JoinAll Blog Posts
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I recently came across an activity where a spinal cord was represented using candy. I can only imagine how excited the students must feel while completing this project, but I am wondering if it truly led to a better understanding of the material for ...
By Gabe Kraljevic
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On the Having of Wonderful Ideas About Science
Guest Blogger Page Keeley...
By Claire Reinburg
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Implementing Storylines: A Meaningful, Effective Way to Practice the NGSS
Why is a shift needed? The science instructional shifts outlined in A Framework for K–12 Science Education and embodied in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are bigger than a classroom, a school, a district, or even your state. It’s...
By Jason Crean
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Storylines Allow Students to Own Their Learning
“I don’t think this data tells us enough; we only know the temperature close to the ground,” Andy* told his peers. “Hail forms in the clouds. We need to know what the temperature is in the clouds.” The students had just finished several ...
By Scott Goldthorp and Lauren Pasanek
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Teaching and Learning Through PBL-Informed Storylines
The kindergarteners waited excitedly outside the door, anxious to see the toys my third graders created for them. My third graders were equally excited to share their toys and use science ideas to explain how their toys moved. The engagement and enth...
By Emily Miller and Mary Modaff
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How do you keep students from losing attention when you’re teaching difficult science terminology? —M., Iowa...
By Gabe Kraljevic
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In Legislation to Support Climate Change Education, Symbolism is Not Enough by Glenn Branch
It’s a perfect storm. No fewer than fifteen measures to support climate change education in the public schools have been introduced in the statehouses of ten states so far in 2020. Why? Perhaps legislators are beginning to heed public opinion....
By Kate Falk
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Coronavirus Lesson for Elementary Students
Author: The COVID-19 global pandemic has led to major changes in our everyday lives, a situation that can be scary for both young people and adults. Understanding helps alleviate fear. This coronavirus lesson was designed to help young children t...
By Korei Martin
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I would like to find some time-efficient way to have students share their learning or their observations with me (individually) without having to take in two classes of science notebooks. —J., Ohio “School should not be a place where young pe...
By Gabe Kraljevic
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Stimulate Science Learning with Student Debates
The new NSTA Press book ...
By Carole Hayward
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How Can You Assess the Science Your Children Are Doing and Learning?
A guest post by Cindy Hoisington (choisington@edc.org), an early childhood science educator and researcher at Education Development Center Inc. in Waltham MA; Regan Vidiksis, a researcher at Education Development Center with a focus on STEM teaching ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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The Vernier Go Direct EKG Sensor: The Heart in Action
The human heart has hidden treasures, In secret kept, in silence sealed; The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures, Whose charms were broken if revealed....
By Martin Horejsi
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I want to know if there are ways to incorporate [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)] into more or all subjects? How would a teacher begin to integrate English or social studies with STEM? —M, Arkansas...
By Gabe Kraljevic
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Equity in STEM Education: It’s All About Culture!
Guest post by Alicia Santiago When you think about diversity, how does it show itself? When you stand before your students, do the faces looking back at you look like your own? Most likely, your answer is “no.” Classrooms and afterschool progr...
By Lynn Petrinjak
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Building STEAM With Model Railroads
Are you a science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) teacher seeking a new way to interest students in these subjects? While model railroading is not a new hobby, STEAM teachers can accomplish learning goals while introducing it to a ne...
By Debra Shapiro
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Medical Schools Offer STEM Pipeline Programs
In Newark, New Jersey, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School offers Science, Medicine, and Related Topics, a pipeline program for underrepresented students interested in careers in medicine, dentistry, biomedical research, and other health-related care...
By Debra Shapiro
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Coronavirus Meets ... Physics? Making a Biological Topic Fit into a Physics World
Author: Stephanie Duke, Physics Teacher and Science Department Chair at Graves County High School in Mayfield, KY...
By Korei Martin
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What Does It Really Take to Get High School Students to Make Their Ideas Visible?
