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Journal Article
Reconstructing Environmental Change Using Lake Varves as a Climate Proxy
This article describes an investigative activity in which eighth-grade students reconstructed past environmental change in the New England area using data from lake varves in central Vermont to examine evidence of climate change....
Journal Article
This study examines preservice elementary teachers' ability to generate a testable question using data made accessible online through the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory and Michigan Sea Grant....
Journal Article
Gravel can be an effective, inexpensive, and abundant resource that helps students think critically during several interdisciplinary science activities and investigations....
Journal Article
A recaptured natural area on school grounds becomes an outdoor classroom where learning opportunities abound. ...
Journal Article
Teachers created an after-school club called The Green Team and implemented an instructional strategy know as service-learning to teach environmental science. This article describes the transformation that occurred over a three-year period and illust...
Journal Article
Save the Boulders Beach Penguins
Third-grade students practice engineering skills as they design dwellings for model penguins....
Journal Article
Career of the Month: Energy Engineer
This column shares interviews with professionals using science in the workplace. This month’s issue provides information about being an energy engineer....
Journal Article
Science 2.0: Creative, Inspiring, and Jaw-Dropping Videos
This column shares web tools that support learning. This month’s issue shares information about the Technology, Entertainment, and Design website....
Journal Article
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12: Books Published in 2011
NSTA and the Children's Book Council identify the best science trade books that were published in 2011....
Journal Article
Teaching Through Trade Books: Teaching the Three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. This month’s lessons focus on the journeys of trash items and how students can affect their paths....
Journal Article
In this article, the authors look in-depth at scientific practice number 2—developing, evaluating, and revising scientific models to explain and predict phenomena—and what it means for classroom teaching. ...
Journal Article
This article offers instructional strategies that teach students to think critically....
Journal Article
Lessons Learned From a Summer Preparatory Program on Foundations in Physics and Calculus
This article presents details about a summer instructional program created by physics graduate students who sought a chance to help students from the local community and to gain greater experience teaching science and math. The students initiated, de...
Journal Article
This article explores ways that people impact ecological systems and how those systems can influence our daily lives. Students use newspaper articles and case studies of scientific research to link daily human life and disrupted ecological function....
Journal Article
This study compares a cookbook-type laboratory course to a research-based undergraduate biology laboratory course at a Research 1 institution. The results indicate that students in the research-based lab had more positive attitudes toward authentic r...
Journal Article
The Sixth Great Mass Extinction
This article explains the first five great mass extinctions, the current great mass extinction, and the human activities and rates of species extinction associated with the current extinction....
Journal Article
Factors Related to Students' Learning of Biomechanics Concepts
The purpose of the study described in this article was to replicate and expand a previous study to identify the factors that affect students' learning of biomechanical concepts....
Journal Article
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12: Books published in 2011
NSTA and the Children's Book Council identify the best science trade books published in 2011....
Journal Article
This study examines gender differences in the motivation to embark on graduate careers in physics and chemistry and whether this motivation can predict select future success outcomes for physical scientists....
Journal Article
Editor's Corner: Thinking Critically
The Science Teacher’s editor shares thoughts on the current issue....
Journal Article
This article describes a new instructional model called Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI), which is designed to promote student engagement in processes of investigation design and scientific argumentation. The ADI instructional model is compared with a m...
Journal Article
Generating Arguments About Climate Change
Students participate in a unit on global climate change by engaging in the process of scientific argumentation. The lessons presented in this article were created using the generate-an-argument model to help students understand climate change science...
Book Chapter
Evolution:Nature’s Driving Force for Change
To be ecologically literate, students need to understand the process of natural selection. It is essential to an understanding of evolution. Groundwork for understanding natural selection can begin in the upper elementary grades. Local populations of...
Book Chapter
Early Memories and the Nature Connection
In this chapter the author reveals his early memories of nature. These events taught the author that connecting with nature entails not only admiration of its beauty and complexity, but also understanding and respect of its power. ...
Book Chapter
In the final chapter, the author concludes that now, more than ever before, we need a deepening concern for the well-being of others, not only those within the circle of our relatives and friends or the group to which we pledge allegiance, but to all...
Book Chapter
Goals of an Ecological Approach
Living systems are complex, thus tampering with them calls for great care. The “first, do no harm” principle should be paramount. Through chain reactions and unexpected interactions, widespread and sometimes catastrophic effects can occur. Fi...
Book Chapter
Developing Awareness and Exciting Interest
This chapter offers many examples of effective programs and approaches that can help restore and expand ecological connections—among them gardens planted and tended by the students, nature field trips, and other outdoor activities as learning tools...
Book Chapter
The High Cost of Ecological Illiteracy
In this chapter, the author considers three major educational impediments that must be remedied to get us to a harmonious relationship with nature. They are (1) isolation of ecology from mainstream education, (2) attitudes of domination or indiffere...
Book Chapter
Hopeful Prospects: A Historic Message That Almost Succeeded
The problems are interrelated and may seem insurmountable, but they can and must be resolved. Historic and recent efforts show the way to a positive outcome are explored in this chapter....
Book Chapter
Since the key to success of the nature-centered ecological program depends so heavily on direct personal experiences with living organ- isms and their habitats and on doing studies outdoors, it is important that ample time be allowed for the program,...
NSTA Press Book
Connecting With Nature: A Naturalist's Perspective
One of my earliest memories is of a warm day, a field with many grasshoppers, a shallow creek with cold water, and the joy of a day in the hills with my parents. My dad had gone fishing and I was free to wander about nearby. It was summer in the Gray...
By Robert Stebbins
Book Chapter
Rocks and soil are indeed a part of everyday life and an important component of a complete science curriculum. Use the lessons in this chapter to introduce students to rocks and soils in their local area and beyond. The lessons in this chapter are Ex...
Journal Article
Springing Into Inquiry: Using Student Ideas to Investigate Seasons
Explore student misconceptions to get behind the true reason for the seasons....
Journal Article
Idea Bank: Students, Start Your Engines!
The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. This month’s Idea Bank illustrates an activity with step-by-step, web-based instructions for disassembling a small radio-controlled car engine....
Journal Article
Outward Bound to the Galaxies—One Step at a Time
Make the unimaginable scale of the galaxy comprehensible with this activity that explores Earth's place in the universe....
Journal Article
Designing Design Challenges: Getting the Details Right
This article discusses the nuances of effective design challenges and the options available for creating a successful inquiry activity....
Journal Article
The Early Years: Send-Home Science
This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. This month’s issue explores sending home materials for science activities parents can do with their children....