JoinAll Resources
Journal Article
This article describes an academic-year Research Experiences for Undergraduates program targeted at underrepresented students within the University of Hawaii system, shows how it is aligned with best practices for broadening participation, and presen...
Journal Article
To expose students to critical analysis of media and emphasize the nature of science, we required them to access scientific reports and participate in mandatory peer discussions. The vast majority of students indicated that online peer-discussion for...
Journal Article
This article describes engaging students in two simple observations to address the concepts of changes of states, heat, temperature, and molecular potential and kinetic energy....
Journal Article
Assessing General Education Science Courses: A Portfolio Approach
The work presented in this article represents one in-depth example of the integration of portfolio assessment into the standard assessment practices of a general education course for nonscience majors....
NSTA Press Book
Teaching Science Through Trade Books
“‘What was your favorite book as a child?’ In more than 10 years of facilitating workshops, we have never heard anyone reply, ‘My fourth-grade science textbook.’ Clearly, textbooks have an important place in the science classroom, but usin...
By Christine Anne Royce, Emily Morgan, Karen Ansberry
eBook
Teaching Science Through Trade Books (e-book)
“‘What was your favorite book as a child?’ In more than 10 years of facilitating workshops, we have never heard anyone reply, ‘My fourth-grade science textbook.’ Clearly, textbooks have an important place in the science classroom, but usin...
eBook
Everyday Engineering: Putting the E in STEM Teaching and Learning (e-book)
“The idea for Everyday Engineering began with our interest in design and production issues related to the simple ballpoint pen. We were struck by the elegance of the means for retracting the reservoir and transferring the ink to paper …. For some...
Book Chapter
Resurrection Plant: Making Science Come Alive!
An inanimate, seemingly dead, 3–5 in. ball-shape brown object placed in water and exposed to sunlight is observed to “come back alive” and turn into a vibrant green photosynthetic plant over a period of anywhere from several hours to one day...
Book Chapter
Toothbrush Design—Is There A Better Bristle?
What kind of toothbrush do you use—manual or electric? What is the shape of the head and the handle? Could you describe the firmness and the layout of the bristles? Or count the number of bristles? In this 5E Model lesson, students explore various ...
Book Chapter
Historical Use of Trade Books in the Science Classroom
“Teaching Through Trade Books” is a column that has appeared monthly in Science and Children since January 2003. It highlights the science and literacy connections that can be made with children’s literature and provides readers with “novel�...
Book Chapter
In today’s electronic age of video games and MP3 players, children are not spending as much time outdoors as past generations did. Many fear that as a result children are becoming increasingly alienated from the natural world. The lessons in this c...
Book Chapter
We often gloss over the history of science—the women and men who have made advancements in the area of scientific discovery. These notable individuals are the backbone of our field. In the activities, in the chapter, the authors honor these scienti...
Book Chapter
Your students are most likely not knowledgeable about the raw materials, the design processes, and the technology involved in manufacturing the products they use everyday. Making connections with local manufacturers can connect students to the real s...
Book Chapter
“Is it time yet?” is a cry heard from many a student’s mouth. Is it time for lunch? Is it time to go home? Is it time for recess? Is it time for science? (we can always hope)… and the list can go on and on. Students often equate time with an ...
Book Chapter
From the youngest ages children construct buildings, bridges, towers, and anything else that comes to mind using a variety of materials. The books and activities, in this chapter, take this interest in construction and build on it by allowing student...
Book Chapter
The lessons in this chapter challenge students' common misconception that air is "nothing." Using two engaging trade books with "stop-and-try-it" formats, students participate in activities, collect evidence, and develop explanations to prove that ai...
Book Chapter
What goes up mush come down … as long as you aren’t floating in space, that is! So let’s explore the concepts of gravity. In this chapter, the lesson for grades K–2, through several activities and readings, students learn that the force of gr...
Book Chapter
Students of all ages are fascinated by the ups, downs, loops, and twists of roller coaster rides! What they may not realize is that there is a lot of science involved in making a roller coaster work. This chapter puts students in the shoes of a rolle...
