All Resources

Journal Article

Changes in Elementary Teachers’ Conceptions About Matter

While research has investigated elementary teachers’ understanding of science content, such research is often limited to topics typically not addressed in elementary school curricula. Yet, research has illustrated that many elementary teachers stru...

By Jerrid W. Kruse, Jesse Wilcox, and Lucas Menke

NGSS Pedagogy Professional Learning old Teacher Preparation

Journal Article

Fostering Nonscientist Thinking on Evolution Concepts Through the Teaching for Transformative Experiences in Science (TTES) Model

Understanding of evolution is foundational to be a scientifically literate citizen because it allows analysis of socioscientific issues, such as biodiversity conservation, biotechnology applications, and human-induced climate change. Unfortunately, s...

By Rachel Sparks and Rebekka Darner

Biology Pedagogy Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

An Investigation Into the Impact of the Flipped Classroom With Active Learning on the Perception and Performance of Biology Nonmajor Students at the Undergraduate Level

We carried out a study of an instructional model that integrates flipped classroom with active learning, in-class activities into our biology course, using a mixed methods research design. According to the survey (n = 331), a majority of students fou...

By Bina Rai, Julia Yajuan Zhu, Dawn C-I Koh, Khoo Xiaojuan, Lakshminarasimhan Krishnaswamy, Rajesh Chandramohanadas, Ong Eng Shi, and Pey Kin Leong

Postsecondary Biology Pedagogy Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Modeling the Coronavirus Outbreak for Cross-Discipline Teaching

The Coronavirus outbreak allows for a number of possible applications to classroom teaching (biology, computer science, Earth science, physics, statistics), as well as student research. A number of simple models reproduce fairly well the case numbers...

By Joseph J. Molitoris

Interdisciplinary

Journal Article

Applying the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Framework During a Community College Chemistry Project-Based Learning Activity

Project-based learning (PBL) instructional methods attempt to make connections between students and their ability to solve real problems. We framed our qualitative study within sociocultural theory and used the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, a...

By Patricia G. Patrick, William Bryan, and Shirley M. Matteson

Postsecondary Chemistry

Journal Article

Understanding and Addressing Ambiguity in the STEM Classroom

The science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are some of the most jargon-heavy areas in higher education. As such, teaching and learning in these areas includes challenges with lexically ambiguous words and phrases, where one t...

By Rachel Yoho

Literacy Preservice Science Education STEM

Journal Article

Surveying the Safety Culture of Academic Laboratories

The university traditionally has been the foundation for young adults’ professional development, yet the proclivity toward safety culture has garnered less focus in higher education than in the workforce. A survey of faculty at a medium-sized, rese...

By Emily Faulconer, Zachary Dixon, John C. Griffith, and Hayden Frank

Postsecondary Labs Safety

Journal Article

Families Are Essential in the STEM Learning Ecosystem

By Beth Murphy

Informal Education General Science Inclusion STEM

Web Seminar

Archive: Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge: Learn from the Winners, November 5, 2020

The Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge Competition acknowledges exceptional and innovative science educators, to recognize outstanding K–12 school programs for their exemplary approaches to science lab instruction utilizing limited school and...

Elementary High School Middle School General Science

Web Seminar

Archive: Competitive Application for the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge, December 10, 2020

The Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge Competition acknowledges exceptional and innovative science educators, to recognize outstanding K–12 school programs for their exemplary approaches to science lab instruction utilizing limited school and...

Elementary High School Middle School General Science

Web Seminar

Archive: NSTA Author Series: Using Daily Life Probes to Uncover Students' Ideas in Engineering & Technology, December 9, 2020

In this web seminar, participants will learn how to use purposefully designed, engaging questions to elicit and address students’ commonly held ideas about core concepts and practices in engineering and technology.   ...

Elementary High School Middle School General Science

Lesson Plan

What Happens When We Mix Colors?

Preschool Early Childhood Informal Education Crosscutting Concepts Is Lesson Plan Physical Science Science and Engineering Practices

Web Seminar

Archive: Book Beat Live

Looking for a fun conversation with top-notch teaching tips? Come hang out with fellow teachers and meet experts on science and literacy at Book Beat Live! This FREE virtual meetup with the writers of NSTA Press’s popular Once Up...

