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Book Chapter
Why Do They Have to Gum Everything Up With Those Letters?
Often people who are relatively comfortable doing math with numbers completely freak out when variables (you know, those letters that take the place of numbers) come into the picture. Things start looking much more abstract and complicated. You don...
Book Chapter
All Things Being Equal...Or Not
Now that we've covered at least a few examples of how we get equations from the physical world, it's time to work on solving those equations. Solving an equation means figuring out what values of the unknowns (the variables) will make the equality a...
Book Chapter
Book Chapter
Pie are not Round; <i>π</i>²
What would a math book be without a nerdy math joke? Bad joke aside, you might recognize π² as the formula for the area of a circle. And you might infer from that fact that this chapter addresses geometry. Often people think of geometry as a b...
Book Chapter
Although faster-than-light travel is commonplace in science fiction, ordinary matter in the ordinary world must obey the laws of physics. The speed of light is the speed limit in the Universe. Only massless particles such as photons can travel at t...
NSTA Press Book
Do you crave both physics problems and captivating illustrations? If your answer is "yes", look no further! Quantoons combines challenging problems and provocative quotes with intricate drawings that mix Isaac Newton and Marie Antoinette with Romeo, ...
By Larry D. Kirkpatrick, Arthur Eisenkraft
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...