All Resources

Journal Article

Preparing Undergraduates for Professional Writing

The inability to write scientific papers effectively remains a problem for many college students. To identify pedagogical constructs that help undergraduates write well in scientific formats, the authors evaluated the effect of the number and type of...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Lingo of learning crossword

Test your knowledge of basic science terms and educational terminology with this Lingo of Learning crossword puzzle. ...

Journal Article

Plants on Display

Plants play an essential role in daily life, making them a natural subject of study for a standards-based unit in the elementary science curriculum. One creative way to give students direct experience with living plants is by using theme-based live p...

Journal Article

Genetic Building Blocks

The “Central Dogma” of genetics states that one gene, located in a DNA molecule, is ultimately translated into one protein. As important as this idea is, many teachers shy away from teaching the actual mechanism of gene translation, and many stud...

Journal Article

Society for College Science Teachers: Do You Need an Introductory Science Specialist?

For your next general science hire, provide your introductory level students with an expert. This article discusses the practical reasons why you should consider hiring an Introductory Science Specialist—someone who has the background, expertise, a...

Journal Article

Editor’s Corner: Greetings, Fellow Science Teachers!

In this month’s column, Steve Metz introduces himself as the new field editor of The Science Teacher (TST). His primary goal for TST is a simple one—to make your journal as useful to you as possible. Since science teachers lead busy lives, ...

Journal Article

Idea Bank: Starting the Year off Right

As science teachers today are called upon to meet the goals set out by state and national standards and the No Child Left Behind Act, teachers cannot afford to waste classroom time. Efficient classroom management is now more important than ever and t...

Journal Article

Make a Splash Day

Project WET's Make a Splash Water Education Days provide plentiful learning opportunities for elementary students and preservice teachers. At these annual, all-day events held in nearly every state across the country each September, students partici...

Journal Article

Scope on Safety: Responsible use of live animals in the classroom

Keeping live animals in the classroom or laboratory makes science come alive for students. The use of animals in the classroom or laboratory is highly encouraged, providing appropriate care and safety are addressed. This article addresses appropriate...

Journal Article

Tried and True: Inquiring about water quality

This Tried and True activity asks students to purify a sample of water. After a short narrative describing a fish’s journey downstream past various sources of pollution, students are presented with the focus question, "Which is the best method to c...

Journal Article

Career of the Month: An Interview with Animal Nutritionist Mark Edwards

As an animal nutritionist with the Zoological Society of San Diego, Mark Edwards loves being part of a unique program that strives to provide world-class, science-based care for animals. The experience he brings to his job (he previously worked as an...

Journal Article

Teaching Photosynthesis

This activity is designed to get students engaged in learning the topic of photosynthesis. Students are given a sheet with various facts about photosynthesis on it. They cut the clues out, sort them into categories, and discuss their reasoning with t...

Journal Article

Research and Teaching: Promoting Student Learning in a Large General Chemistry Course

Based on recent reports in the science education literature, curricular modifications were made to one section of a freshman-level general chemistry course. Assessment results indicate that these modifications resulted in a more student-centered lear...

Journal Article

Summertime, and the Reading Is Easy

If your plans for preparing for the upcoming summer school year include relaxing with a good read, join the club! NSTA's Reading Club, that is. The arrival of summer means that many teachers finally have some free time to get caught up on their readi...

Journal Article

State Standards and Evolution

Most states’ science-education standards support the teaching of evolution, but many in the general public and some policymakers want science classrooms to include creationism. As a result of this influence, are educators teaching creationism even ...