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Journal Article
Scope on the Skies: A year in the skies
This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. This month’s issue highlights the astronomical events for the 2003-2004 school year....
Journal Article
Web-Based Warm Up Exercises in Just-in-Time Teaching
The authors used warm-up exercises in Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) to reveal students’ prior knowledge and misconceptions in biology, chemistry, and physics. This article demonstrates how the use of preparatory warm-up exercises and analysis of stu...
Journal Article
Counting Dots: Students engage in a coal mining activity to interpret geology
With techniques used by actual geologists, students apply their understanding of contour lines, maps, area, density, and volume through a coal mining activity. ...
Journal Article
Tried and True: Solving problems scientifically
This simple guided lesson based on the "black box" activity proved to be a great way to introduce simple inquiry. It encourages students to ask questions, make predictions, make observations, conduct test, and draw conclusions. ...
Journal Article
Discover the surprising diversity and scientific value of sand from around the world....
Journal Article
Research and Teaching: The Visionlearning Project
Although the proliferation of teaching resources on the Internet is extensive, little is known about these materials’ use or utility. The Visionlearning project is a multiyear effort to design and evaluate web-based interdisciplinary science teachi...
Journal Article
Science Sampler: Narrowing student investigations
Learn how to teach students science by using single-lesson investigations. This technique complements longer-term investigations by allowing students to practice narrowing questions and to plan and conduct their own investigations....
Journal Article
Teaching through Trade Books: Dealing with Data
The elementary classroom is full of opportunities to collect and organize information—or data—of all kinds. This article suggests two trade books that help children explore concepts of measurement. A background section and data-gathering activiti...
Journal Article
Students' Ideas About Plants: Results from a National Study
Last fall, Science and Children invited kindergarten to grade eight teachers to participate in a study investigating students’ ideas about plants and plant growth (Barman et al. 2002). Two hundred twenty-seven individuals from 16 states in the Unit...
Journal Article
Few can resist a bubble wand and a brightly colored bottle of bubble solution. Although playing with bubbles might seem like just a fun outdoor activity, it is also an opportunity to explore some interesting science concepts related to soap, light, a...
Journal Article
Speedway Science: NASCAR helps enhance a teacher education program
In the beginning, the New Visions Education Program did not include science as part of its curriculum. In this article, a teacher teams up with NASCAR and Cornell University to develop a challenging science curriculum that would forever change the fa...
Journal Article
Although assessment is tradtionally applied at the end of a unit, evaluating students during instruction can help to eliminate misconceptions and deepen understanding. This 5E sequence on the phases of the Moon demonstrates how assessment can be used...
Journal Article
Science Sampler: Planetary real estate
In the Planetary Real Estate Sales Activity, students pretend they are the new owners of one of the planets in the solar system challenged with the task of developing and selling it to make a profit. By having students “sell” an assigned planet t...
Journal Article
The Electromagnetic Spectrum: Using Light and Color to Search for Astronomical Origins
Using telescopes in space and on the ground for innovative research, NASA’s Astronomical Search for Origins program explores the universe at a variety of wavelengths. To help communicate the results of the Origins program in a manner that is direct...
Journal Article
At the end of their oceanography unit, fourth-grade students are challenged to create an imaginary creature that is well adapted to live in an ocean environment. They present their new species at a "marine biology convention" and demonstrate their un...
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Project SunSHINE: A Student-Based Research Program
This successful middle school program has students use technology to conduct their own weather investigations. Students design a research question focusing on ultraviolet levels, then collect data on local weather conditions....
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The phrase "Life is change" is meant to convey to high school students that a key characteristic of living organisms is continual change. A community photography project captures the essence of biology and fosters collaboration between high school an...
Journal Article
If Stones Could Talk...Epitaphs feed data for a unique after-school club
Students learn science and mathematics through inquiry-based investigations using technology and the unique history of a local cemetery. This project helped students learn how to combine the learning of science and technology with important issues an...
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In this edition of the Editor’s Note, outgoing editor Joan McShane bids farewell to readers and ushers in a new era for NSTA. She reflects on the past 10 years and recounts technology being the most dramatic change in our classrooms and lives. Sh...
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Careers in Science: An interview with firefighter Denise Dierich
From biochemistry and teaching, to firefighting and paramedics, Denise Dierich's love of learning constantly yields new challenges and rewards as she provides a vital service to the community. ...
Journal Article
Teaching through Trade Books: Weather Watchers
In the past two months, students probably have heard weather-based sayings, such as “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb” or “April showers bring May flowers.” Throughout the ages, people have developed these and other sayings...
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The authors share their experiences with free test items from National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests. These questions provide an excellent format for teachers to create new questions or modify existing questions to meet specific cla...
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Providing a fundamental way of understanding the world....
Journal Article
Incorporating service learning components into biology education....
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Environmental Literacy for All Students
Evaluation of environmental science courses developed for a new core curriculum....
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Editorial: Forgotten History, Ignored Research, Little Progress
The Journal of College Science Teaching’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue....
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The Case Study: A Letter to Garcia
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 provides a letter from Elbert Hubbard to Garcia Y'iniguez Calixto, a lawyer and ...
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Research and Teaching: Why Models Sometimes Fail
Eight suggestions to improve science instruction....
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The cradle of the Canadian iron and steel industry....
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Idea Bank: MultiSensory Science
The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. This month’s issue features a unique approach of teaching science—the multisensory approach—combining music, pictures, and laboratory activities. This appro...
Journal Article
Tech Trek: Projecting your PDA
One of the perceived limitations of PDAs by teachers is its small screen. However, some recent innovations have opened a variety of new opportunities for middle school science instruction. Now, with some relatively inexpensive equipment and software,...