestern farm, Mom often helped with the spring plowing. She wou...
By admin
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Rise and Shine: A Practical Guide for the Beginning Science Teacher
Stepping into the ‘real world’ as any type of new teacher is daunting; doing so as a science teacher can be even more difficult, with science-specific issues like lab safety and management added to the mix of responsibilities....
By Nancy Dunbar
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Surveying video and lesson plan use
We need your help!!! NBC Learn, NSF, and NSTA have teamed up to bring you video / lesson plan packages that explore various science concepts. But we want to know how we can make them better and more usable in your classroom....
By admin
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NGSS May 2012—suggestions for K-2 educators reviewing the draft
We all have an opportunity to comment on the draft of the Next Generation Science Standards! The last date to comment on this draft is June 2nd, just days away....
By Peggy Ashbrook
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The resource-full teacher (revisited)
Some of you may remember the good ol’ days when you had to trek to a library or subscribe to multiple publications to catch up on science and education topics. I must confess that back then, it was difficult for me to find the time to spend a...
By Mary Bigelow
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Teaching Science Through Trade Books
The use of trade books to supplement science textbooks in the classroom is a proven, effective strategy to combine science and reading education for children in a way that is genuinely interesting to them....
By Nancy Dunbar
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NSTA Chapters and Associated Groups: Want to know more about D&O Insurance?
We are featuring another guest blogger, Kenneth Huff. Kenneth is the President of The Association of Presidential Awardees in Science Teaching (an NSTA Associated Group) and he recently investigated the benefits of Directors and Officer insurance a...
By Teshia Birts, CAE
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Kicking the tires on the LabQuest 2 and its Connected Science System
A couple weeks ago, Vernier released their Graphical Analysis App for iOS providing a functional wireless interface with their LabQuest 2 and the iPad. We took a LabQuest 2 and an iPad running Vernier’s Graphical Analysis App for a...
By Martin Horejsi
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Vacation activities for students
How do you get families and students to participate in science in the summer? I’m looking for ideas to engage upper elementary students. –Amber, Minnesota...
By Mary Bigelow
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Chemistry Now,chemistry of plastics: polyethelene
Polyethelene. Most people would be hard pressed to NOT to have some in their possession at any given moment. This chance discovery has completely revolutionized the “stuff” in our lives over the last 65 years....
By admin
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Science of NHL hockey: reflexes & reaction time
You’re the goalie. You’re padded down in an extra 10 kg of gear. You know the puck is “over there” somewhere. Then you catch it with your eye, screaming at you from the blue line. But before you really see it, your arm is already moving your ...
By admin
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Studying Science Teaching and Learning Through Drawings...
By Mary Bigelow
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Science of NHL hockey: statistics & averages
NHL hockey is a game of numbers—statistics that is. Fans may cheer on a team because of where they’re from, their team mascot, or the atmosphere of the stadium. Fans may like a certain player because of how hard he hits, how fast he skates, or ho...
By admin
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Chemistry Now: chemistry of changing leaves
Think autumn leaves. OK, sing along now … The falling leeeeaves drift by the windoooow. The autumn leeeeaves of red and goooold … OK, maybe not!...
By admin
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Spring activities and books to go with them
In our mid-Atlantic spring we can have temperatures in the 50s or in the 80s, rain or shine. The activities the children have been involved in center around the weather....
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Science of NHL hockey: projectile motion
Tired of discussing projectile motion in terms of bullets and cannonballs? Launch into the Science of NHL Hockey, where hockey pucks follow the same parabolic path as they shoot through the air and fall into the back corner of the goal, just out of t...
By admin
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Sylvia Shugrue Award winners 2007–2012
The Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary school teachers honors one elementary school teacher who creates and makes use of interdisciplinary, inquiry-based lesson plans. To qualify, teachers submit a lesson plan with fully referenced sources of inform...
By admin
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Resources for science teachers
One of my favorite benefits of being an NSTA member is being able to view all of the journals electronically, although I’m somewhat of a dinosaur in that I still like the feel of holding an actual book or magazine. On the NSTA home page, use th...
By Mary Bigelow
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Science of NHL hockey: work, energy & power
Potentially your students will go kinetic over this installment of the Science of NHL Hockey video series! OK, really bad play on words. But luckily the energy of the video will make up for it. Ha!...
By admin
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Chemistry Now Nobel efforts: buckyballs and graphene
What do diamond and graphite have in common? Wait … that’s too easy. What do diamond, graphite, soccer balls, and the state of Texas have in common? Find out in this video, part of the Chemistry Now series from the partnership of NBC Learn, NSF, ...
By admin
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Reflections on the end of the school year
My first year of teaching had its ups and downs, but I’m looking forward to next year. As the school year ends, do you have any suggestions for how I can prepare for next year? I’ll be teaching the same subjects in the same lab. —Monica...
By Mary Bigelow
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Science of NHL hockey: vectors
Vectors. The key to passing a puck, throwing a football, shooting pool, coordinating fireworks, or finding buried treasure. Knowing which way to go is one thing. Knowing how fast to move is another. Put them both together and you’ll be in the right...
By admin
Blog Post
Science of NHL hockey: hockey geometry
Although science and math seem to go hand-in-hand, many of us have trouble incorporating math concepts in our science instruction. Hockey Geometry, produced by NBC Learn in partnership with NSF will give you a hand! From the passes NHL players make t...
By admin
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NSTA Chapter and Associated Group Leaders: There is a better mousetrap to track members!
We are featuring a post from guest blogger, Kelly Price. Kelly is the GSTA Director for the 2012-13 year. She has been a member of the GSTA board for many years serving in the roles of District II Director, Secretary, and President. Kelly has a...
By Teshia Birts, CAE
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USA Science and Engineering Festival 2012
The USA Science and Engineering Festival had something for everyone this weekend—information, experiences, fun and challenges for scientists young and old....
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Every month, our colleague Ken Roy shares important information about safety in the science classrooms and laboratories. His columns appear in Science Scope and The Science Teacher. These are “must-reads” for science teachers, and NSTA me...
By Mary Bigelow
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Spring wildflowers: Introducing guest blogger Marie Faust Evitt
The Early Years blog will broaden its voice by having occasional guest bloggers. Marie Faust Evitt joins us today. She is the head teacher of a preschool class for four- and five-year-olds, and leads an “Adventure Day” class in Mountain View, Cal...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Found materials + engineering process = toy
We didn’t have enough wire so we re-used cardboard tubes, empty boxes, egg cartons, and plastic jar lids to create toys called “Galimotos” in the Malawian children’s tradition as recounted in the children’s book, Ga...
By Peggy Ashbrook