All Resources

Journal Article

Science Fairs for All

The students involved in this project attended an urban school in the Anchorage School District. The 52 students in the K, 1, 2 multi-age inclusive classroom (21 kindergarten students, 20 first-grade students, and 11 second-grade students) spent the ...

Journal Article

Modifying Cookbook Labs: A different way of teaching a standard laboratory engages students and promotes understanding

In this article, an extended lab activity from a common cookbook approach is modified to determine the percent mass of water in copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate crystals. This modified approach significantly enhances students' understanding of matter...

Journal Article

Float It Down the River: The great water transport contest

Float it Down the River is an exciting design activity that involves students in a hands-on, creative project in which they use higher order thinking skills in a motivating setting. Students working in groups of four to six are challenged to design a...

Journal Article

Blind Students: Facing Challenges in a College Physics Course

Visually impaired students with different educational backgrounds may differ in their analytical and mathematical preparedness, which presents unique obstacles for those who wish to successfully complete a college physics course. This article relates...

Journal Article

How <em>Not</em> to Teach Historical Cases in Science

Not all methods of applying history to teaching science are valid. Rational reconstructions, in particular, present idealized and misleading models. Short vignettes or anecdotes can oversimplify science. Recovering historical context, however, is cri...

Journal Article

NASA Quest

As part of NASA’s Learning Technologies Project, NASA Quest has been connecting students to the people of NASA through the various pages at the website—Learning Technology Channel, Space Team Online, Aerospace Team Online, and Women of NASA. The ...

Journal Article

Motivation with Depth

Three-dimensional illusions offer an ideal and motivating arena for computer technology applications, visual processing investigations, art and science connections, and fun. By offering experience in optical illusions, the author presents an arena in...

Journal Article

Fundamentals of Integrated Science: What teachers should consider when planning an integrated science curriculum

The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) explored integrated science at the high school level through a study funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Although successful programs were developed for elementary and middle school levels,...

Journal Article

The Galapagos

Using problem-based learning and role-playing, students analyze the geological origins of the Galapagos Islands, their colonization, species formation, and threats to their biodiversity in this story of a student caught between local fishermen and go...

Journal Article

Tech Trek: Integration and Presentation

Successful science-fair participants often impress judges with professional-looking displays of their data. Understanding how to use presentation and spreadsheet software to create these displays is a very useful skill. A great way to teach students ...

Journal Article

Diving into a Schoolwide Science Theme: Interdisciplinary lessons for an all-school theme in science, art, and music classes

Science learning can happen anywhere! Using initiative and creativity, teachers of various subjects can create interdisciplinary learning opportunities. In this article, the authors describe how they used the schoolwide theme “Dive into Oceans” t...

Journal Article

Integrated Science Study

Many science teachers in the Los Angeles School District were concerned over the low number of students electing to take a third year of science. Based on this concern, this articles focuses on the science reform effort using integrated/coordinated s...

Journal Article

Investigation—Insects! Creative extension activities can expand a learning kit module into a comprehensive study

What has six legs, three body parts, and is loved by second-grade students? An insect! In the unit described here, students engaged in a comprehensive insect study that incorporated the National Science Content Standards A: Life Science and C: Scienc...

Journal Article

Idea Bank: Seasons Reasons

The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. In this month’s Idea Bank, find out what students need to consider when determining the real "season reason."...

Journal Article

Rev Up Your Veggies! Building model race cars lets students explore physical science concepts and promotes cooperative learning

Intended as a contest to promote teamwork and encourage innovative thinking with a focus on nutrition, the Lunch Box Derby challenges fourth- and fifth-grades students to design, build, and race cars made from fresh produce. Each class is allowed one...