All Resources

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Periodic Table

Teaching the periodic table can be a mundane task filled with repetition and rote memorization. The techniques for engaging activities outlined in this article will help students become familiar with the periodic table in fun and exciting ways throug...

Journal Article

Learning with Inquiring Minds: Students are introduced to the unit on gas laws and properties of gases using the 5E model

In this article, the teacher moves from a lecture-oriented classroom to a student-centered classroom by redesigning the unit on gas laws based on the five phases of the 5E instructional model—engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration or ext...

Journal Article

Idea Bank: Bird Beak Lab

The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. In this month’s Idea Bank, the teacher introduces the “Bird Beak Lab.” This lab incorporates graphing, data collection, manipulation, interpretation, presen...

Journal Article

The Science and Mathematics of Building Structures

Everyday activities—like building with blocks—can be the basis for meaningful learning that meets national educational standards in science and mathematics. Preschool students played with different kinds of building blocks and were encouraged to ...

Journal Article

Corn Snake Genetics: Students learn about the fundamentals of Mendelism by studying corn snakes

On a visit to a local pet store, one teacher learned that corn snakes can be interesting models for Mendelian genetics. Corn snakes became the focus of a genetics unit that included making observations of classroom corn snakes with different phenotyp...

Journal Article

Teaching through Trade Books: Rock Wonderings

Rocks, as part of the Earth science curriculum, are an integral part of the National Science Education Standards. These trade book-inspired investigations for students in grades K-3 and 4-6 encourage readers to investigate the world around them....

Journal Article

Hypothesis-Based Learning

In an effort to improve inquiry learning in the classroom, the authors modified a standard, inquiry-based curricula to provide opportunities for students to discuss discrepant events. The tool, called Hypothesis-Based Learning (HBL), requires student...

Journal Article

Observing the Sky Through the Eyes of the Ancient Mayans

Throughout history, most cultures paid very close attention to the sky. For the Mayan culture specifically, the dependable motions of the Sun, Moon, and stars and their connection to accurate calendars provided motivation to study the cosmos. Through...

Journal Article

Scope on Safety: What Is Your First Aid Policy?

Would you know what to do if one of your students had an accident with a chemical that resulted in contact with the skin? What would you do if a student spilled boiling water on his or her hands? These are the types of potential challenges science te...

Journal Article

Looks Count for Communities

Small-town students embark on a trip to the past that connects them to current trends and issues faced by communities all over the United States—the potential for explosive growth-- helter-skelter, mismatched growth. This inquiry-based unit on comm...

Journal Article

Discovering Flowers in a New Light

Although students may have made observations of plants and flowers, not many have looked closely at their various structures or seen the colorful designs of flowers that are only apparent when magnified. The 5E learning cycle described in this articl...

Journal Article

Using Standards to Address Diversity in Science

A scrutiny of the national and some state science standards indicates that middle school science teachers don't have a frame of reference to depict an "application of equity and diversity" in a classroom. The author helps to fill the void of "how" by...

Journal Article

Learning from Standards-Based Exams: Analyzing student answers to a statewide exam helps a teacher improve his instruction

In this article, find out how a careful analysis of student answers to the standards-based exams proved to be an important instructional tool. ...

Journal Article

Analyzing Instructional Content and Practices: Using data to improve alignment of science instruction with state and national standards

As teachers and school leaders continue to implement standards-based instruction, they need a way to evaluate the current status of science instruction to determine what changes and improvements are necessary. A new approach to analyzing and improvin...

Journal Article

Be a Food Scientist

When approached in the appropriate manner, food can be a useful teaching tool to develop understandings of science and mathematics concepts. This engaging series of food science inquiry lessons builds student skills in measurement, data collection, c...

Journal Article

Editor's Corner: Avoiding Clichés

The Science Teacher’s editor shares thoughts on the current issue reflecting on some of the excellent suggestions offered....

Journal Article

How's Your Visual Acuity?

Students learn about visual acuity through a guided inquiry activity that helps them understand the concepts. These concepts are important in helping students understand their own vision. Visual acuity concepts, inquiry skills, math applications, an...

Journal Article

Ask the Experts

Why are some metal-ion solutions colored, while others are not? What gives rise to the variety of colors that we see? Find the answers in this article....

Journal Article

Using Newspapers to Facilitate Learning

Incorporating newspapers into a science course encourages students to take control of their learning. Assignments related to newspapers facilitate active learning in a classroom environment focused on the learner. Several different types of assignmen...

Journal Article

Teaching "Bad Science"

Sharing both the triumphs and failures of science helps students understand its true nature. Teachers should challenge students to confront the scientific enterprise in its entirety. In doing so, teachers move toward achieving science education's im...

Journal Article

Favorite Demonstration: Using Elodea as a Live Model of the Eukaryotic Cell

In this demonstration, the aquatic plant called Common Waterweed, Elodea Canadensis, serves as a model for cell function. The plant clearly exhibits cell activity by visibly demonstrating cytoplasmic streaming, which occurs in animals, plants, and pr...

Journal Article

Research and Teaching: Successive Concept Mapping

As alternatives to multiple-choice tests, concept maps offer user-friendly ways of evaluating learning. At the same time, they encourage and reward real understanding. The authors explored the value of using successive concept maps as vehicles for as...