JoinAll Resources
Journal Article
Science Sampler: Using the Pokemon alphabet to teach classification and phylogeny
Did you ever think you'd see the day when Pokemon would make an appearance in the classroom, and actually be allowed to stay? The activity described here teaches classification, phylogeny, and dichotomy using a set of pseudozoids (false animals), th...
Journal Article
Science Shorts: On Observation
Observation is a foundational process skill that is part of any curriculum. Each of the other science process skills requires that students first make a set of observations. This articles offers information on building key concepts for students wit...
Journal Article
Issue in-depth: Inside alternatively powered vehicles: The problems and the possibilities
Like all things natural or human-made, all modes of transportation, from horses to spacecraft are governed by the Principle of conservation of matter, the First law of thermodynamics, and the Second law of thermodynamics. The activities described in ...
Journal Article
This article describes adaptations of the learning cycle that are appropriate for English Language Learners (ELL). It discusses ideas for teaching content and inquiry to ELL, while simultaneously helping children develop English language skills....
Journal Article
Teachers are familiar with dozens of high school physics activities involving eggs. In this egg-related activity, students design and construct “Egg Racers” to learn problem-solving, physics, and engineering skills. Students will have fun with th...
eBook
If You Build it, They Will Learn: 17 Devices for Demonstrating Physical Science (e-book Set)
If You Build It, They Will Learn is the perfect do-it-yourself guide for physics teachers who want custom-made demonstration projects to use in their classrooms. Devices like Galileo’s Track, Coupled Pendulum, and Gum-Wrapper Thermostat will help y...
eBook
Exemplary Science in Grades PreK-4: Standards-Based Success Stories (e-Book)
Since their release in 1996, the National Science Education Standards have provided the vision for science education reform. But has that reform actually taken hold in elementary school? “Yes!,” reports Robert Yager, editor of Exemplary Science i...
eBook
Handbook of College Science Teaching (e-book)
Are you still using 20th century techniques to teach science to 21st century students? Update your practices as you learn about current theory and research with the authoritative Handbook of College Science Teaching. The Handbook offers models of tea...
Journal Article
Setting the Stage for Good Group Dynamics in Semester-Long Projects in the Sciences
Many studies show students benefit from working cooperatively. Rarely published in STEM literature are guidelines to help educators effectively incorporate research teams in the classroom. We explain how to create a positive learning experience by ex...
Journal Article
A school field trip tries to bring the structure and order of a formal classroom setting into an unstructured place where visitors (learners) typically choose what they want to do. In order to address this conflict, several strategies exist to help t...
Journal Article
Ask the Experts -- January 2006
Have you ever wondered why lead is considered to be a cancerous metal? One of our "Ask the Experts" readers was also curious about this subject and posed this question to our Experts: "They say lead is a very cancerous metal. How come? Other metals a...
Journal Article
Every Day Science Calendar: January 2006
This monthly feature contains facts and challenges for the science explorer. ...
Journal Article
Use of a Consumer-Grade Digital Camera to Archive Written Exams
The use of a photocopier to archive exams consumes photocopier resources and generates a large amount of waste. As an alternative, one instructor uses a consumer-grade digital camera to document exams in an upper-division biology course. The approach...
Journal Article
Field trips are opportunities to experience science in settings beyond the classroom. But how do teachers design a trip that will enhance students' analytical skills and support classroom instruction? The tips and tools in this article have been coll...
Journal Article
A Backward Approach to Inquiry
In the sciences, the National Science Education Standards further emphasize that learning science is an inquiry-based process; therefore, teaching methods should be inquiry-based. Use a backwards design approach to ensure that academic standards are ...
Journal Article
Writing Assignments in a Nonmajor Introductory Ecology Class
A unit was developed which incorporated writing assignments into an introductory ecology class to encourage nonmajors to improve their writing skills and gain an appreciation for environmental issues. Statistical analyses suggest that during the seme...
Journal Article
Design Challenges Are "ELL-ementary"
Engineering activities encourage English Language Learners to express understanding through language and actions. This article describes one school’s experience with the Museum of Science (Boston) program Engineering is Elementary and provides a mo...
Journal Article
Building Science Process Skills
A well-designed and executed field trip experience serves not only to enrich and supplement course content, but also creates opportunities to build basic science process skills. This article describes an onsite trip to the Bronx Zoo that allowed coll...
Journal Article
Scope on the Skies: Location, location, location
While traveling from home to distant locations, it is easy to feel both a sense of unfamiliarity as well as familiarity with the change in location, especially when considering the view of day and night skies. The position of celestial objects like t...
Journal Article
Society for College Science Teachers: What Currency Should We Use?
A colleague's favorite question when the issue of evaluationg teaching arises is to ask, "What's the currency?" In this article, we discover the various quandries involved in quantifying quality teaching. ...
Journal Article
Editorial: So, Where's the Guy with the Cape?
In this section the new editor of the Journal of College Science Teaching, Ann Cutler introduces herself and dispels some of the myths about being an editor. She offers insight into her life as a prodigal academics' daughter and offers her own perso...
Journal Article
Science Sampler: Fired up about science
Turn the "wow" factor into the "how" factor with this exciting activity that reinforces or introduces the skills of observing and inferring with the use of flash paper and candles. The magic of this lesson is that the flash of combustion ignites inqu...