Journal Article

Growing STEM Learning Opportunities With Agriculture

By Brian McNeill, Kirstin R. Koch, and Becca Turnquist

Informal Education General Science Instructional Materials Learning Progression Life Science STEM

Journal Article

Engaging Children With Authentic STEAM Learning Experiences Through Design-Based Approaches

By Anne Marie Morrin and Maeve Liston

Informal Education Pre-service Teachers Interdisciplinary Preservice Science Education STEM Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Connecting Field Trips and Family Interest: A Tool to Elicit English- and Spanish-Speaking Families’ Interests

By Martha Merson and Scott Pattison

Middle School Elementary High School Informal Education Multilingual Learners Environmental Science STEM

Lesson Plan

How Can We Run Out of Water?

Middle School High School Crosscutting Concepts Earth & Space Science Is Lesson Plan NGSS Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Lesson Plan

NSTA Daily Do: Why Are the Stars Disappearing?

Middle School High School Earth & Space Science Is Lesson Plan

Web Seminar

Archive: Teacher Tip Tuesday: Avoiding Data and Science Misinformation in Today’s Messy Media Landscape, October 27, 2020

This panel presentation and discussion will explore the role media play in building scientific and mathematical understanding and the impact misinformation is having on how young people navigate their roles as both students and citizens.  The di...

Elementary High School Middle School

Lesson Plan

Why does the ping pong ball move?

Early Childhood Crosscutting Concepts Is Lesson Plan NGSS Phenomena Physical Science Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Lesson Plan

Why doesn't the snow melt?

High School Crosscutting Concepts Is Lesson Plan NGSS Phenomena Physical Science Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Web Seminar

Archive: Science Update: The Unknown World of Deep-Sea Corals, December 3, 2020

Deep-sea corals live in some of the least studied ecosystems on the planet, yet provide crucial support for fisheries and a number of other ecosystem services. This presentation, delivered by Heather Coleman, Coordinator of the Deep Sea Coral Re...

Middle School Elementary High School Postsecondary Biology Climate Change Environmental Science Life Science STEM

Lesson Plan

Why Does it Sizzle?

Informal Education Is Lesson Plan NGSS Phenomena Physical Science Science and Engineering Practices

Lesson Plan

Why Do Earthquakes Occur Where They Do?

Middle School Earth & Space Science Is Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

How Are Cancer Cells Different From Normal Cells?

High School Is Lesson Plan Life Science

Lesson Plan

Why Are The Rusty Patched Bumble Bees Disappearing?

Middle School Biology Citizen Science Is Lesson Plan Life Science NGSS Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Web Seminar

Archive: Teacher Tip Tuesday: Taking Familiar Digital Tools to the Next Level: Google Slides and Docs, October 13, 2020

Whether in teaching and learning in a classroom or virtual space, digital tools can be leveraged as a means for students to share ideas, evaluate competing ideas, and give and receive critique. This month’s focus is Google Slides and Docs. Join us ...

Middle School Elementary High School Postsecondary General Science

Web Seminar

Archive: Science Update: The Cosmic Shooting Gallery, November 19, 2020

Stuff hits the Earth all the time, but fortunately we have a nice thick warm atmosphere that vaporizes everything smaller than an SUV. Spacecraft have to be specially engineered to survive reentry, and they are only going a fraction of typical interp...

Middle School Elementary High School Informal Education Postsecondary Astronomy Earth & Space Science General Science STEM Technology

Lesson Plan

How Do Population Shifts Affect the Ecosystem?

High School Is Lesson Plan Life Science

Lesson Plan

Why Do We See Two Mountain Ranges?

Middle School Crosscutting Concepts Is Lesson Plan NGSS Phenomena Physical Science Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Equity Strategies: Community Hosts and Design Thinking in a Middle School Summer Camp

By Adam Talamantes

Middle School Informal Education Curriculum Engineering Equity Inclusion Multicultural STEM

Journal Article

What Makes Them Tick? Middle School Data Science Explorations of Ticks and Lyme Disease

By Meggie Harvey, Jan Mokros, Jacob Sagrans, and Christine Voyer

Middle School Informal Education Instructional Materials STEM Technology

Lesson Plan

How Do Hooved, Herding Herbivores Help the Soil?

Elementary Climate Change Earth & Space Science Environmental Science Is Lesson Plan Life Science NGSS Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Lesson Plan

When Can We See Different Objects in the Sky?

Middle School Elementary Earth & Space Science Is Lesson Plan NGSS Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices

Journal Article

Taking Action in STEM Learning

By Erica Ahlgren and Mallory Tuominen

Middle School Elementary High School Informal Education Curriculum Inquiry STEM Teaching Strategies