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Blog Post
The Most Profound News of Valentine’s Day 2017
This Valentine’s Day, while most media attention was focused on the dismissal of the National Security Advisor, The New York Times ran a story that received much less media attention, but has far greater potential impact on our nation’s future....
By David Evans, NSTA Executive Director
Blog Post
Big learning from short observations of birds: February 17-20, 2017
Walk outside with your children, watch and count birds for 15 minutes while recording the names of those you know, and report your bird count to be part of a world-wide citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds, creating an annual snaps...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Avoiding Electrical Hazards in the Lab
In science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) labs, teachers and students can be exposed to a number of electrical hazards such as damaged electrical receptacles, missing ground prongs, and faulty electrical equipment. These hazards can result...
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
Join NSTA Press Authors at the 2017 National Conference in Los Angeles
We rely on their expertise and have their books lined up on our resource shelves for handy reference, but the opportunity to hear so many NSTA Press authors speak in person is too good to pass up. The array of authors who are scheduled to present a...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
The Surefire FirePak: A Smartphone Science Studio Lighting Solution
As smartphone cameras take on an ever-more sophisticated role in the science classroom, the technical limits of phone photography become more apparent. Luckily, a dose of strong light can overcome many problems as well as provide access to a world ...
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
Science education "trifecta"
I’m looking for creative ways for students to share what they know, other than traditional written reports or essays. —K., Michigan The creative process in science involves novel ways of thinking, problem solving, and communicating. When st...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Ed News: Scientists Take on New Roles in K–12 Classrooms
This week in education news, scientists take on new roles in K–12 classrooms, the U.S. Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary, a new report finds California teacher shortages have led to ‘severe consequences’, the U.S. Ho...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
The goTenna Off-Grid Communication Device: Take A "Cell Network" on your next Field Trip
Imagine co-leading a science field trip indoors in a large museum with questionable cell coverage, or outside and too far from the nearest cell tower. The goTenna system allows you to directly contact another goTenna equipped teacher using their smar...
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
DeVos Confirmed as ED Secretary/House Kills ESSA Accountability Regulations
After a long and contentious confirmation battle the Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education on February 7 after a highly partisan 51 to 50 vote. Vice President Mike Pence cast the deciding vote to confirm DeVos after two Republican Se...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
An ECSTEM conference experience
An early childhood education conference is an opportunity to meet others who share a passion for improving our science teaching practice, meet our education mentors and gain new insights into why certain educational practices are effective. It’s a ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
The Celestron Micro-Fi Wireless Digital Microscope: A Handful of Wow!
The term “wireless” does not so much describe what is, but instead what isn’t. And what isn’t is wires. What’s strange about many wireless technologies is there was never a wired version to begin with so describing the device by...
By Martin Horejsi
Blog Post
STEM Sims: Interactive Simulations for the STEM Classroom
Introduction...
By Edwin P. Christmann
Blog Post
Mentoring — A team effort
The most experienced science teacher is retiring this year at the middle school where I am principal. The other five teachers on the science faculty are early in their teaching careers. What are your thoughts on asking an experienced non-science teac...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Commentary: It's About Time to Teach Evolution Forthrightly
Fifty years ago, in 1967, the Tennessee legislature repealed the Butler Act, a 1925 law that made it a misdemeanor for a teacher in the state’s public schools to “teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in ...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Students Teaching Science to Younger Students
A Science Ambassador from North Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia, uses a tube with a marble inside it as a “roller coaster” to teach an elementary school student about gravity, force, and motion....
By Debra Shapiro