JoinAll Resources
Journal Article
Case Study: Testing With Case Studies
This column provides original articles on innovations in case study teaching, assessment of the method, as well as case studies with teaching notes. This month’s issue discusses using case studies to test for knowledge or lessons learned....
Journal Article
Inviting Engineering Into the Science Lab
Two guided-inquiry lessons display the integration of NGSS engineering practices into traditional elementary labs....
Journal Article
An interdisciplinary classroom study provides fifth graders with opportunities to explore the properties of soil....
Journal Article
Blade Structure and Wind Turbine Function
Third and fifth graders co-investigate and co-design wind turbine blades and voltage output....
Journal Article
Bringing Your Classroom to Life
Exploring the relationship between structure and function in living things....
Journal Article
Editor's Note: Structure and Function
Science and Children’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue....
Journal Article
Teaching Through Trade Books: Every Part Has a Purpose
This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. In this month’s issue students explore the structure and function of designed objects, introducing them to the world of engineering....
Journal Article
The Early Years: Getting Messy With Matter
This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. This month’s issue shows how students experience painting on a variety of surfaces and compare their observations of the paint-surface relationship....
Journal Article
Safety First: Safer Science Explorations for Young Children
This article discusses preparation for science exploration safety for preK through grade 2....
Journal Article
Formative Assessment Probes: Soil and Dirt: The Same or Different?
This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. This month’s issue explores children's commonly held ideas about soil....
Journal Article
Engineering Encounters: Am I Really Teaching Engineering to Elementary Students?
Lessons from an environmental engineering summer camp for first and second graders....
Journal Article
Methods and Strategies: Bringing the Outside In
This column provides ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching. In this month’s issue students learn ecology through the study of native plants....
Journal Article
Science 101: What Do We Mean by Structure and Function in Science?
This column provides background science information for elementary teachers. This month’s issue explores the meaning of structure and function....
Journal Article
Biomimicry: The "Natural" Intersection of Biology and Engineering
Combine standards from engineering and biology while designing technology inspired by nature....
Journal Article
Bringing Historical Scientific Arguments Back to Life: The Case of Continental Drift
Reexamine the scientific debates that surrounded the birth of the theory of plate tectonics....
Journal Article
Why Theories Do Not Turn Into Laws
Explore what scientists mean when they talk about laws and theories, with the help of a cube and cards....
Journal Article
Use a visual approach to identify an organism's structural and behavioral adaptations and explain how they increase its chances of survival....
Journal Article
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12
Books published in 2014 and selected by the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council....
Journal Article
The Surprising Patterns of Health and Disease
Learn how connecting seemingly unrelated patterns can lead to unexpected scientific discoveries....
Journal Article
Editor's Roundtable: Crosscutting Concepts: The Ties That Bind
Science Scope’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue....
Journal Article
Guest Editorial: Interdisciplinary Science: A Fresh Approach From the Past
An opinion piece about integrated learning....
Journal Article
Everyday Engineering: Budding Sound Engineers: Listening to Speakers and Earbuds
In this 5E learning-cycle lesson, students construct a simple speaker consisting of a coil of wire, a magnet, and a disposable cup for a diaphragm that is connected to an MP3 player. Students then evaluate competing design solutions to determine how ...
Journal Article
Tried and True: Let's Play That Again! Engaging Students in Ecology by Using Instructional Games
Teachers can harness the power of play as an instructional strategy in their classrooms. This article describes two ecological games that can be used in an outdoor education context or in a classroom....
Journal Article
Teacher's Toolkit: The Argumentation and Evaluation Guide: Encouraging NGSS-Based Critical Thinking
In this article the authors focus on how you can use a new tool—argumentation and evaluation guide—to enhance argumentation in the classroom, evaluate a claim made by others, and make and explain claims based on evidence from laboratory experimen...
Journal Article
Scope on the Skies: A Year in Time
This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. This month’s issue discusses the history of the development of various calendars....
Journal Article
Scope on Safety: Reacting Safely
This column shares safety information for your classroom. This month’s issue covers the safety of hazardous chemicals....
Book Chapter
Using the 5E Model to Implement the Next Generation Science Standards
This chapter provides recommendations for translating standards into instructional materials that are usable for those with the real task of teaching. The discussion provides an affirmative answer to the question: How can the BSCS 5E Instructional Mo...
Book Chapter
Why Does Skill in Questioning Engage Students in Purposeful Standards-Based Learning?
Students need to see purpose for what they are learning as they engage in literacy practices. Children ask questions and make connections to what is being learned in the classroom every day—on the playground, at home, walking to and from class, and...
Book Chapter
Teaching Science for Conceptual Understanding: An Overview
A primary goal of science education is teaching for conceptual understanding. But what does this mean? We argue that teaching for conceptual understanding can and should exist alongside the pressures of testing, “covering the curriculum,” and ins...
Book Chapter
Students With Disabilities and the Next Generation Science Standards
The Next Generation Science Standards require that students engage in science and engineering practices to develop deeper understanding of the disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts. ...
Book Chapter
NGSS: Giving Every Student a Choice
The process for developing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) was not a simple one. There were many decisions made that while necessary did not make the process simpler. However, one decision was never in debate—the NGSS were meant for al...
Book Chapter
This chapter serves two purposes. First, it provides a context for the work presented in A Framework for K–12 Science Education and the guiding document that underlies the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Second, it discusses that scienc...
Book Chapter
On Building Policy Support for the <i>Next Generation Science Standards</i>
In this chapter, the editor discusses observations made as a foundation officer at Carnegie Corporation of New York throughout the development of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). In particular,...
Book Chapter
Charges of the NGSS Diversity and Equity Team
This chapter summarizes the four tasks of the team. By understanding the far-reaching charges to address diversity and equity across many related topics and products, readers will appreciate how the interests of diverse student groups were taken into...
Book Chapter
Conceptual Framework Guiding the NGSS Diversity and Equity
This chapter is intended to guide readers to better understand the case studies. It lays the conceptual grounding for effective classroom strategies identified for each demographic student group. It also highlights caveats to understand the purpose o...
Book Chapter
Economically Disadvantaged Students and the Next Generation Science Standards
Teachers of economically disadvantaged students will have to narrow the achievement gap while also meeting the higher expectations presented by the new standards. In this chapter, effective teaching strategies for economically disadvantaged students ...
Book Chapter
Students From Racial and Ethnic Groups and the Next Generation Science Standards
Effective strategies for students from major racial and ethnic groups are categorized as culturally relevant pedagogy, community involvement and social activism, multiple representation and multimodal experiences, and school support systems including...
Book Chapter
English Language Learners and the Next Generation Science Standards
The science and engineering practices described in the NGSS are language intensive and present both language demands and language learning opportunities for English language learners. This vignette illustrates how very young students, many of whom ar...