Book Chapter
Why Use Trade Books to Teach Science?
One of the most compelling reasons to use picture books to each science concepts is that picture books are highly engaging to students of all ages. This chapter describes what exactly is a trade book as well as some of the benefits of using trade boo...
Book Chapter
The date was December 17, 1903. The place was a windswept beach near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. With Orville Wright at the controls and his brother Wilbur running alongside, the plane took off. This event lasted only 12 seconds, but it made history ...
Book Chapter
When students flick on lights, boot up a computer, or turn on a television, do they think about how that energy is produced? The majority of electricity in the United States is generated from power plants that burn fossil fuels, causing large amounts...
Book Chapter
Water is an extraordinary substance that we often take for granted. Not only is it what makes our planet uniquely habitable, water is the only substance on Earth that naturally occurs in three different forms. In this chapter, students will explore s...
Book Chapter
The kitchen is a wondrous place for children to make observations and explore the basics of chemistry. Seize the opportunity and help students build process skills while cooking or baking. Almost everything we eat and certainly everything that is com...
Book Chapter
From a tiny radish seed to a giant coconut, seeds come in a multitude of shapes and sizes. They all share one amazing secret: the potential to grow into a new plant when conditions are right. In this chapter, students observe a variety of seeds, matc...
Book Chapter
Walk through any elementary school in the fall and you are bound to see students learning about pumpkins. Kids of all ages are fascinated by these versatile, edible members of the gourd family. Pumpkins are interesting and inexpensive and can be foun...
Book Chapter
Summer means flowers are in bloom! Each flowering plant produces a unique bloom that provides opportunities for students to make observations about plants. By comparing and contrasting flowers, students can connect their learning to the larger pictur...
Book Chapter
Students often become wistful for summer once the school year starts. Why not initiate a seashell classification activity to rekindle their interest in science and learning! Children love to handle and examine shells at any time of the year—with th...
Book Chapter
Triops, also called tadpole shrimp, are tiny aquatic animals that are easy to raise and fun to watch. Their rapid growth rate, underwater acrobatics, and entertaining feeding behaviors make these inexpensive and readily available animals well-suited ...
Book Chapter
Why, what, and how: Three words that young students often speak when they are full of questions about activities and experiences in their daily lives. Helping students clarify their thought processes and ask a question that can be answered through sc...
Book Chapter
“You can’t see me” is a popular childhood taunt, and although young children may not understand that hiding in plain sight does not conceal them, it does connect with a lesson about camouflage. In this chapter, students will learn that camoufla...
Book Chapter
Animals have many adaptations that help them survive in their environment and meet their special needs of food and shelter. This chapter focuses on two such adaptations: camouflage and beaks. ...
Book Chapter
The migration patters of animals have long been a source of wonder and awe. From the 6-mile journey of the army ants in the rain forests of Costa Rica, to the 20,000-mile journey of the sperm wale thought the world’s oceans, these animals’ abilit...
Book Chapter
Owls are fascination birds of prey. These nocturnal hunters are sometimes heard but rarely seen, making them even more intriguing and mysterious. These lessons feature two stories about owls. In both lessons, students dissect owl pellets to learn mor...
Book Chapter
We all have our own habitats, and this chapter students spend time thinking about what other organisms need to survive, what types of habitats they live in, and how to set up a habitat for a classroom animal....
Book Chapter
Kids today have a dizzying array of food choices, but choosing healthily is a challenge. Making wise choices is essential in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This chapter's topic of healthy foods fits into science nicely when students start to consid...
Book Chapter
The human body is amazing! This chapter's trade books help students understand their growing bones, muscles, and joints while engaging in some investigations to help them become aware of their bodies and how exercise helps their bodies stay strong....
Book Chapter
It's a fact: kids today are less fit than they were only a generation ago. Many are showing early signs of cardiovascular risk factors such as physical inactivity, excess weight, and higher blood cholesterol. Now more than ever, it is important to ...