Asking high school students to reveal what they really think about what causes a natural or designed phenomenon is risky business. Risky in that it requires students to take the intellectual and social risk of sharing their thinking, which may or may...
By Angie Berk, Jen MacColl and Kristen Moorhead
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Going Public: Revealing Student Thinking in Science by Missy Holzer
Our classrooms are dynamic places where young learners gather to figure out the natural world. How can we be sure they are all making sense of the phenomena during this process? How do we know what they are thinking?...
By Kate Falk
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Making Students’ Thinking Visible Through Discussion by Dana McCusker and Marisa Miller
As the assistant director of science for Mastery Charter Schools I have had the pleasure of working with Dana McCusker and seeing her excellent teaching in action. As a science teacher leader, she has been at the forefront of utilizing discussion res...
By Kate Falk
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Explore Before Explain to Engage More Students
A new addition to the Instructional Sequence Matters series has arrived!...
By Carole Hayward
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Go Green This Spring, Apply for a Green Ribbon School Award by Jim Elder
Is your school a green school? Is it doing amazing work in reducing environmental impacts, such as waste, water, energy, and transportation? Does your school work to improve the health and wellness of students and faculty with coordinated schoo...
By Kate Falk
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Multicultural Scientific Contributions Matter Every Day
February is designated as Black History Month. Why is this the only time that black inventors and scientists are recognized? —Tammy, Alabama...
By Sharon Delesbore
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Using rain to manipulate art media, and modeling rain
A day where the rain had lasted so long that the playground became soupy led to an investigation of the properties of art media—tempera paint and oil pastels. As a science investigation we (most of us) followed my procedure of using tempera paint o...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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President Releases Education Budget for FY21 Programs
The Trump Administration released its education budget for FY2021 last week, and it was immediately and rounded criticized by education advocates and denounced by Democratic lawmakers. The president is proposing a 7.8 percent cut to U.S. Departmen...
By Jodi Peterson
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Fact or phony? Scientifically evaluating data
From information about the novel coronavirus to viral posts on social media, it can be a challenge to sort out fact from fiction in what we read on the web. Students face this challenge in their daily reading, too, and these featured resources can he...
By Claire Reinburg
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As I continue to teach my science class, I often wonder throughout my unit if the students are really grasping the concepts. How do I know my students are getting it? Don, New York...
By Sharon Delesbore
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Novel Coronavirus: What’s the Real Story?
Author: William Reed, High School STEM Teacher at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep, Chicago, IL Grade Level: Secondary Lesson Overview In this lesson, students will generate and prioritize questions about the novel COVID-19 and evaluate scienti...
By Korei Martin
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Enhancing STEM in PreK-3 Education by Kevin Anderson
In September of 2019, Education Commission of the States (ECS) brought together a group of experts in early childhood and/or STEM education to discuss policies and actions a state might implement to support STEM programming for preschool through thir...
By Kate Falk
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I love science fair but is it still practical? Rosa, TX...
By Sharon Delesbore
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I use social media but I am not sure of the best way to incorporate it into teaching. Do the rules for student confidentiality vary from school to school, and is it best to create a page focused entirely for teaching and teaching resources only? —H...
By Gabe Kraljevic
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Achieving Equity Through Assessments
Our school requires all students to take chemistry. We teach all levels, ranging from Collaborative/Inclusive Chemistry to Honors and AP Chemistry. All of our classes have students who speak different languages, as well as students with a range of so...
By Laura Littrell and Kevin Williams
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NGSS: Planning for Science Success for All Students
Creating an Environment for All Students to Show Their Understanding Much discussion has focused on how the NGSS (and other state standards based on the Framework and NGSS) make science accessible to all students. I believe all students can be suc...
By Hallie Booth
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Using Senses in Nature to Experience Equity
In one of my favorite lessons, I take my kindergarten students outside to explore the schoolyard. Though I take my students outdoors throughout the year, I do this lesson at the beginning of the year because it’s an opportunity to teach students to...
By Julia Deevers-Rich