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New "Quiz Manager" in SciLinks
Perhaps you’ve used the “Favorite Websites” feature of SciLinks, in which you can create lists of websites to share with students....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I read Jean Craighead George’s My Side of the Mountain at just the right time in my life—young enough to believe that I could live in the woods like Sam and old enough to try some of...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I’ve just been hired for my first teaching position as a high school biology teacher. I’m excited, but a little apprehensive. What can I do now to get ready, before I get access to the school? —Grace, Little Rock, Arkansas ...
By Mary Bigelow
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Learning from the experience of others
As the revision of the national science education standards gets started, many educators, administrators, parents, and other community members will be concerned not just the final product, but how the final product will be decided. Henry Kepner, Jr.,...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Learning about the butterfly life cycle with local butterflies
This year I have challenged myself to use only local animals in the classroom, for budget and ecological reasons. Luckily for me and my students, Cabbage White and Black Swallowtail butterflies go through their life cycle to adulthood in our area bef...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Latest from NSTA's online outposts
What’s New for May on NSTA’s various online outposts Many of you are wanting to download the resources from the conference in Philadelphia. Here’s how. On our listservs, flood relief efforts for a school in Tennessee are being arran...
By Howard Wahlberg
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The value of resources and peers in the learning process
Recently, I was searching NSTA’s archives for membership quotes. Resources was a prominent theme; “thanks for the resources”, “I didn’t know you had such great resources”, and “where can I find resources”. It reminded me how valua...
By Howard Wahlberg
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Finding the right book for science teaching
There are quite a few science topics included in the books on the Association for Library Service to Children’s Young Readers list of 2010 Nota...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Ontario ExploraVision winners honored
More than 30 student teams from across Ontario were honored at a reception in April. The teams received honorable mention awards in the 2010 Toshiba ExploraVision competition. Ralph Hyatt, president and CEO of Toshiba of Canada, presented each tea...
By Lynn Petrinjak
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The Frugal Science Teacher, 6–9: Strategies and Activities
School budget challenges coupled with the general state of the national economy has resulted in the need for teachers to not only be prudent but also imaginative....
By Amy America
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Jean May-Brett of the Louisiana Department of Education has passed on several websites that teachers may find useful in discussing the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico:...
By NSTA Web Director
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Once Upon a Life Science Book: 12 Interdisciplinary Activities to Create Confident Readers
As the great Dr. Seuss once said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know....
By Amy America
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Clickers in the science classroom
We are applying for a grant to upgrade the technology in our science department, and we’re thinking of buying “clickers.” Do you have any advice?...
By Mary Bigelow
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Maple tree seed toss makes a good gross motor activity
The seeds of maple trees are shaped like single wings and rotate around the heavy seed end when tossed into the air....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
When young children use magnifiers
click on the image to view it in another window...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I’ve been teaching biology for the past three years. Next year, based on student interest, the science department wants to add a biology elective in human anatomy/physiology. I’d love to teach this, but I would have three sections of biol...
By Mary Bigelow
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This semester, a group of students from a nearby college are participating in a study abroad program in the UK. Last week they set out to learn more about sustainable energy—in Iceland. So they are right on the scene of the current events there...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
We’re pleased to announce a new resource for science teachers: NSTA’s Book Beat, a monthly e-newsletter designed to quickly connect you with lesson and activity ideas, new resource books, free chapters, and special offers from NSTA Press. Visit...
By Claire Reinburg
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Recognizing excellence—The Lawrence Scadden Teacher of the Year Award
I recently had the pleasure of connecting with Dr. Peter Veronesi. Dr. Veronesi is the Lawrence Scadden Teacher of the Year Award Chair for the Science Education for Students with Disabilities (SESD). SESD promotes science teaching and instructional...
By Howard Wahlberg
Blog Post
The United States has long been called a “melting pot,” a place where diverse people mixing and mingling. Learning the dominate language is a challenging part of the process, particularly when a student is trying to learn a new language a...
By Lynn Petrinjak
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Evaporation—children need to know the word and concept
Is it surprising that there are no books for children titled “Evaporation”? Why this exciting subject doesn’t have it’s own title is beyond me—ha! But there are many good books that do touch on the subject in interesting ways....
By Peggy Ashbrook
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At a recent workshop, the presenter used the term “teachable moment.” What does this mean? —Todd, Tacoma, Washington...
By Mary Bigelow
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Citizen scientist action begins at a young age—by extending a helping hand to toads
See more of Doug Wechsler's work at http://www.dougwechsler.com/...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Spring is rapidly approaching, as indicated by the recent “springing forward” of our clocks. The arrival of Spring not only means longer days but also warmer weather, beautiful blooms, and…restless students....
By Amy America
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Our school recently received grant funds to upgrade the technology in our science labs next year, and the funding organization requires an annual report. This is a new endeavor for us. Do you have some suggestions on what to include in the report? &#...
By Mary Bigelow
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Are you part of the NSTA Communities?
One of Chapter Leaders called me this morning to ask about the NSTA Communities. I wanted to share the highlights of our conversation with the CAG Blog....
By Howard Wahlberg
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As an NSTA member, did you know that you have electronic access to each of the journals, in addition to the print copy you receive? In the monthly SciLinks blog for each issue (and on the NSTA home page, there are links to browse the table of content...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
As the dust settles from NSTA’s Annual Conference, my thoughts return to a conversation I had with a new NSTA member during the conference. I was grateful to have the opportunity to say “thanks!” for being a member of NSTA and “thanks” fo...
By Howard Wahlberg
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More Chemistry Basics in the Stop Faking It! Series
Thermodynamics and atomic bonding and quantum mechanics, oh my! Bill Robertson tackles these, and other chemistry themes, in More Chemistry Basics, the ninth book in the bestselling Stop Faking It! series....
By Claire Reinburg
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Lab instructions: Finding the right mix
I’m looking for information regarding student comprehension and/or performance when given basic, succinct instructions versus long, detailed lab instructions. I have heard convincing arguments for both, but I’d like to find out what the r...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Governor Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania addressed the “Science Matters” Town Hall Meeting in Philadelphia on Friday, March 19. In addition to describing the success of Pennsylvania’s STEM education programs and reeling off some f...
By NSTA Web Director
Blog Post
Thanks to the children who attended the conference
Thanks go to all the children who made it possible for their parents to attend the NSTA national conference by coming along with them!...
By Peggy Ashbrook