All Resources

Journal Article

Teaching Through Trade Books: Figuring Out Food Chains

This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. In this month’s issue students investigate and construct models of food chains or food webs to help them grasp the core idea....

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Editor's Corner: Earth and Space

The Science Teacher’s editor shares thoughts on the current issue....

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Science 101: How Do Earthworms Function?

This column provides background science information for elementary teachers. In this month’s issue the author discusses the different systems of earthworms....

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Dating the Moon

This article describes ways to teach lunar stratigraphy and the nature of science....

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The Early Years: "Life" Science

This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. This month’s issue discusses the complete life cycle of a plant....

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Building on Students' Knowledge of Solar Cells: Integrating Mathematics and Science to Support Engineering Design Tasks

Explore this weeklong unit on solar energy that supports math and science learning....

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Stromatolites

Teaching Earth and space science with field trips, geologic timelines, and other activities involving these ancient records of life....

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Career of the Month: Materials Engineer

This column shares interviews with professionals using science in the workplace. This month’s issue describes the career path of a materials engineer....

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Guest Editorial: Co-teaching in the Science Classroom: The One Teach/One Assist Model

An opinion piece about what it really means to co-teach....

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The <i>Next Generation Science Standards</i> and the Life Sciences

Using the life sciences, this article first reviews essential features of the NRC Framework for K–12 Science Education that provided a foundation for the new standards. Second, the article describes the important features of life science standards ...

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Lunch-Trash Solar Stills: Learning About the Engineering Design Process Through Earth Science

Create a water-purification systems with recyclables....

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Plants, Alike and Different

The authors planned investigations and taught science lessons that help children extend natural comparisons of physical properties of humans and familiar animals to include observations and comparisons of the physical properties of plants and insects...

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Health Wise: Feel Better, Look Better

This Q&A style column provides up-to-date information on current health topics—helping students (and teachers) make healthy choices. This month’s issue discusses the benefits of daily exercise....

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On the Shoulders of Sir Isaac Newton and Arthur Storer

Today we can engage in the same types of scientific thinking, discussions, and observations of the heavens that Newton and his friend did over 300 years ago....

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Scope on the Skies: Midwinter Skies, Planets, and Orbits, and the Stars of Summer

This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. This month’s issue discusses taking advantage of the longer nights to view objects during winter evenings....

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The Wonder of Worms

To guide kindergarteners in developing a deeper understanding of an earthworm's life cycle, its feeding habits, and its role as a decomposer, the authors designed an inquiry-based unit focused on red wigglers....

Journal Article

The <i>Next Generation Science Standards</i> and the Life Sciences

Using the life sciences, this article first reviews essential features of the NRC Framework for K–12 Science Education that provided a foundation for the new standards. Second, the article describes the important features of life science standards ...

Journal Article

The Green Room: Exploring Fuel Efficiency

This column focuses on making your teaching more environmentally friendly. This month’s issue offers classroom activities dealing with fuel efficiency....

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Scope on Safety: Monitoring for Safety's Sake

This column shares safety information for your classroom. This month’s issue discusses practices that can possibly have negative safety consequences in a laboratory environment....

Journal Article

Idea Bank: Illustrating a Neuron's Action Potential With the "Wave"

The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. This month’s Idea Bank discusses using an activity during a unit on the nervous system to help students grasp the concept of an action potential moving down a n...

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Green Action Through Education: A Model for Fostering Positive Attitudes About STEM

This article describes an innovative collaboration between instructors of non-STEM courses and scientists who teach STEM courses in the GATE (Green Action Through Education) learning community....

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Taking Engineering Design Out for a Spin

How a simple whirligig design challenge can highlight both inquiry and design....

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The Devil's in the Deadlines

This article suggests how to organize a research unit and to plan effective deadlines....

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Safer Science: Safety Speaks in Symbols

This column provides best safety practices for the science classroom and laboratory. This month’s issue discusses the new Safety Data Sheet....

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Methods and Strategies: Unlocking the Power of Visual Communication

Interactive read-alouds help students decode science diagrams and other visual information....

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Cost or Quality?

Teaching fourth and fifth graders about engineering optimization and trade-offs....

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The Neuron Game

Play a game to facilitate students' understanding of the complex and abstract concept of neurons....

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Toward a Better Understanding of Population Genetics: Pop!World—A Virtual, Inquiry-Based Tool for Teaching Population Genetics

Students test hypotheses pertaining to the tenants of Mendelian and population genetics using Pop!World, a virtual tool that teaches introductory population genetics through intuitive, inquiry-based virtual discoveries....

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Health Wise: Curbing Texting While Driving

This column provides up-to-date information on current health topics—along with classroom activities that help students make healthy choices. This month’s issue discusses texting while driving....

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Understanding Today's Students: Entry-Level Science Student Involvement in Academic Dishonesty

The study described in this article provides information needed for effective development of strategies to address issues of academic dishonesty and helping students understand the effects that their actions could have on their lives....

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Strong STEMs Need Strong Sprouts!

In this article students examine how and why plants work through in-depth investigations based on their questions that go far beyond a first-grade understanding of plants....

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Shedding Light on Engineering Design

Scientific inquiry leads to an engineering challenge and both are illuminated. The authors share their instructional approach and demonstrate how teachers can take small steps toward effectively incorporating engineering design in the elementary scie...

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Tried and True: Investigating Change Using the Invisible-Test-Tube Demonstration

This column provides classic demonstrations and experiments with a new twist. This month’s issue describes a simple, inexpensive, engaging way to teach refraction that students will talk about for the entire school year....

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Green Science: Not So Many Fish in the Sea

This column focuses on issues related to environmentally friendly and sustainable science. This month’s issue discusses ocean overfishing....

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The New Teacher's Toolbox: Defining Your Homework Stance (Part 2)

This column shares tips for teachers just beginning their career. This month’s issue discusses approaches to homework....

Journal Article

Scope on the Skies: Which Way Is North?

This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. This month’s issue discusses planetary magnetic fields....