JoinAll Resources
Book Chapter
Learners make drawing of what they think might be inside “energy balls,” small plastic spheres that light up and buzz. After investigating simple circuits using batteries, bulbs, and wires, they learn that electricity needs a complete loop to flo...
Book Chapter
Learners keep track of their households’ water use for one day, explore ways to conserve water and then create a Water Watch campaign for school or home. They also discover that clean water is limited in many places on Earth and learn about how wat...
Book Chapter
Learners explore how sound is produced by vibrations. They make a straw instrument and investigate how to vary its pitch. Learns also design and build an instrument that produces a high pitch and a low pitch and explain how it works. For more inform...
Book Chapter
Learners explore the differences between chemical and physical changes by observing a variety of changes in mater. Learners observe the chemical change of cooking pancakes and identify new menu items for the Chemical Change Café. For more informati...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, you will learn how experiments are structured. This structure or experimental setup is called the research design. The research design of an experiment determines both whether the experiment is likely to succeed and the reliability ...
Book Chapter
Close Encounters of the Symbiotic Kind
Learners explore how some organisms interact with other organisms through symbiotic relationships by observing “mystery objects” (plant galls) collected from the local ecosystem. For more information on how to implement Picture-Perfect Science in...
Book Chapter
By taking part in a simulation, learners explore the many threats to sea turtles and the ways humans can help them survive. Learns identify which dangers result from human actions and which dangers are natural. Learners also explore the life cycles o...
Book Chapter
Learners explore the importance of rice as a food source, the differences among types of rice, the life cycle of rice, and rice production methods. Learners also explore control, variables, and experimental design by investigation how rice grows and ...
Book Chapter
Nano2Earth Curriculum and the National Science Education Standards
With the Nano2Earth curriculum, students learn about nanotechnology and nanoscience by using inquiry to study groundwater pollution. The curriculum is designed to meet the National Science Education Standards (NSES) for content in grades 9–12 (NRC ...
Journal Article
Leaders at a nature museum share their knowledge of how to structure a learning environment to guide children's development of science skills. They also created a classroom self-assessment tool for early childhood and early elementary educators to us...
Journal Article
Science and Me: A Student-Driven Science Outreach Program for Lay Adult Audiences
The increasing need for communicating science to the public suggests that future scientists and science educators should be educated in science outreach and trained to communicate with lay audiences. We present a recently developed novel graduate cou...
Journal Article
A Field Trip Without Buses: Connecting Your Students to Scientists Through a Virtual Visit
One school offers zipTrips as an alternative to actual field trips taken outside of school. ZipTrips are web- and broadcast-delivered electronic field trips that include online videos; lesson plans; and a live, 45-minute interactive program consistin...
Journal Article
Shifting to an Inquiry-Based Experience
The authors provide a prescriptive, step-by-step method to convert a cookbook lab into an inquiry-based science experience....
Journal Article
Idea Bank: Nature as Learning Tool
The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. In this month’s Idea Bank, the author discusses how to draw on students' firsthand experiences to help them develop an appreciation for nature and its historica...
Journal Article
Current Research: 2011 Summer Reading Suggestions
A list of science education research articles compiled by NSTA's Committee on Research in Science Education, the Association for Science Teacher Education, the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, and the National Science Education ...
Journal Article
Editor's Corner: Tough Times for Teachers
The Science Teacher’s editor shares thoughts on the current issue....
Journal Article
Career of the Month: Environmental Advocate
This column shares interviews with professionals using science in the workplace. In this month’s issue, Shereen Hughes is interviewed about her work as an environmental advocate....
Journal Article
Point of View: Teaching Good Writing, Why Bother?
An opinion piece about whether teachers of science should teach writing....
Journal Article
Formative Assessment Probes: With a Purpose
This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. In this month’s issue the author uses the stages of the SAIL Cycle to reflect upon and share some of the ways the probes published in Science and Children (2010-2011) can be used to inte...
Journal Article
Cloud Study Investigators: Using NASA's CERES S'COOL in Problem-Based Learning
During a problem-based learning activity, middle school students conduct authentic scientific research by observing and recording information about clouds and contribute ground truth data to NASA's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES)...
Journal Article
Research and Teaching: Designing a Blended Course: Using ADDIE to Guide Instructional Design
The ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) model was applied to help redesign a General Chemistry course to improve student success in the course. The resultant course is a blend of online and face-to-face instruction t...
Journal Article
Exploring Seafloor Volcanoes in Cyberspace: NOAA's <i>Ocean Explorer</i> Inspires Inquiry
Seafloor exploration being done by scientists is an ideal way to introduce students to technology as a tool for inquiry. The same technology that allows scientists to share data in near real time can also provide students the tools to become research...
Journal Article
This article discusses a six-year study that involved an evaluation of whether student-learning gains for an online homework system could be sustained when scaled up to multiple sections and multiple instructors over several years. Results showed tha...
Journal Article
This article discusses instruments given to undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory biology course for nonmajors. These instruments assessed attitudes toward biology and mathematics and various motivational constructs....
Journal Article
The author provides five guidelines for designing inquiry lessons within any grade level....
Journal Article
The New Teacher's Toolbox: Gearing Up for Summer
This column shares tips for teachers just beginning their career. In this month’s issue the author offers tips for how to make the most of the summer months of rejuvenation....
Journal Article
Scope on the Skies: Summer Skies
This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. In this month’s issue the author discusses objects that appear in the summer sky....
Journal Article
Take advantage of teen internet savvy and redirect students' online travels toward exploration of our environment through streaming real-time data (RTD). Studies have shown that using RTD adds relevancy to students' learning experiences and engages t...
Journal Article
Is There a "Back" of the Room When the Teacher Is in the Middle?
This article describes a study of student seating habits in both a traditional lecture hall with the instructor in the front and in a SCALE-UP (Student-Centered Activities for Large Enrollment Undergraduate Programs) studio-style classroom with the i...
Journal Article
Summer Reading—It's Element-ary
NSTA's reviewers provide suggestions for summer reading for science educators....
Journal Article
Tried and True: No Matter the Weather, We'll Measure Together
This column provides classic demonstrations and experiments with a new twist. In this month’s issue technology-infused weather investigations are explored....
Journal Article
Scope on Safety: Modeling Clay Safety
This column shares safety information for your classroom. In this month’s issue the author discusses the different types of clay and characteristics that determine appropriate use....
Journal Article
The Biology Department at James Madison University assesses scientific and quantitative reasoning skills in STEM majors in a content-independent manner by using a multiple-choice exam called the Natural World-9. The authors discuss methodology they u...
Journal Article
Everyday Engineering: It's (zipped) in the bag
This column provides an inside look at the marvels of engineering in everyday life. In this issue, the origins of the sealable plastic bag are explored....
Journal Article
Chromonoodles: Jump Into the Gene Pool
The authors use pool "noodles" to model chromosomes in the biology classroom. Students gain a greater appreciation of the interdependence of DNA and inherited traits....
Journal Article
Guest Editorial: More Than Just Technology
An opinion piece about integrating technology into teaching....