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Journal Article
Ask the Experts -- September 2006
In this month's "Ask the Experts" column, the Experts respond to the following thought-provoking questions: "If water boils at 100°C, how can a glass full of water evaporate at room temperature, about 20-25°C? "Why do glaciers look blue?" and "How ...
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Unlocking Reading Comprehension with Key Science Inquiry Skills
As secondary science teachers, we must remember that scientific literacy cannot be attained without fundamental literacy--the ability to read and comprehend textual information and write competently about the subject under study. To achieve literacy ...
Journal Article
Teachers have created a huge misconception for students and non-scientists who read and use textbooks. They have come to believe that science is absolute and not open to challenge. Worse still for the scientific community is the fact that, in commo...
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Our Moon, Luna, will be the focus of the Scope on the Skies columns for this coming school year. Data and information will be provided so that each month you and your students can follow the Moon and the Earth as the two orbit together around the Sun...
Journal Article
Students are usually quick to draw conclusions about their surroundings. Their generalizations, however, are often based on a single experience or even a story recounted by a friend. As we gain more experience in the world, out ability to reason in...
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A fast way to teach investigative skills in science is to tie them to NASCAR using Hot Wheels Formula Fuelers Race Cars. These inexpensive toy cars travel different distances based on the strength of the electrolyte (a substance that conducts electr...
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A Service-Learning Model for Science Education Outreach
The Science Education Outreach Program (SEOP) engages undergraduate students from a variety of academic disciplines in service-learning experiences. University and community educators introduce and model contemporary educational theories and methods...
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Idea Bank: Monitoring the Oceans from the Classroom
Major disasters such as the tsunami of 2004 and hurricanes of 2005 have emphasized the need for an organized global network of ocean observing systems. As a result, Observing System Education has been identified as one of three National Oceanographic...
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Teacher's Toolkit: Toolkit for improving practice
In a standards-based climate, it is important for teachers to know that they are addressing the concepts and skills that will prepare students for success on measures of achievement as well as success in the worlds of science, technology, engineering...
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Scope on Safety: Proactive safety
Horrifying stories of accidents in the science lab abound. You may think that such accidents could never happen in your lab, but accidents do happen even in the most controlled environments. So, the best thing you can do to protect yourselves and you...
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The Early Years: Young Questioners
Children are often described as natural scientists and their curiosity as a basic human trait. They amaze adults with perceptive questions and extended explorations of the environment. Asking questions is part of the National Science Education Teac...
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The Case Study: Professional Development Cases
A professional development case in college science teaching bridges the gap between educational theory and practice. A good case poses an interesting dilemma involving instructors, students, and administrators. Case discussions can help instructors...
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The study of zonation, the distribution of plants and animals into distinct spatial areas, is a great way to introduce students to basic ecological concepts. Students can conduct methodical, quantifying surveys of zones in areas as diverse as mudflat...
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Science Shorts: Building Bridges
London Bridge is falling down, falling down...Can you finish the song? Although there are various stories that suggest the meaning of this famous nursery rhyme, the London Bridge, which spans the River Thames, did indeed "fall down" several times th...
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Early on in the study of physical science, students must grasp concepts associated with the periodic table. A perfect way to introduce periodicity and periodic groups is by using paint chip color samples. The color progression (red-orange-yellow-gree...
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After the Bell - The middle school connection: Fostering alliances with parents
What is the number one fear of most teachers? According to national polls, it's talking to parents! Because parental involvement is a key factor in a child's success, communication between teachers and parents is essential. By following the simple st...
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Career of the Month: An Interview with Diabetes Educator Donna Rice
Diabetes can develop at any age and lead to a lot of health problems. But with the help of a Diabetes Educator--such as Donna Rice--individuals can learn the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to gain control of diabetes and have long, healthy lives...
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Kids today are growing up with televisions, movies, videos, and DVDs, so it's logical to assume that this type of media could be motivating and used to great effect in the classroom. But at what point should film and other visual media be used? Are...
