All Resources

Journal Article

Scope on Safety: MSDS--What's it all about?

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) requires chemical manufactures to provide material safety data sheets (MSDS) for hazardous chemicals. This column will help science teachers, supervisors, and administrators better understand what is requ...

Journal Article

The Shad Story

Do you believe that science trade books can spark real-life involvement in saving a threatened fish? A successful science program at Westbrook Elementary School, in Bethesda, Maryland in which students participate in watershed restoration shows just...

Journal Article

Science Shorts: Inquiring About Isopods

Isopods, which include favorite backyard critters otherwise known as pill bugs or roly-polies, are intriguing in more ways than one. Not only do isopods easily promote inquiry and help reduce "bug" phobia among students, they also have the distinct ...

Journal Article

Crazy About Crayfish

What breathes and eats in water, dramatically clamps down on students' pencils, carries eggs that hatch to produce many offspring, excites students tremendously, does not die easily and stinks up a classroom, and--most importantly--is able to teach s...

Journal Article

Whiteboarding Your Way to Great Student Discussions

Dry erase boards, sometimes called whiteboards, are a powerful tool for facilitating discussion within groups of students. When each group receives a large whiteboard and specific instructions about how to use the board to record their thinking, stud...

Journal Article

Learning Logs in the Science Classroom - The Literacy Advantage

One of the most functional forms of writing to learn is two-column learning logs. Two-column learning logs are based on the premise that collecting information and processing information are two very different aspects of learning. Middle school stude...

Journal Article

Multigenre Lab Reports: Connecting Literacy and Science

The development of communication skills is a key component in any science program but most students don't see the connection between science and writing. Connect literacy and science by using this hands-on activity that is a fun alternative to tradit...

Journal Article

Studying Hammerheads in Hawaii

The High School Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Tagging Program in Hawaii is an example of a successful partnership researach collaboration. As part of the program, high school students and teachers worked with biologists from the University of Hawaii-Man...

Journal Article

Writing Through Inquiry

The inquiry science process provides a perfect opportunity for students to practice relational meaning in language. As students design their experiments, negotiate their ideas with peers, and share their data and conclusions, they sharpen both their ...

Journal Article

Using Digital Microscopy

Studying Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) live cultures provides excellent opportunities for authentic inquiry in a high school anatomy and physiology or other biology lab course. The anatomy of C. elegans, a free-living roundworm found in soil ...

Journal Article

Teaching Through Trade Books: Wonderful, Wiggly Worms

Worms have the ability to either elicit screams of excitement or perhaps screams period. Although we don't generally see them, worms are an important part of our world. Take this opportunity to introduce students to the importance worms serve in a...

Journal Article

Every Day Science Calendar: April 2006

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

Journal Article

Tried and True: Peanut butter and jelly science

Are you feeling frustrated with the quality of your students' writing or lack there of? If so, head straight for the peanut butter and jelly. Students will respond to this fun filled activity as they learn the importance of writing clear procedures i...

Journal Article

A Rewarding Partnership

A collaborating scientist—a rewarding addition to any high school science program—can help students collect and analyze data that either replicates or parallels the work of the partnering scientist. A perfect example of a scientist-student collab...

Journal Article

Editor's Note (April/May 2006)

Children's passion for animals is not surprising. Animals can calm and heal both children and adults. Critters--whether furry, cute, large, small, or even a little creepy--inspire and entertain us. Despite their recognized value, they are often ne...

Journal Article

Issues in-depth: Cloning: A critical analysis of myths and media

The science behind cloning, and its long history, provide teachers with a real-life, high interest topic through which they can launch an effort to raise students’ media literacy skills. By blending science content with critical thinking and reflec...