All Resources

Journal Article

Dance Like a Butterfly

An integrated first-grade lesson....

Early Childhood Biology Life Science Lesson Plans

Journal Article

Editor's Note: Observing Heredity

Science and Children’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue....

Elementary Biology Life Science

Journal Article

The Early Years: Teaching Life Cycles Throughout the Year

This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. This month’s article shows how to introduce children to animals and their offspring commonly seen in children’s literature....

Early Childhood Elementary Pre-service Teachers Preschool Life Science Inquiry Science and Engineering Practices

Journal Article

Formative Assessment Probes: Uncovering Students’ Ideas About Inherited Traits

This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. This month’s issue discusses the “Baby Mice” probe, which is designed for middle and high school students, but it can be used with grades 3–5 to elicit students’ initial ideas ab...

Elementary Life Science Assessment Learning Progression

Journal Article

Teaching Through Trade Books: Investigating Heredity

This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. Younger students must be able to recognize that animals or plants of the same species can be similar, but there is still variation within a species. This idea is examined in this mo...

Elementary Preschool 5E Instructional Materials

Journal Article

The Poetry of Science: Comparing Cats

Building literacy in playful, meaningful ways. This issue investigates characteristics and traits of the lion and the house cat....

Early Childhood Elementary Biology General Science Lesson Plans Teaching Strategies Literacy

Journal Article

Science 101: If Evolution Is Based on “Survival of the Fittest,” Why Do Diseases Such as Cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease Persist in the Human Population?

This column provides background science information for elementary teachers. This issue answers the question while discussing genetics and evolution....

Elementary Middle School Biology Evolution Professional Learning old

Journal Article

Science 102: Tricky Numbers

This column shares exercises to challenge content knowledge. This issue presents a new challenge and answers the A Bunny of a Different Color challenge from last month....

Elementary High School Middle School Mathematics Inquiry Phenomena

Journal Article

Engineering Encounters: Goldilocks and the Engineers

This column presents ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching. This issue shares information about developing science discourse and understanding with kindergarten students....

Early Childhood Elementary

Journal Article

Methods and Strategies: Drawing for Meaning

Students develop three-dimensional skills through scientific drawings....

Elementary General Science Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12: 2018

Recently published books selected by the Children’s Book Council and the National Science Teachers Association....

Early Childhood Elementary High School Informal Education Middle School Pre-service Teachers Preschool

Journal Article

Composting: A Problem, Place, or Project? Using the PBL Trifecta (PBL3) in the Classroom

Combine problem-, place-, and phenomenon-based learning to engage students in a composting project....

Journal Article

The NGSS-ification of Too Slow to Notice: How to Turn Any Unit into a Phenomena-Based, Student-Driven Investigation

Add phenomena to your teaching to support three-dimensional instruction....

Journal Article

A Framework for Integrating Science, Engineering, and Literacy

Incorporate scientific texts into lessons to help students make crosscurricular connections....

Journal Article

Why Do Fishermen Need Forests? Developing a Project-Based Learning Unit With an Engaging Driving Question

Use driving questions and anchoring phenomena to capture students’ curiosity....

Journal Article

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12

Recently published books selected by the Children’s Book Council and the National Science Teachers Association....

Journal Article

From the Editor’s Desk: Tips for Project-Based Learning

Science Scope’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue....

Journal Article

Commentary: Codesigning Science Projects With Students

An opinion piece about including student voice and collaborating with students as project codesigners....

Journal Article

Citizen Science: Take a Stream Selfie for Science

This column highlights formal and informal science research projects that students can join and contribute to by gathering and sharing data. Stream water quality data are lacking across the country, and citizen scientists can help fill the data gap b...

Journal Article

Disequilibrium: The Advantages of Biodegradable Products

This column shows how to use discrepant events to confront misconceptions. In this month’s discrepant event, students learn about the environmental impact of two kinds of packing peanuts. Students then identify an environmental problem within thei...

Journal Article

Listserv Roundup: Note-Taking Strategies in the Science Classroom

This column shares recent conversations taken from the NSTA listserv community about current science education topics. Focusing on tools and strategies that not only organize information but also increase student interaction with that information, t...

Journal Article

Science For All: Managing Group Work

This column shares strategies for increasing student engagement. Although group work has its advantages, it can present issues in the middle school classroom. In this column, the authors share problems to look for when implementing group work in your...

Journal Article

Teacher To Teacher: Teaching With Everyday Phenomena

This column provides practical advice from your peers. The author describes the process of making ice cream as a good example of an anchoring phenomenon....

Journal Article

Scope on the Skies: Storms From the Skies

This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. This issue discusses meteor showers and storms. ...

Journal Article

Elements of Making

A framework to support making in the science classroom....

Journal Article

Grouping Minerals by Their Formulas

Students use a periodic table to identify patterns in mineral formulas and develop classification systems....

Journal Article

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12

Recently published books selected by the Children’s Book Council and the National Science Teachers Association....

Journal Article

Our Watershed

Students use data and models to make a difference in their own school yard....

Journal Article

Going Beyond the X

Using modeling to teach DNA replication....

Journal Article

Arguing Over Life and Death

Students decide: Which endangered species should be saved?...

Journal Article

Editor’s Corner: “Making” a Difference

The Science Teacher’s editor shares thoughts on the current issue....

Journal Article

Focus on Physics: Electromagnetic Waves and the Speed of Light

This column helps teachers build an understanding of physical principles. This issue covers electromagnetic waves....

Journal Article

Science 2.0: Drones for the Science Classroom

This column shares web tools that support learning. This issue discusses using tools flown on drones to measure and work with different forms of authentic data collected....

High School Engineering STEM Technology

Journal Article

Career of the Month: Additive Engineer

This column shares interviews with professionals using science in the workplace. This issue describes Josh Mook's career path to becoming an Additive Engineer....

Journal Article

Right to the Source: Making Old New Again

Exploring science and history with the Library of Congress. This issue discusses the FSA-OWI Photograph Collection....

Book Chapter

Problem-Based Learning in the Physical Science Classroom, K-12 (Book Sample)

Problem-Based Learning in the Physical Science Classroom, K–12 will help your students truly understand concepts such as motion, energy, and magnetism in true-to-life contexts. The book offers a comprehensive description of why, how, and when to ...

eBook

Animal Adaptations (e-book)

From feet to color to teeth, animals have many special structures that help them survive. These physical characteristics help them move, find food, and protect themselves. Animal Adaptations allows children to use their powers of observation to compa...