All Resources

Journal Article

Methods and Strategies: Understanding the True Meaning of Nature of Science

Along with the responsibility of teaching science content and inquiry comes the responsibility of nurturing an understanding of the nature of science. This article offers applicable suggestions to help in highlighting the nature of science....

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Map your way to the Grand Canyon

How do urban eighth graders from the flatlands of Indiana capture the poetry and grandeur of the Grand Canyon without ever leaving the classroom? By talking and touching and seeing and smelling and listening and...writing. Enhance your eighth-grade g...

Journal Article

Mask of Black God: The Pleiades in Navajo Cosmology

One Navajo legend attributes the creation of the primary stars and constellations to Black God. Today, a famous star cluster—the Pleiades—often appears on the traditional mask worn by chanters impersonating Black God during special ceremonies. In...

Journal Article

Webbing Through Science History

Virtual experiments, data logging the internet--these are just a few of the ways technology is changing the classroom environment today, ushering in a new learning opportunity for students and new ways for teachers to present knowledge. In this arti...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Rockin' around the rock cycle

The following inquiry-based activities were designed as part of a unit intended to aid students in understanding the rock cycle, with the assumption that, after being taught the lessons in the unit, students would have gone beyond a rote memorization...

Journal Article

Making Sense of Topographic Maps

"I'm confused!" "What are all those squiggly lines? "I don't get it!" These are some common reactions the first time students see a full-sized United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map. The study and interpretation of maps is, of course,...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: The Sweet Earth

This activity compares different kinds of candy to the different types of rocks based on direct observation. A great number of geologic processes either take unimaginable lengths of time to complete, or happen in places that cannot be directly observ...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Teaching science to middle school students with learning problems

The inclusion of students with special needs in the middle school science class that is not collaboratively taught with a special education teacher can be a challenge to both students and teacher. The purpose of this article is to outline the charact...

Journal Article

Teaching Through Trade Books: Survival Skills

Animals have many adaptations that help them survive in their environment and meet their special needs of food and shelter. This month’s column focuses on two such adaptations: camouflage and beaks. This articles comes with a corresponding activit...