All Resources

Journal Article

Blending Language Learning With Science

With purposeful planning, teachers can reach all students with the dual goals of language development and scientific inquiry....

Journal Article

Career of the Month: Astrophysicist

This column shares interviews with professionals using science in the workplace. This month’s issue describes an astrophysicist's schooling and job....

Journal Article

Testing for Toxins Using <i>Daphnia spp.</i> and Table Salt

Conduct a simple toxicity test with a familiar chemical. Students learn about key concepts in science, including measuring volume and mass, serial dilutions, and data collection and interpretation....

Journal Article

Editor's Roundtable: Respect the Web

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

Journal Article

A Performance of the Heart

A musical rap strengthens students' academic understanding of the circulatory system....

Journal Article

The Stratigraphic Sandwich

This article describes an approach in which students develop and apply definitions prior to their formal introduction to new vocabulary. The example given is an inquiry-based lesson on geologic principles. ...

Book Chapter

Classroom Considerations: Behavior

Behavior management is probably never an issue in your advanced-level science class, and you should not assume that it will be now that you have a student with a disability in your class. Remember that good preparation on your part will go a long way...

Book Chapter

Basic Special Education Terms and Laws

Science teachers are not responsible for knowing the intricacies of disabilities and disability laws, but the fact that students with disabilities will be in the classroom means that they need to have at least a working knowledge of disability termin...

Book Chapter

Working With the IEP Team

The science teacher is an important member of the IEP team—bringing unique knowledge and perspective—and communication with the rest of the team will lead to the best possible outcome for students with disabilities in advanced science classes. Th...

Book Chapter

Classroom Considerations: Instruction

This chapter focuses on the classroom. When students with disabilities are part of an advanced class, the content of the class will remain the same but the science teacher may need to make some slight adjustments to the instruction to ensure that all...

Book Chapter

Labs

Laboratory experiments are an essential component to the accelerated classroom and provide an interactive learning environment linking science concepts to “real world” observations. While the actual laboratory experiments or exercises will vary d...

Book Chapter

Assistive Technology and Your Classroom

Incorporation of technology into the advanced classroom has flourished as the national focus on success in STEM classes has accelerated. The assumption is that new technologies support student learning of scientific concepts and processes. Being rec...

Book Chapter

End-of-Year Testing

This chapter addresses requesting testing accommodations for students who need them from either the College Board or International Baccalaureate (IB). Planning is essential to success, so identifying which students will need to have testing accommod...

Book Chapter

Final Thoughts

One of the most important foundations for student success is the teacher. Particularly important is being open and willing to welcome students with disabilities into the classroom. The discussion in this chapter addresses concerns related to recruiti...

Journal Article

Science 101: What's Really Going on in Electric Circuits?

This column provides background science information for elementary teachers. In this month’s issue the author explores electric circuits....

Journal Article

Research and Teaching: Assessing the Effects of Prior Conceptions on Learning Gene Expression

Gene expression is a highly theoretical concept that requires advanced reasoning skills to comprehend. Often, students receive instruction but fail to replace prior conceptions and thus do not benefit. To investigate the reason for this failure, we u...

Journal Article

Learning the Ropes With Electricity

Students create a hands-on classroom model illustrating a closed circuit along with other activities that explore the flow of electricity through modeling....

Journal Article

Case Study: Applying Newton's Third Law of Motion in the Gravitron Ride

This column provides original articles on innovations in case study teaching, assessment of the method, as well as case studies with teaching notes. In this month’s issue students learn about centripetal and frictional forces through a case study i...

Journal Article

Supercharging Lessons With a Virtual Lab

A virtual lab supplements an exploration of simple circuits....

Journal Article

Formative Assessment Probes: When Equipment Gets in the Way

This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. This month’s issue discusses how to elicit students' initial ideas about how to light a bulb with a battery and a wire....

Journal Article

The <i>Next Generation Science Standards</i>: A Focus on Physical Science

This article focuses on the NGSS disciplinary core ideas in physical science, the development of those ideas across time, the importance of blending core ideas with scientific and engineering practices to build understanding, and the development of p...

Journal Article

In Pursuit of Sustainable STEM Certification Programs

This article investigates the impact of a unique prescholarship internship available to freshman and sophomore science majors who are exploring the possibility of becoming secondary STEM teachers....

Journal Article

Safety First: Getting Wired on Safety

This column provides best safety practices for the science classroom. This month's issue discusses safety when doing electrical activities. ...

Journal Article

Methods and Strategies: Birds of a Feather . . .

This column provides ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching. This month’s issue investigates birds....

Journal Article

Upload, Download: Empowering Students Through Technology-Enabled Problem-Based Learning

Harness students' fascination with technology and social media to build critical 21st-century skills....

Journal Article

The New Teacher's Toolbox: From Content to Skills

This column shares tips for teachers just beginning their career. This month’s issue offers ideas to get students to practice explanation and argumentation skills....

Journal Article

Point of View: The Scientific Method: Reality or Myth?

This column shares reflections or thoughtful opinions on issues of broad interest to the community. This month’s issue talks about the flaws of the scientific method....

Journal Article

Safer Science: Waste Not, Want Not

This column provides best safety practices for the science classroom and laboratory. This month’s issue discusses what to do with laboratory waste....

Journal Article

Teacher's Toolkit: Choice: The Dragon Slayer of Student Complacency

This column provides how-to strategies and practical advice for the science teacher. This month’s issue discusses how middle level science teachers can differentiate an inquiry-based investigation by modifying the level of structure within the lab ...

Journal Article

Using School-Yard Restoration to Engage Students in Water Stewardship

Engage in conservation activities that help students understand that their choices and actions have a local and global impact....

Journal Article

Beyond Slopes and Points

Teaching students how graphs describe the relationships between scientific phenomena....

Journal Article

A Look at the <i>Next Generation Science Standards</i>

This article and the accompanying diagram provide an overview on the architecture of the Next Generation Science Standards....

Journal Article

The Patterns Approach

This article lays out an approach built upon an introductory unit, "Patterns in Nature," which aims to engage students in constructing their understanding of physics through contextualizing and enhancing their mathematics skills. The unit focuses on ...

Journal Article

Utility of Self-Made Crossword Puzzles as an Active Learning Method to Study Biochemistry in Undergraduate Education

To incorporate an active learning component in a one-semester biochemistry course, students were asked to create crossword puzzles using key concepts. A majority of the students felt that the puzzles enhanced their learning of biochemical concepts....