All Resources

Journal Article

Scope on Safety: Safe Speakers

This column shares safety information for your classroom. In this month’s issue the author discusses how guest speakers can motivate students and help them understand real-world science. The steps that teachers need to take to maximize the benefits...

Journal Article

Life in the Universe: A summary of recent developments in the field of astrobiology

How widespread is life in the universe? The field of astrobiology has been revolutionized within the last few years, and this article offers a concise summary of recent developments, which cross many scientific disciplines....

Journal Article

Bioterrorism and Real-World Science

Involve your students in an inquiry-driven unit on bioterrorism with an authentic simulation of a quarantined biohazard area....

Journal Article

Moon Misconceptions: Bringing pedagogical research of lunar phases into the classroom

Pedagogical research gives a three-step teaching strategy to address misconceptions—identify, overturn, and then replace with a scientific conception. Moon phases is one of the most common and persistent misconceptions among science students. This ...

Journal Article

Home Connections: Sticking Together

How do water striders manage to skitter across the surface of a creek or pond? This article addresses this question by explaining the basics about surface tension. It features two activities for students to try at home: Bulging Water and Soap and Sur...

Journal Article

Food for thought (part II): Mapping the globalization of food supply

Little of the food we eat today is produced locally. Students may be surprised by the number of food products imported into the United States. This lesson investigates the science of food safety by examining the location of origin for foods that we e...

Journal Article

The Nature of Science and Perceptual Frameworks: Emphasizing a more balanced approach to science instruction

The values and assumptions that go hand-in-hand with the production of scientific knowledge are seldom addressed in the classroom. Failure to address this "hidden" nature of science can result in student misconceptions regarding the strengths and wea...

Journal Article

Science in Any Language

This article describes how Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) teaching strategies can help English language learners (ELL) with science. GLAD is a model for planning science, social studies, and literature-based units. It includes a collection...

Journal Article

Evolution and Intelligent Design

Understanding the issues surrounding evolution and intelligent design and dealing with the controversy. This article discusses the process of generating new scientific knowledge and accepting it in our schools, explains why evolution is not in crisis...

Journal Article

Tech Trek: Data collection and analysis tools

This activity is designed to help students learn to use technology to analyze data. In this illustration, students design and conduct a scientific investigation based on data collected from height and arm span measurements. ...

Journal Article

Epidemiology, Science as Inquiry, and Scientific Literacy

Explore a Standards-based curriculum called Detectives in the Classroom that teaches the science of epidemiology for middle-level students....

Journal Article

Making Technology Inclusive

Assistive Technology (AT) helps a person with a physical, cognitive, learning, or speech disability perform tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. There are hundreds of specialized AT devices on the market, but their price tags often ...

Inclusion Technology

Journal Article

Cultured Inquiry: Students learn about the scientific process and gain critical thinking skills through disc diffusion assays

The disc diffusion assay provides a mechanism for students to gain experience conducting scientific inquiry and also gain critical thinking skills. This procedure can be used for guided and authentic inquiry and provides students opportunities to des...

Journal Article

Quality Control and Design in Science Learning

Make the connection between applied science and "pure" science by conducting inquiry-based, quality control investigations on consumer products. For this series of activities, small groups of students examine the composition and mass of chocolate can...

Journal Article

Lichens as Bioindicators

Lichens, the small, colorful organisms growing on trees and rocks, make excellent bioindicators of relative air quality. Map the air pollution in your area by measuring and tracking the lichen growth on local trees....