All Resources

Journal Article

Equitable Science for a Socially Just Classroom

Editor's Corner September/October 2024...

By Brooke Whitworth

High School Equity Social Justice

Journal Article

Finding Instructional Resources for Teaching about Scientific Misinformation

A classroom guide to resources about misinformation...

By Andy Zucker

High School Inquiry Literacy

Journal Article

Reimagining Science as a Natural Tool for Connection: A Restorative Approach

This paper explores a restorative-type intervention with a high school student who is suspended from school for repeated threats to other students. Throughout the paper, we explore the use of restorative practices in the context of science teaching. ...

By Zachary Schafer

Advocacy Interdisciplinary Social Justice

Journal Article

“Black is Beautiful”: A Culturally Relevant/Responsive High School Biology Lesson

This biology lesson uses the science of central dogma to “critique and question the politics of representation that systematically devalue[s] Blackness” (hooks, 1995, p.131). Students’ understanding of protein synthesis is extended in discussin...

By Eddie Taylor

High School Biology Equity Inclusion Interdisciplinary Life Science

Journal Article

Making chemistry relevant to Indigenous Peoples: An Inuit case study

The ability of our northern Indigenous peoples (Inuit, Iñupiaq, and Yupik) to survive and thrive in the Arctic depends significantly upon underlying chemistry and chemical principles. Here, we explore four of these connections, then show how the Ind...

By Chaim Andersen, Rosalina Naqitarvik, Jennifer Winters, Erica Taylor, Geoffrey Rayner-Canham

High School Chemistry Inquiry Multicultural Social Justice

Journal Article

Using Citizen Science to Learn About Climate Change: Investigating the Phenomenon of Increasing Carbon Dioxide Levels Using Fossil Ginkgo Leaves

Science classrooms are most engaging when students have the opportunity to engage in the practices of scientists. Unfortunately, many attempts to incorporate science into the classroom are disconnected from real scientific practice. When classroom sc...

By Ari Geary-Teeter, Thomas McKenna

High School Citizen Science Climate Change Interdisciplinary Social Justice Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Solar Energy and the Midwestern Farms: Utilizing Place-based Socio-Scientific Issues to Foster Students’ Literacy

Researchers have long called for integrating socio-scientific issues (SSIs) in science instruction, recognizing the importance of connecting science learning with societal challenges. Our proposed three-day unit design addresses SSIs in secondary sch...

By Mutiara Syifa, Fuyi Feng, Chia-Hsin Yin, Lin Ding

Earth & Space Science Inquiry Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Cultivating Teachers’ Indigenous Knowledge through Explorations of Milkweed and Phenology

Providing more equitable pedagogies to all students, including those who are traditionally underrepresented, is a high priority of science education. In this paper, we outline how we coupled Indigenous Ways of Knowing with investigations about plant ...

By Hillary Barron, Emily Mohl, Michele Koomen

High School Biology Inquiry Multicultural Pedagogy

Journal Article

Determining the Relative Mass Between the Nucleus and Electrons Modeling Lab

Freshman general science students already know the atom is composed of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons with electron circling the nucleus. This hands-on modeling lab allows students to visualize and discover the electrons mass is far less a...

By Gary Schlitz

High School Chemistry Labs

Journal Article

Students with Visual Impairments can be Successful in Science

One of the goals of the Next Generation Science Standards is to make science accessible to all students, which includes students with disabilities such as blindness and visual impairments (BVI). However, educators of students with BVI have limited ex...

By Rhea Miles

High School Disabilities Equity Inclusion Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Designing Standards-Aligned Instructional Materials that Connect to Students’ Interests and Community Priorities

All students should have opportunities to investigate issues related to their personal interests and community priorities. Teachers value these goals but often lack materials that follow students' meaningful questions about phenomena while meeting st...

By William Penuel, Kate Henson, Zoë Bracey, Nicole Vick, Ann Rivet

High School Disciplinary Core Ideas NGSS Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Uncovering Earth’s History, One Sample at a Time

Teaching Through Trade Books...

By Christine Anne Royce

Early Education Early Childhood Elementary Instructional Materials Interdisciplinary Literacy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Activating Learning with Phenomena

By Patrick Brown

Phenomena Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Advocating for Science from Within the Classroom

By Jessica Fries-Gaither

Kindergarten Elementary Advocacy Leadership Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Phenomena-driven Science Instruction

Editor's Note...

By Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn

Early Education Kindergarten Pre-K Early Childhood Elementary Phenomena

Journal Article

Why is that Pole Wet on One Side and Not the Other?: Transitioning to Phenomenon and Problem-Driven Teaching in Kindergarten

This paper discusses two teachers’ experiences implementing a phenomenon and problem-driven curriculum for the first time in two kindergarten classes. It describes how teachers shifted their teaching to support students’ collaborative sensemaking...

By Mary Short, Nancy Costanzo, Allison Fleming

NGSS Phenomena Physics

Journal Article

Making Space for Local Science: Strategies for teachers to find and adapt phenomena in science units

This article discusses strategies for teachers to find and use local phenomena in designed science units. The Next Generation Science Standards promote grounding learning in observable phenomena that students investigate using science practices. Howe...

By Katahdin A Whitt, Becky Hallowell

Earth & Space Science Phenomena Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Dog Days At School: Using Authenticity to Guide cross-curricular Learning in Kindergarten

The presented unit explores the often-overlooked potential of integrating science, social studies, math, and ELA through the lens of a kindergarten unit centered around the creation of a dog park. Emphasizing collaborative decision-making and communi...

