JoinAll Resources
Journal Article
Students use marker sparkers and graphic organizers to support science understanding....
Journal Article
A collaborative of STEM and education faculty developed a STEM certificate aimed at elementary education majors. Initial assessment results showed significant gains in confidence and competence on the basis of knowledge test items....
Journal Article
The Early Years: Drawing Movement
This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. This month’s issue describes how drawing can help assess what children understand about physical actions and teach children about using drawing to reflect o...
Journal Article
Formative Assessment Probes: Birthday Candles: Visually Representing Ideas
This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. This month’s issue discusses using visual representations to support students' explanations....
Journal Article
Valuing Little Steps Toward Inquiry
This article shows how taking small steps toward practicing scientific inquiry can shift the way teachers present core ideas and encourage students to communicate their scientific understanding....
Journal Article
This article introduces a pedagogical approach to using technology to teach global warming....
Journal Article
Students use food to enhance understanding of physical and chemical changes....
Journal Article
The New Teacher's Toolbox: Mastering Classroom Management (Part 2)
This column shares tips for teachers just beginning their career. This month’s issue discusses classroom management....
Journal Article
Citizen Science International Pellet Watch
Scour local beaches for evidence of plastic resin pellets inadvertently released into our oceans....
Journal Article
Connecting to Your Community Through Birds and Citizen Science
Use BirdSleuth to engage students in a variety of community-based birding activities....
Journal Article
Enhancing Geographic and Digital Literacy With a Student-Generated Course Portfolio in Google Earth
Google Earth can serve as a platform for students to construct a course ePortfolio. By having students construct their own placemarks in a customized Google Earth file, students document their learning in a geospatial context, learn an innovative use...
Journal Article
Speaking of Science: Invite Speakers From Your Community to Bring the Science Curriculum to Life
Reach out to science profressionals in your community to explore how science is used in a variety of careers....
Journal Article
Across the City and Across Grades: Investigating Energy Flow in the Boston Harbor Ecosystem
Discover how students can conduct an in-depth study of a local ecosystem....
Journal Article
Turtle Conservation and Citizen Science: A Winning Combination for Your Classroom
Connect students to the natural world by studying the impact of invasive species in your neck of the woods....
Journal Article
Augmented Reality Games: Using Technology on a Budget
Take a smart-phone-enhanced tour of your school to solve a recycling mystery....
Journal Article
From Data to Policy: An Undergraduate Program in Research and Communication
This article describes a student Science and Policy course for undergraduate science majors. During this program pairs of students undertake research projects while receiving instruction in both research methods and science translation....
Journal Article
This article describes two activities for life science or biology classes. Students noodle bivalves and gastropods from a covered container, determining organism density as number per square meter and catch per unit effort. Students analyze their res...
Journal Article
This article examines the students' mixed perceptions of the use of active learning techniques in undergraduate science lectures....
Journal Article
Case Study: My Favorite Case and What Makes It So
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 the authors discuss the results of a poll asking about favorite case study to...
Journal Article
The purpose of this study was to explore students' perspectives on an integrated inquiry-based biology program and their perceptions of science and scientific inquiry after completing the program....
Journal Article
Make Your Own Phylogenetic Tree
A simulation activity helps students better understand phylogeny and molecular similarity....
Journal Article
Point of View: College Science for Preservice Elementary Teachers: What Is the Best Approach?
This column shares reflections or thoughtful opinions on issues of broad interest to the community. This article talks about college-level science courses that future elementary teachers take as part of an elementary education major....
Journal Article
Editor's Corner: Evolving Standards
The Science Teacher’s editor shares thoughts on the current issue....
Journal Article
Research and Teaching: Silent Students' Participation in a Large Active Learning Science Classroom
This study aims to understand the impact of active learning on silent students in a large general chemistry course taught via Socratic questioning and discussion "clicker" questions....
Journal Article
The Green Room: Saving Our Soils
This column focuses on making your teaching more environmentally friendly. This month’s issue disscusses the importance of fertile and arable soil....
Book Chapter
This sample from, What Does an Animal Eat? offers insights into two special aspects of hungry animals: how their teeth and beaks offer clues about what they eat and how the food chain helps make sure there’s enough for all. ...
NSTA Kids
This book tells the amazing story behind seashells: how they are made by mollusks, used for protection and camouflage, and full of clues about all they’ve been through. Inspired by Next Time You See a Seashell, young readers will find these intrica...
NSTA Press Book
Inquiring Scientists, Inquiring Readers: Using Nonfiction to Promote Science Literacy, Grades 3–5
Winner of the Distinguished Achievement Award from PreK-12 Learning Group, Association of American Publishers!...
By Jessica Fries-Gaither, Terry Shiverdecker
Book Chapter
The Science-Literacy Connection
There has been much talk about integrating science and literacy instruction in recent years. Why this focus, particularly in the elementary classroom? One very practical reason is to make time in a crowded curriculum. Teachers are confronted with the...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the class works to answer the question, What are the characteristics of trees? Each group of students in the class selects a type of tree to investigate, such as oak, ash, or maple, and then answers the subquestion, “What are the c...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, students work to answer the question, How does the shape of a bird’s wing affect its flight? Students first investigate how factors such as wing length and shape affect the takeoff and flight of a paper airplane. They use this info...
Book Chapter
Drip Drop Detectives: Exposing The Water Cycle
Throughout the inquiry, in this chapter, students play the role of scientists who are investigating the question, How can a drop of water travel around the world? Students examine the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, infiltration, and transpir...