All Resources

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Engineering-A-Future for tomorrow's young women

Engineering-A-Future (EAF) is an outreach program for middle school age girls. Through a collaborative effort of the Colleges of Engineering and Education at Tennessee Tech University (TTU), the participants experience hands-on activities to foster a...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Thinking about students' questions

Asking questions is a vital component in any classroom, but it is absolutely essential in a science classroom. As science teachers, we know that questioning plays a major role in the inquiry process and has a positive impact on students' learning. Th...

Journal Article

Science News and the Science Classroom

As science teachers, we attempt to accomplish many goals in our classes. Learning science content is usually first priority, but beyond that we have many diverse goals for students. There are also goals imposed on us by states, school administration...

Journal Article

Trade Books and the Human Endeavor of Science

An innovative strategy for improving students' perceptions of scientists is to introduce "Science as a Human Endeavor" through the use of a well-designed literature program using books that showcase a range of abilities and diversity among scientists...

Journal Article

Society for College Science Teachers: Cheatin' Ain't the Cowboy Way

As academics, we are generally appalled by students who cheat or plagiarize, perhaps because it violates our sense of right and wrong. As educators who are interested in improving college science teaching, we need be even more concerned. When assessi...

Journal Article

Methods and Strategies: Literature Circles for Science

All science learning experiences, from hands-on inquiry to textbook-based learning, are enhanced if students are motivated and engaged in purposeful discussions. One way to encourage this is with literature circles, a popular reading strategy that ...

Journal Article

The Case Study: Case Studies and the Media

Just as comedians find content for their material in newspapers and on television, it is possible for educators to use the media as a great source of material. As case study teachers it is important to look for hooks in the media; events that will gr...

Journal Article

Online Class Review: Using Streaming-Media Technology

This article presents an automated system that allows students to replay both audio and video from a large nonmajors’ organic chemistry class as streaming RealMedia. Once established, this system requires no technical intervention and is virtually ...

Journal Article

Commentary: Speak Up!

Do you worry about the ramifications of speaking up publicly? Do you wonder what your family, neighbors, and coworkers would think? You’re not alone, as the author of this month’s Commentary column concedes. Here she shares her experience of writ...

Journal Article

Using a Cycle to Find Solutions

The National Research Council has suggested that science classes need to become more active and authentic (NRC 1996). To help with this effort, Thayer Model Engineering was created several years ago as an inquiry science course at Champlain Valley Un...

Journal Article

Career of the Month: An interview with Dinosaur Paleontologist Matthew Carrano

In the hunt for dinosaurs, only a small number of species have been unearthed. Many answers remain buried, awaiting discovery, which is why dinosaur paleontology today is such a thriving field. Dinosaur paleontologist Matthew Carrano not only works w...

Journal Article

Analyzing Anthropomorphism

This article shares a successful strategy for using anthropomorphic texts for deep and accurate science learning for primary students. To involve students in the analysis of anthropomorphisms, you will need a collection of nonfiction and fiction boo...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Engineering in the classroom

In an effort to educate students about engineering, teachers in the Bowling Green, Kentucky, area challenged their students to become engineers. Students were given the tools they needed to design, create, and race a vehicle constructed from plastic ...

Journal Article

Family Secrets: The Bioethics of Genetic Testing

Family Secrets is a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum module that focuses on the bioethical implications of genetic testing. In high school biology classrooms throughout New York State, students are using this module to learn about DNA testin...

Journal Article

Point of View: Civic Engagement in the Science Classroom

Science educators are well-positioned to incorporate civic engagement into the classroom by the natural suitability of the subject matter. There are many ways that we may engage students in community matters to encourage civic involvement and broaden...

Journal Article

Idea Bank: School Greenhouse Design Tips

Growing plants in a controlled environment such as a greenhouse can be a wonderful enhancement to any science program. Thoughtful planning, proper design, and faculty advocates who support the greenhouse as an important asset to their curriculums are...

Journal Article

Ask the Experts—November 2006

The following questions are addressed in this month’s Ask the Experts column: “If energy is conserved and we begin to store “renewable” energy sources such as wind and solar energy, what happens to our environment as a result of this “missi...

Journal Article

Scope on the Skies: Eclipse cycles

The Moon's orbit around the Sun with the Earth brings it into position twice each month for an eclipse at new Moon and at full Moon. However, we do not have an eclipse pair each month, nor do we have an eclipse every two weeks. In this issue of Scope...

Journal Article

Get a Grip! A Middle School Engineering Challenge

Investigating the field of engineering offers the opportunity for interdisciplinary, hands-on, inquiry-based units that integrate real-world applications; yet, many K-12 students are not exposed to engineering until they enter college. Get a Grip! is...

Journal Article

Every Day Science Calendar: November 2006

This monthly feature contains facts and challenges for the science explorer. ...

Journal Article

Editor's Note: Reading Strategies for Science

In recent years, the increased attention to standards and achievement in reading has pushed the pendulum back towards incorporating reading within science content knowledge. Teachers are looking for ways to integrate reading and science, while also ...

Journal Article

Perspectives: The Synergy of Science and Reading

Elementary teachers today are faced with a lot of pressure to focus their efforts on teaching reading. Often this means that other disciplines, such as science, are squeezed in or (worse) left completely. Is it possible that teaching science can ac...

Journal Article

Game Time!

Sharks and fishes is both a classic playground game and a lighthearted model to introduce second- to fourth-grade students to the concept of predation, or the relationships between a predator and its prey. This game has been incorporated in a learni...

Journal Article

Becoming Environmentally Literate Citizens

The RAFT technique (Santa 1988) is a writing strategy that helps students understand their Role as a writer, the Audience they will address, various Formats for writing, and the expected Topic or content. This article describes how students can use t...

Journal Article

Teacher's Toolkit: No Child Left Behind -- What does this mean to middle school science teachers?

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 is the historic education reform effort that President Bush proposed his first week in office, which Congress passed into law on January 8, 2002. NCLB reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act...

Journal Article

Editor’s Corner: Problem-Based Learning

Problem-based learning (PBL) is finding a place in more and more secondary school science programs as teachers discover its power to engage students and develop critical-thinking skills. In the best PBL scenarios, constructivist learning is driven by...