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Blog Post
Recently, I did a hands-on workshop for other teachers on science apps and probes. I thought it went really well, and no one had any questions at the end of the session. But now, I’m getting lots of messages and phone calls for help. My colleag...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Argument-Driven Inquiry in Physical Science
Interested in teaching your students how to make and support their science explanations in the classroom? We’ve got just the thing. The newest books in the Argument-Driven Inquiry Series from NSTA Press is here....
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
What did you do before the navigation apps on your smartphone? Just a few (OK, several) years ago we were all using paper road maps, or finding our way using local landmarks. But think about the lack of landmarks for a WWII fighter pilot navigating o...
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
Focus on Physics: How E = mc2 Helps Us Understand Nuclear Fission and Fusion
Nuclear physics has an undeserved reputation for being tough for students. This article may reduce this “toughness” by showing how Einstein’s familiar equation E = mc2 relates to the reductions in mass and enormous releases of energy that o...
By sstuckey
Blog Post
P-47 and the Turbo Supercharger
You have to wonder about the engineering design advantages of a P-47 Thunderbolt airplane when WWII pilot Archie Maltbie recalls, “I flew the P-47 Thunderbolt in the 365th (Hellhawk) Fighter Group . . . and I know without doubt that I owe my life t...
By Judy Elgin Jensen
Blog Post
Health Wise: Keeping Track of Sugar
Students should consume no more than 25 g (6 tsp.) of added sugar per day, recommends the American Heart Association (AHA 2016)....
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Ideas and inspiration from NSTA’s December K-12 journals
Elementary and middle school teachers have a real gold mine this month – both journals have the theme of Energy....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Seeing the Real Me: Using Loose Parts from Nature to Create Self Portraits
Guest bloggers Stacey Francois MS, and Hannah Goble presented a poster session at the national conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. I was delighted to be able to talk with them about their work and am pl...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Congress left town last week after the Senate averted a government shutdown and approved a continuing resolution (CR) that will fund the government at FY17 funding levels through April 28....
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
The Harmful Particles in 3-D Printers
As three-dimensional printers are starting to become more common in science, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), and Fab labs, recent research indicates that 3-D printers pose serious health and safety concerns....
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
After a recent observation, my supervisor commented that the students did not seem engaged in the activity. I was surprised because the students were busy working. How can you tell if students are really “engaged”? —P., Oklahoma Ask you...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
This week friends who live on opposite sides of the country messaged me to go look at the Moon and a bright “star” in the southern skies, the planet Venus. The Geminid meteor shower is also happening but the urban light pollution in my area plus...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Statistics for younger students
Our math department wants students in all subjects and grade levels to do more with statistics and graphing. I do graphing with my students in elementary science, but are younger students ready for statistics? —G., Pennsylvania...
By Mary Bigelow