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Science Sampler: Making movies in the classroom
When you overhear students talking excitedly about video games, the internet, television, or movies, do you ever wish that they could get that excited about what was happening in the science classroom? By using simple software, students can plan, sho...
Journal Article
Scope on the Skies: Summer planet watch
This summer, all but one of the bright planets will be easily visible as evening planets during the first part of our Northern Hemisphere summer season, and then shift to the predawn skies during the latter half of summer. Be sure to catch the array ...
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Science Sampler: Teaching science using the movie Apollo 13
For over 40 years the space program has inspired students of science and engineering. The movie Apollo 13, about the third lunar mission, provides opportunities to teach students about several science concepts and the nature of scientific investigati...
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The value of art education and its natural tie-in with science promted a principle of a middle school to encourage collaboration between his science teacher and art teacher. Although they were initially apprehensive, this formidable force realized th...
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Outdoor Classrooms -- Planning Makes Perfect
Schoolyard wildlife habitats aren't just for beauty and fun--they are outdoor classrooms where real science learning takes place. Schoolyard habitat projects involve conservation and restoration of wildlife habitat; however the learning doesn't have...
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The Case Study: E-Mail From Socrates
Humans are storytelling animals that learn best when things are put into an experience or story. Teachers seem to think they can just lecture about the principles that they believe govern the world and the students will remember them. This is in sp...
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Models for Integrating Technology in Higher Education: The Physics of Sound
Institutions that place laptops in the hands of every student offer unique opportunities to integrate technology into instruction. The following is a description of how various technologies have been introduced into a new undergraduate physics cours...
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Ask the Experts -- Summer 2006
The experts address the question, "Why do yellow and blue make green when we mix colors?" and "Why does infrared light make skin feel warm, when ultraviolet light in fact has higher energy?"...
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Idea Bank: Periodic Table of Cereal Boxes
Do you find that helping students to understand the concept of periodicity to be a difficult task? If so, try implementing this introductory activity that was developed to increase students' understanding of periodicity by relating the organization o...
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Issues In-depth: Roll tape? Recommendations regarding video viewing in public school classrooms
Did you know that showing a video not related to your instruction as a reward or for recreational purposes, for example, violates federal law and is a felony that may carry a penalty of up to five years and/or $150,00 fine for willful infringement? A...
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Twisters, Tall Tales, & Science Teaching
Legends and tall tales have been part of the American culture for ages. Your students are probably already familiar with the tales of how Pecos Bill fearlessly tamed a ferocious tornado, or Paul Bunyan effortlessly restrained a great river. Such tale...
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Favorite Demonstration: One Hot Demonstration -- The Urban Heat Island Effect
Demonstrations are most successful as a teaching tool when they can link a scientific principle to a real-life application of the knowledge. When posed as an inquiry activity, classroom demonstrations reinforce factual retention and facilitate the u...
Journal Article
Say Cheese! Digital Collections in the Classroom
Children love gadgets. And what better "gadget" to work with in the classroom than a digital camera? Digital cameras are easy to find, easy to use, and offer great potential for incorporating technology into your lessons. One fourth-grade class em...
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Knowledge Retention of Exercise Physiology Content Between Athletes and Nonathletes
Based on the idea that learning is linked to personal relevance, this study examined knowledge retention of exercise physiology content between college athletes and nonathletes. No differences were observed between the groups. These findings have i...
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Reading Questions: Encouraging Students to Read the Text Before Coming to Class
College science teachers know that students get the most out of class if they have completed the assigned reading. To reinforce this expectation, we ask our introductory physics students to submit a question they had about reading. In this paper we...
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Science 101: What Causes Lightning and Thunder?
The mechanism that leads to lightning is complicated and not well understood. That it's not well understood isn't surprising, as this is often the case when going from scientific models to the real world. Even so, we can paint a reasonable picture ...
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JELL-O and Detergents: A Successful Inquiry Recipe
The beginning of a new school year is an exciting time. Capture that excitement by engaging your 10th-grade biology students in an inquiry project that demonstrates the nature of science and scientific inquiry. The Next Step Inquiry Project was devel...