JoinAll Resources
Journal Article
As science teachers, we strive to make our field an effective component of a liberal arts education. How can we make our subject more appealing to the broader community? This article describes how the author taught a conceptual physics/astronomy cour...
Journal Article
Idea Bank: Success with Science Folders
The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. In this month’s issue, the author describes how using science folders helps students to be more organized and improves achievement....
Journal Article
Commentary: Curriculum Versus the Volcano
An opinion piece about the vinegar-volcano chemistry demonstration, and how science teachers have the tendency to fall back on dramatic demonstrations presented without much explanation or application....
Journal Article
Students use time-tested strategies to recall scientific information. By means of mnemonics—cognitive strategies that help students learn and remember scientific information such as facts, lists, categories, and procedures—students apply simple a...
Journal Article
Presenting the Scientific Process
In a course titled Scientific Process, the authors introduce undergraduates to the philosophy and practice of science and initiate them into a 2-year undergraduate research track. Engaging exercises and discussions help students understand the scient...
Journal Article
Emphasizing both math and science in an interdisciplinary high school program. This three-year math-science curriculum connects the fundamental concepts of physics, biology, and chemistry with algebra and geometry. Interdisciplinary courses allow stu...
Journal Article
By investigating laundry detergent effectiveness, students participate in discovery-based learning. A common paper chromatography experiment is modified to introduce students to properties of surfactants and is used as a surrogate system for removal...
Journal Article
Fostering Inquiry through Problem-Based Learning
Students learn the role of genetics counseling and gene testing in the identification and treatment of cystic fibrosis. University researchers team up with a high school teacher to plan and implement problem-based learning (PBL) in a high school biol...
Journal Article
Pendulum racing from the playground to the physics lab. This inquiry-based physics lesson uses playground swings to introduce students to the motion of a pendulum. Students use graphical and mathematical methods to match their experimental data to th...
Journal Article
Implementing problem-based learning (PBL) without redesigning a curriculum. This article explores ways to integrate PBL into science curricula and to introduce and use PBL lessons throughout the school year. By implementing these techniques, teachers...
Journal Article
Active learning promotes higher-level reasoning, and it can be achieved in large classes without wholesale changes in class format. Applicable methods include in-class mini-investigations, robust multiple-choice exam questions, online quizzes or revi...
Journal Article
Research and Teaching: Learning, Reasoning, Motivation and Epistemological Beliefs
This study explored college students' learning approaches, reasoning abilities, motivational goals, and beliefs abut the nature of science relative to science concept understanding and course achievement. The authors examined these variables within d...
Journal Article
Career of the Month: An Interview with Automotive Technician Arcadio Mora
This column shares interviews with professionals using science in the workplace. In this month’s issue, Arcadio Mora shares his story about becoming an automotive technician—a career that is perfect for people who have a knack for tinkering and ...
Journal Article
Idea Bank: Legal Issues Surrounding Evolution and Creationism
The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. This month’s Idea Bank summarizes major court decisions relating to the teaching of evolution and creationism....
Journal Article
An opinion piece about ways to "refuel" your teaching—whether it's reading NSTA publications, connecting with colleagues, addressing professional development needs, or attending NSTA conventions....
Journal Article
Commentary: The Risk of Intelligent Design
An opinion piece about an alternative explanation to evolution—Intelligent Design (ID) theory....
Journal Article
Deep Space Inquiry: Students become research scientists in search of novas in the Andromeda Galaxy
In this student-centered research project, the students used images collected by telescopes to look for novas in the Andromeda Galaxy. Students were assigned a section of an image to search for novas, and by comparing images that show the same sectio...
Journal Article
Science Sampler: Thanksgiving and the science of Native American foods
Keeping students interested around the holidays can be challenging. This article explores how to engage them with an interdisciplinary science lesson focused on Native American food preservation. The lesson reinforces concepts about food and introduc...
Journal Article
Why aren't there more "intermediate" forms between species found in the past and present day species? Can you give specific examples of intermediates from, say, fish to amphibian? Answers are provided from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) publi...
Journal Article
Scope on the Skies: Planets highlight the evening skies
This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. This month’s issue explains how the year comes to an end with four of the brightest planets visible above the horizon at sunset....
Journal Article
Science Sampler: Teacher for a day—Sometimes the front of the classroom is the best place to learn
Demo Day is a day in which students assume the role of teacher. This allows students to gain valuable research and presentation skills, learn how to teach science to younger students, and experience learning from the front of the classroom....
Journal Article
Pangea Redux: Students learn about plate tectonics using Wilson Cycle models
The authors suggest that a basic misconception exists about the cyclic nature of plate tectonic theory that inhibits teachers and students from fully appreciating just how dynamic Earth has been and will be over the course of geologic time. This acti...
Journal Article
Tried and True: Scare them to death
This column provides classic demonstrations and experiments with a new twist. In this month’s issue learn how to tackle the health education topic of HIV/AIDS....
Journal Article
Read Like a Scientist to Write Like a Scientist
Using authentic literature in the classroom....
Journal Article
Examining Technology's Impact on Society
Using case studies to introduce environmental and economic considerations....
Journal Article
The Case Study: Kate-Tastrophy
This column provides original articles on innovations in case study teaching, assessment of the method, as well as case studies with teaching notes. This month’s issue discusses a case study in brain death....
Journal Article
Research and Teaching: Age Is No Barrier to Success
Learning human biology in a computer-intensive course....
Journal Article
Research and Teaching: Nonmajors' Performance in Biology
Effects of student-based initiatives and class size....
Journal Article
Science 101: How do insects survive winter?
This month's column explains how insects survive in the winter. ...
Journal Article
Teaching Through Trade Books: Differences and Diversity
Diversity is not an unusual topic in classrooms studying biology. From the wondrous variety of animals and plants in the rain forest to the microcosm present in soil, most teachers have taught diversity through one route or another. However, it is pr...