All Resources

Journal Article

Idea Bank: The Snowball Questioning Method

The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. This month’s Idea Bank highlights an efficient method of questioning students that brings quick feedback, revealing how well they understand a topic....

Journal Article

Safer Science: OSHA's Newest Lab Resource

This column provides best safety practices for the science classroom and laboratory. This month’s issue discusses a new OSHA publication Laboratory Safety Guidance....

Journal Article

Creating Science Assessments That Support Inquiry

This article discusses the resources available for teachers to apply higher-level thinking and cognitive complexity to their instruction and assessments....

Journal Article

Studying Zooarchaeology

Students engage in inquiry science to solve the mystery of bones....

Journal Article

Applying Scientific Principles to Resolve Student Misconceptions

Using sinking and floating as an example, this article introduces a method to guide students to solve misconception problems by using scientific principles....

Journal Article

Everyday Engineering: It's Stuck on You

This column provides an inside look at the marvels of engineering in everyday life. This month's issue takes a closer look at adhesive bandages....

Journal Article

Striking a Balance

This article describes using learning centers to advance English language learners' linguistic fluency....

Journal Article

A Traveler's Guide to the Universe

Summer enrichment activities about space keep students' minds engaged wherever they travel....

Journal Article

Engaging Students in the Scientific Practices of Explanation and Argumentation

This article examines the sixth and seventh practices concerning explanation and argumentation, found in A Framework for K–12 Science Education....

Journal Article

Guest Editorial: Misunderstanding Misconceptions

An opinion piece about the different ways teachers view misconceptions....

Journal Article

Formative Assessment Probes: Food for Plants: A Bridging Concept

This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. This month’s issue discusses whether students think plants need food or not....

Journal Article

Science 101: How Do Binoculars Work?

This column provides background science information for elementary teachers. In this month’s issue the author reveals the science behind binoculars....

Journal Article

Every Word You Speak

This article shows how teachers can use common instructional methods to ensure that students, including ELLs, understand the language of science, construct new concepts, and simultaneously develop academic English abilities....

Journal Article

Slithering Into Summer

This article provides ideas for introducing students to herpetology....

Journal Article

Is Your Soil Sick?

Students explore a new kind of testing—of soil—and learn about plant needs and how to analyze results....

Journal Article

Science Shorts: Truffula Tree Troubles

This column provides classic classroom activities that emphasize science process skills. In this month’s issue the author discusses how to use The Lorax to engage students in a rich exploration of renewable and non-renewable resources....

Journal Article

Tech Trek: A Coruscating Star in the Calvalcade of Electronic Devices: The iPad

This column provides a look at the latest technology for science educators. This month's issue focuses on the iPad....

Journal Article

Engaging Students in the Scientific Practices of Explanation and Argumentation

This article examines the sixth and seventh practices concerning explanation and argumentation, which are highlighted in A Framework for K–12 Science Education....

Journal Article

Investigating Students' Ideas About the Flow of Matter and Energy in Living Systems

In this article we describe strategies for eliciting student thinking, common responses to elicitation prompts, and implications for moving students' thinking forward....

Journal Article

A Change for Chemistry

By using a preassessment of chemical and physical change, teachers can become better equipped to bridge conceptual gaps through instruction....

Journal Article

The Early Years: Summer Science

This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. This month’s issue discusses summer science notebooks....

Journal Article

Scope on the Skies: "I'm Your Venus"

This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. This month’s issue centers on Venus, the Kepler Mission, and the annular solar eclipse....

Journal Article

Folding Inquiry Into Cookbook Lab Activities

Learn how to convert teacher-directed, highly structured lessons into more open-ended inquiry experiences that allow for student input, wonder, and individual exploration....

eBook

Forensics in Chemistry: The Case of Kirsten K. (e-book)

Forensics seems to have the unique ability to maintain student interest and promote content learning…. I still have students approach me from past years and ask about the forensics case and specific characters from the story. I have never had a stu...

eBook

Uncovering Student Ideas in Astronomy: 45 New Formative Assessment Probes (e-book)

What do your students know—or think they know—about what causes night and day, why days are shorter in winter, and how to tell a planet from a star? Find out with this book on astronomy, the latest in NSTA’s popular Uncovering Student Ideas in ...

Book Chapter

Is Earth Really “Round”?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the shape of the Earth. The probe is designed to find out how students reconcile the idea that the Earth is round, represented by the globe that they are taught about in school...

Book Chapter

Pizza Sun

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about relative size. The probe is designed to find out how large students think the Earth is compared with the Sun. ...