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Journal Article

Science Sampler: Forensic metrics

Students have a blast pretending to be crime scene investigators as they use metric measurement for problem solving and inquiry in this exciting activity. Students use measuring equipment, collect data, and make inferences based on the evidence colle...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Pick-a-number

The Pick-a-number activity, a variation of the game 20 Questions, provides a way to address challenges at the beginning of the school year, in a standards-based way. It also helps students develop the essential skill of asking questions as part of th...

Journal Article

Safe Science Facilities

The design of a classroom and how space is used can affect student achievement, classroom safety, and teacher liability. When science teachers and administrators plan and design classroom environments, they should consider four factors that play a ma...

Journal Article

Do You See What I See?

This article focuses on the use of artwork to investigate science-process skills in an interesting and unusual way. Preservice teachers examine a painting and share descriptions of the painting (observations), what they thought might be going on (inf...

Journal Article

Science 101: Where does amber come from?

What aromatic, soft, sticky resin found in trees protects plants by sealing cuts and excluding bacteria, fungi, and insects? You guessed it, amber! This article examines the origins and usage of amber from ancient times to the present....

Journal Article

After the bell - Algebraic Thinking Part II: The Use of Functions in Scientific Inquiry

Functions are not only a necessary mathematical tool for scientific inquiry--the use of functions on standardized tests is increasing to the point where students must be proficient in the subject. This activity, the identification of the outside te...

Journal Article

A Field Guide of Their Own

Science and art blend when students identify the ferns growing on their school grounds. Second- and third-grade students worked together to discover plants on the school grounds. This project culminated in the creation of a “Guide to the Common Fer...

Journal Article

Teaching Through Trade Books: What's Up with Sinking?

Two trade books invite students to explore the question: To sink or not to sink? That is the experiment. Though both books are targeted for younger children, teachers can use these books with elementary students of any age to spark interest in sci...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Inquiry into measuring

It is important for students to understand that numbers in science often involve measurements and that measurements have limited precision. The following two activities demonstrate the limitations of measurement tools and explore the varying degree o...

Journal Article

Science Shorts: Seeing Color

Colors can open the door to an invisible world of electromagnetism, even when children can barely imagine things they cannot see. This article looks at color as a powerful tool for engaging children of all ages. A corresponding activity is included....

Journal Article

Habits of Mind for the Science Laboratory

Laboratory experience should be an integral part of any high school science program, especially laboratory activities designed so that students gather data, explore concepts, and answer questions through inquiry. So, how can science teachers avoid ne...

Journal Article

Methods and Strategies: Why Demonstrations Matter

As a teacher, it is important to build lessons around concepts and utilize demonstrations as an integral part of concept development in science. Demonstrations are easy to do and offer many benefits and unique opportunities in the constructivist clas...

Journal Article

Scope on the Skies: Planets in motion

September is a great month to watch Venus, Jupiter, and Mars in action. These planets will be visible as they move across the sky, and can be viewed with the naked eye. Take this opportunity to plot planetary motion using the internet resources cont...

Journal Article

Johnny Appleseed Comes to Class

Elementary life science methods professors found that their students often misunderstood the connection between flowers and fruits. Johnny Appleseed helped to solve this quandry by making a visit to provide an engaging atmosphere for elementary stud...

Journal Article

Teaching Problem-Solving Skills without Sacrificing Course Content: Marrying Traditional Lecture and Active Learning in an Organic Chemistry Class

Promoting problem-solving skills is a challenge faced by all science instructors. Teaching students to integrate information without sacrificing content is critical. When taught with an active problem-centered teaching model, students’ mean scores ...

Journal Article

Bridging the Two Cultures: A Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Approach to Teaching and Learning Science in a Societal Context

Twentieth-century novelist and physicist C.P. Snow famously stated that solving the world’s complex problems requires collaboration between humanists and scientists. We agree with Snow and illustrate one integrated educational approach that bridges...

Journal Article

The Early Years: What Can Young Children Do as Scientists?

Children come to our classrooms with varying amounts of experience in exploring the natural world and participating in scientific inquiry. The school year's first meeting for science instruction can be a time to take stock of the breadth and depth o...