All Resources

Journal Article

Science & Science Fiction

This creative activity weaves science fiction and language arts skills into the science classroom, which can expand and enrich the science content and abstract concepts found in science textbooks.Well-written literature can be used to open new ways o...

Journal Article

The Campus Lake Learning Community: Promoting a Multidisciplinary Approach to Environmental Problem Solving

A multidisciplinary learning community provided environmental management students the opportunity to work with students in different classes and majors to create designs for improving the appearance and environmental quality of a lake on a university...

Journal Article

Point of View: So Tell Me Again--Who's Locked in the Chinese Room?

To succeed in our classes--especially science classes--students must be physically and intellectually present most of the time. They must be able to solve problems with minds and with hands and with others. They have to have some level of facility ...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: First-class inquiry

In this scientific inquiry-based activity, students explore how variables in a first-class lever, specifically arm length, position of the fulcrum, and placement of the load, affect the effort needed to lift the load....

Journal Article

Ask the Experts -- February 2005

The Experts will provide the answers to your burning science questions! In this month's column, they answer the questions, What is a black hole? and Can a black hole pull in another black hole?...

Journal Article

Putting a Twist on Inquiry

After studying linear motion and learning the basic concepts involved, (inertia, force and motion, friction), middle level students can apply their learning to nonlinear situations. Using toy tops is one way to teach students the basic concepts of no...

Journal Article

Commentary: Professional Development and Resources for Educators in Astrobiology

In addition to catalyzing and promoting interdisciplinary research in astrobiology, the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) also seeks to train the next generation of astrobiologists. To accomplish this, NAI provides a wealth of resources and support f...

Journal Article

How Clean Is the River?

A yearlong river study builds science-process skills and understanding of basic water quality concepts. Third-grade students set out to determine the health of a local stream, practice several water quality tests, and learn about the life cycle and e...

Journal Article

Science Shorts: Exploring Insect Vision

A fly is buzzing around in the kitchen. You sneak up on it with a flyswatter, but just as you get close to it, it flies away. What makes flies and other insects so good at escaping from danger? The fact that insects have eyesight that can easily det...

Journal Article

Collaboration Physics

Elementary school teachers and university researchers combine their expertise to help students construct an understanding of force—and discover something of the nature of science in the process. Second- and third-grade students in an after school s...

Journal Article

The All Sky Camera Network

In 2001, the All Sky Camera Network came to life as an outreach program to connect the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS) exhibit Space Odyssey with Colorado schools. The network is comprised of cameras placed strategically at schools through...

Journal Article

Idea Bank: Classroom Newsletter

Have you ever struggled with trying to motivate your students to learn science? If your answer is a resounding "yes!"-- the implementation of a class newsletter may be the solution. A class newsletter project can improve student self-confidence and m...

Journal Article

Scope on Safety: Spill safety

Preventing chemical spills in the laboratory is critical, but teachers also need to know what to do if a spill does occur. This article outlines strategies to help with hazardous chemical spills in lab facilities and on people, with a special section...

Journal Article

Tried and True: Newton's first law: A learning cycle approach

Demonstrate how Newton's first law of motion applies to students' everyday lives with this learning cycle series of activities on inertia. This activity is sure to elicit wide-eyed stares and puzzled looks from students, but also promote critical thi...

Journal Article

Finding Other Worlds

Since 1995, astronomers have discovered over 100 known exoplanets--planets outside of our solar system--and determined their properties such as mass, orbital distance, size, and density. By using simple algebraic equations of physics, students can de...

Journal Article

Editor's Note (February 2005)

Environmental education addresses many aspects of quality learning. It can be local and carry a great meaning to the students. It is always interesting and complex. It is multidisciplinary in the very broadest and deepest ways. It not only stradd...

Journal Article

How Far Are the Stars?

On any night, the stars seen in the sky can be as close to Earth as a few light-years or as distant as a few thousand light-years. Distances this large are hard to comprehend. In this article, we explore how astronomers measure the distances to stars...

Journal Article

Environmental Journey

This article chronicles a principal's wish which sparked an environmental education program at his school. The program evolved into a community wide effort which reaches more than 1000 students each year. The program helps teachers incorporate nati...