By Amanda Sanderman, Chelsie Byram

Interdisciplinary Life Science NGSS Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Learning to be an Ambitious Science Teacher

Since the release of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), students are expected to learn science according to the three-dimensions (DCI, SEP, CCC). In order for teachers to support the three-dimensional learning of their students, they need ...

By Alex Gerber, Heather Milo

Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Leadership NGSS Professional Learning Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Remarkable Adaptations

The emperor penguin is one of the most identifiable animals on earth. Its survival depends on a variety of factors, such as temperature and other environmental elements. In order to engage fifth-grade students in exploring the captivating phenomenon ...

By Robyn Yewell, Ron Gray

Inquiry Life Science Phenomena

Journal Article

Mapping in Two and Three Dimensions

Second graders used their own school-ground explorations, using journals and iPads for pictures and narrated videos, to create traditional, two-dimensional models of their school-grounds and all its natural and human-made features. These data collect...

By Jeffery Townsend, Connie Hodge, Sonja Yow, Whitney Cox

Crosscutting Concepts Interdisciplinary Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Changes in the Leaves

The Poetry of Science...

By Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Interdisciplinary

Journal Article

Q: How can I address science misconceptions using phenomena-driven instruction?

Q: How can I address science misconceptions using phenomena-driven instruction?...

By Matthew Bobrowsky

Inquiry Literacy Phenomena

Journal Article

Engineering and Design: Reducing Erosion at the ShoreDesigning a lesson using a Gather, Reason, and Communicate framework.

Integrating engineering into the science curriculum in a meaningful way requires planning that utilizes a 3-dimensional approach. Using a “gather, reason, communicate” framework (Moulding, Huff, Van der Veen, 2020) provided me with an effective ...

By Katheryn Kennedy

Earth & Space Science Environmental Science Inquiry Phenomena Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Phenomenon Walks

For preservice K–5 teachers, understanding how to implement phenomenon-based learning in an elementary classroom is an important skill, particularly as it relates to integrating the Next Generation Science Standards. This article presents one way t...

By Steph Dean

Pedagogy Phenomena Preservice Science Education

Journal Article

What Should We Investigate?

In this article, we describe how we use classroom phenomena to help fifth grade students develop testable questions and productive investigations. Engaging students in observing and seeking to explain a classroom decomposition chamber has helped them...

By Eve Manz, Annabel Stoler, Lorin Federico, Samantha Patton, Lindsay Weaver, Genelle Diaz Silveira, Souhaila Nassar

Early Education Elementary Inquiry Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices

Journal Article

Phenomena Interest Comes Naturally to Young Children

A child’s world is one filled with observable daily events or facts referred to as phenomenon that exist or happen, especially those that invoke a cause or explanation in question. From the earliest ages, young children are active learners explorin...

By Shelly Counsell

Early Education Pre-K Preschool Phenomena Physical Science

Journal Article

Patterns are Everywhere: Exploring the schoolyard to facilitate thinking about science phenomena

After realizing the difficulty educators face with integrating the crosscutting concepts (CCCs) from the Next Generation Science Standards into their lessons and noticing missed opportunities for caregivers to engage children in scientific thinking, ...

By Brandon Davis, Ingrid Carter, Lisa Dispense

5E Crosscutting Concepts NGSS Phenomena

Journal Article

Disciplinary Differences in STEM Faculty and Student Use of Learning Objectives: Implications for Teaching and Learning

Using learning objectives to guide course design is often considered an educational best practice, but little research exists that explores how students use them over time and across courses. We surveyed students on their use and perceived value of l...

By Sarah Leupen, Tory Williams, Linda Hodges, Laura Ott, Eric Anderson, Lili Cui, Kalman Nanes, H. Perks, Cynthia Wagner

Interdisciplinary Preservice Science Education STEM

Journal Article

“Flipping” a course: is it worth it? A multiyear analysis of interactive and student-centered pedagogy in an introductory physical geology course

This study summarizes the comparison of interactive lecturing and technology-supported student-centered pedagogy across six semesters of an introductory physical geology course. A multiple linear regression analysis of 967 student scores shows that a...

By Theresa Halligan, Cinzia Cervato, Ulrike Genschel

Earth & Space Science Pedagogy STEM Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Resources university science and mathematics students use to replace or supplement lectures in the 21st century: A case study

The development of web-based technologies in recent decades has provided ready access to a wealth of on-line educational resources, and despite concerns that availability of on-line recorded lectures impacts on-campus attendance, we believe there nee...

By Andrew Seen, Tony Kerr, Joee Kelk, Sharon Fraser

Distance Learning Mathematics Teaching Strategies Technology

Journal Article

“Enhancing” exam wrappers with research into learning is associated with a shift in study strategies in a first semester biology course.

Students’ academic performance improves when they use active study methods and discussion of study strategy efficacy can impact students’ choice. Faculty often employ mid-semester wrappers to encourage student reflection on their study habits, so...

By Maya Sobel, Linden Higgins

Learning Progression Pedagogy Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

We have more in common than we think: A comparison of scientific skills and disciplinary practices in the guiding documents for Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics

Students are encouraged to develop a set of scientific skills and disciplinary practices common across the STEM disciplines....

By Daniel SIlverio, Eugenia Villa-Cuesta, Alison Hyslop, Kevin Kolack, Sabrina Sobel

Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching Strategies