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NSTA Press Book

Teaching Science Through Trade Books

“‘What was your favorite book as a child?’ In more than 10 years of facilitating workshops, we have never heard anyone reply, ‘My fourth-grad...

By Christine Anne Royce, Emily Morgan, Karen Ansberry

Elementary Middle School Earth & Space Science General Science Physical Science Assessment Curriculum Instructional Materials Lesson Plans Teaching Strategies Interdisciplinary Literacy Teacher Preparation

Moon Phase and Solar Eclipse

Book Chapter

Moon Phase and Solar Eclipse

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ understanding of the Earth- Sun-Moon system well enough to explain the causes of Moon...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science Assessment

What Are Stars Made Of?

Book Chapter

What Are Stars Made Of?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about how astronomers investigate the composition of stars. The probe is designed ...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science Assessment Disciplinary Core Ideas Phenomena Three-Dimensional Learning

How Far Away Is the Sun?

Book Chapter

How Far Away Is the Sun?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about relative distance. The probe is designed to find out if students can appl...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science 5E Science and Engineering Practices

Comparing Eclipses

Book Chapter

Comparing Eclipses

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about eclipse phenomena. The probe is designed to determine if students have a men...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science 5E Science and Engineering Practices

How Long Is a Day on the Moon?

Book Chapter

How Long Is a Day on the Moon?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the day-night cycle on the Moon. The probe is designed to find out if stude...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science 5E Science and Engineering Practices

Falling Through the Earth

Book Chapter

Falling Through the Earth

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about Earth’s gravity. The probe is designed to find out how students think g...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science 5E Science and Engineering Practices

NSTA Press Book

Uncovering Student Ideas in Astronomy: 45 New Formative Assessment Probes

What do your students know—or think they know—about what causes night and day, why days are shorter in winter, and how to tell a planet from a sta...

By Page Keeley, Cary Sneider

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science Assessment Curriculum Instructional Materials Lesson Plans NGSS Phenomena Teaching Strategies Interdisciplinary Teacher Preparation

NSTA Press Book

Connecting With Nature: A Naturalist's Perspective

One of my earliest memories is of a warm day, a field with many grasshoppers, a shallow creek with cold water, and the joy of a day in the hills with ...

By Robert Stebbins

Elementary High School Middle School General Science

NSTA Press Book

Learning and Teaching Scientific Inquiry: Research and Applications

Science teacher educators, curriculum specialists, professional development facilitators, and K–8 teachers are bound to increase their understanding...

By James Jadrich, Crystal Bruxvoort

Elementary Informal Education Middle School General Science Assessment Instructional Materials Teaching Strategies New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Professional Learning old Teacher Preparation

Making Thinking Visible: A Method to Encourage Science Writing in Upper Elementary Grades

Book Chapter

Making Thinking Visible: A Method to Encourage Science Writing in Upper Elementary Grades

Writing, in conjunction with other activities such as reading and hands-on experiences, contributes to greater critical thinking, thoughtful considera...

Elementary Literacy

NSTA Press Book

Models-Based Science Teaching

Humans perceive the world by constructing mental models—telling a story, interpreting a map, reading a book. Every way we interact with the world in...

By Steven W. Gilbert

Elementary High School Middle School Teaching Strategies New Science Teachers Professional Learning old Teacher Preparation

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