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Front-Page Science: Engaging Teens in Science Literacy (e-book)
“The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force issued new guidelines for mammograms in 2009. What does this mean for someone with a family history of breast cancer? Congress periodically votes on a piece of legislation called the Farm Bill. What does i...
Book Chapter
Science Literacy: The Big Picture
In this opening chapter of Front-Page Science , the authors give an over view of science literacy and the layout of the book. ...
Book Chapter
Certainly a class can learn a lot by just engaging in activities described in the previous chapters in this book and not actually writing an article. The authors believe, however, that writing moves the student to a deeper level of understanding and ...
Book Chapter
It’s All About Revising: Moving Toward Publication
In this chapter, the authors present different ways to give students feedback on their writing, including conferences, peer feedback, and other assessment strategies....
Book Chapter
For reluctant writers or tech-savvy teens, engaging in alternative approaches to creating stories is an attractive approach. Creating podcast and videos can also provide opportunities for students to work in teams and learn the type of 21st-century s...
Book Chapter
Science Journalism Goes To School
What exactly is a science news article? To understand that, it is important to differentiate journalistic writing from other forms of expression. This chapter provides a detailed description of what the authors mean by a science news article and give...
Book Chapter
Can I Do This? Frequently Asked Questions
Teachers and administrators have expressed certain practical concerns, the answers to which help them decide if SciJourn is possible given the realities of their own school. In these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) the authors seek to address so...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the authors briefly outline the process used to create the SciJourn standards, and then describe each in some detail, furnishing the reader with real student examples. As you seek to “sell” the project to your schools, parents, a...
Book Chapter
Literacy professionals often think about the connection between reading and writing. How does reading impact the ability to write and think? What do competent writers notice when they read? In this chapter, the authors suggest a systematic approach, ...
Book Chapter
Finding and Keeping Track of Sources
Scientifically literate people seek credible sources, knowing that they cannot always depend on firsthand encounters. Several credible sources are typically needed to assess the value of new findings or commercial product in order to confirm informat...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the qualities of a good topic, how to “pitch” stories in the classroom (slow and fast), and a list of dos and don’ts for teachers when helping students refine topics and angles are discussed....
Book Chapter
Original Reporting: Interviews And Surveys
In this chapter, the authors discuss interviews and surveys from a science literacy standpoint; provides hints for how to conduct both and what to do with the results....
Book Chapter
Channeling Your Inner Science Teacher: Considering Context and Accuracy
This chapter includes ideas for helping students put information into context (Standard IV) and fact-checking their own and classmates’ articles (Standard V). Up to this point, as we discussed the creation of a news story, you as a science teacher ...
NSTA Press Book
Front-Page Science: Engaging Teens in Science Literacy
“The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force issued new guidelines for mammograms in 2009. What does this mean for someone with a family history of breast cancer? Congress periodically votes on a piece of legislation called the Farm Bill. What does i...
By Angela Kohnen, Alan Newman, Laura Pearce, Wendy Saul
Journal Article
Getting Past "Just Because": Teaching Writing in Science Class
Over the past two years this seventh-grade team of teachers has taught writing across the curriculum, used common terminology, and assessed writing using a shared rubric, providing students with a basic writing structure that helps support writing ac...
Journal Article
The IMSCI model for scaffolding writing in language arts can be used with a science notebook. To illustrate how this model can be used in an early elementary classroom, the authors descirbe a six-week unit for first graders on insect life cycles....
Journal Article
Idea Bank: Reading, Writing, and Physics
The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. This month’s Idea Bank discusses an assignment in which students read, write, and study current physics topics without diverting class time from the curriculum....
Journal Article
This Scholarship of Teaching and Learning project discusses the effectiveness of using distance metaphor-building activities along with a case study exam to help undergraduate nonscience majors understand and apply geologic time....
Journal Article
Core Ideas of Engineering and Technology
This article addresses Chapter 8 of A Framework for K–12 Science Education, which presents core ideas in technology and engineering at the same level as core ideas in the traditional science fields....
Journal Article
Long-Term Impact of Service Learning in Environmental Studies
Long-term impacts from a senior course in Environmental Studies were evaluated by a survey of program graduates who had participated in the course over an eight-year period. Survey respondents indicated that the course had stewardship, fostering the ...
Journal Article
Safer Science: Safety in Uncharted Waters
This column provides best safety practices for the science classroom and laboratory. This month’s issue discusses the safety of on- and off-campus independent study programs....
Journal Article
Collegiality and Better Science Teaching
Teachers strengthen content knowledge and share teaching strategies in a professional learning community to improve their science teaching. This article describes how the collaborative works, including its use of the environmental education program P...
Journal Article
This article provides three practical approaches to increase reading-to-learn competencies and student science achievement. These approaches also provide valuable information about student understanding of content....
Journal Article
The author developed a museum field trip into a short-term, active research project assignment. This approach has transformed the field trip from a casual museum visit into a focused and productive learning experience....
Journal Article
To encourage critical thinking and improve scientific literacy, the author created an open-inquiry lab experience that students work on three to four times a year based on major content shifts that students explore (ecology, physics, chemistry)....
Journal Article
The author examines important issues related to A Framework for K–12 Science Education, the Standards, and college teachers....
Journal Article
Tried and True: Using "Brags and Whines" as a Creative Writing Technique
This column provides classic demonstrations and experiments with a new twist. This month’s issue examines using brags and whines as an example of creative writing and provides steps for and the benefits of implementing these activities in the scien...
Journal Article
Science 2.0: Using Online Data
This column shares web tools that support learning. This month’s issue discusses using online scientific data....
Journal Article
Methods and Strategies: It's Child's Play
This column provides ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching. This month’s issue discusses a novel way to use play to teach shadows....
Journal Article
While designing and building "Mars Landers," fourth-grade students engage in important engineering practices such as making models, testing designs, and comparing the effectiveness of different models. Students also create nonfiction books as they le...
Journal Article
Students observe shadows through various activities and at the same time, learn about seasonal change....
Journal Article
Scope on Safety: Slipping on Safety
This column shares safety information for your classroom. This month’s issue discusses how to help prevent slips, trips, and falls....
Journal Article
Engaging Undergraduates Through Interdisciplinary Research in Nanotechnology
A small public university recruits and retains more students in all science disciplines by implementing an interdisciplinary strategy focusing on nanotechnology and enhanced undergraduate research....
Journal Article
The Green Room: Environmental Science Lab Reports
This column focuses on making your teaching more environmentally friendly. This month’s issue discusses the importance of keeping clear, concise, and informative lab reports....
Journal Article
The author created a lesson in which students successfully practiced reading comprehension skills while developing an understanding of earthquakes....
Journal Article
Improving Active Learning by Integrating Scientific Abstracts Into Biological Science Courses
The author discusses using scientific abstracts in a genetics course. Students are introduced to topics via abstracts within lectures, as quiz material, and as homework to develop their understanding of how and why research is performed, what informa...