All Resources

Journal Article

Teaching Physics with Dynamic Simulation: Simulators connect science to everyday life

Dynamic simulation has great potential as a tool for teaching physics and general science. These simulators provide students with laboratories for experimenting with phenomena in the context of real situations such as driving, home energy conservatio...

Journal Article

Case Study: <em>Not</em> an Old Person’s Disease

This article describes a case study done in sections. Students first read a scenario and then write down and discuss answers to questions provided by the professor. After discussion, they continue reading, learn a little more about the scenario, and ...

Journal Article

Eye on Audience

In their team-taught science writing courses, the authors use a series of assignments aimed at specific “real-life” audiences and designed for different venues. Once students understand how to look at the specific needs and expectations of their ...

Journal Article

Tracking Development

In the spring 2000 semester, elementary education preservice teachers at Penn State Harrisburg designed and implemented a long-term, interdisciplinary, inquiry-based project. Several students chose to collect baseline data on the ecosystems of the Ly...

Journal Article

Wildfire Awareness

Discover if your students are "firewise" and learn how you can help your community survive a wildfire....

Journal Article

Mentoring Students in an Introductory Science Course

To improve success levels of students enrolled in anatomy and physiology (A & P), an introductory science course at Indiana University Northwest, a mentoring program was put in place for two years. The academic success of mentored students was compar...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Perceptions about Moon phases

One of the most common topics about which students have misconceptions is the phases of the Moon. This article features a two-week course about Moon phases including classroom instruction, videos, field observations, and simulations....

Journal Article

Phase into Learning

Fourth-grade students, their teachers, and a group of teachers-to-be explore environmental science through integrated learning phases. Students took a trip to a local creek, conducted science inquiry activities in the classroom, and created a multim...

Journal Article

Cold Facts about Viruses

Learn more about the life cycle of a virus and simulate the spread of a cold throughout your classroom. This article features a mini-unit developed around a theme that every student can relate to—the common cold....

Journal Article

Travel Without Leaving the Classroom

Create travel brochures that explore the flaura and fauna of different biomes to persuade travelers to pay a visit. In this project, students research and report on a particular biome. The final product is a magazine modeled after a travel magazine. ...

Journal Article

Detecting and Preventing Plagiarism: Helping students avoid the pitfalls of plagiarism

Once a student has plagiarized successfully, they are likely to try it repeatedly and before long their enthusiasm to learn has been robbed. Today’s technology-savvy students are finding it easy to plagiarize papers using the Internet. The author s...

Journal Article

Scope on the Skies: Winter viewing

This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. This month’s issue gives information on the opportunities for observing our solar system during the winter months....

Journal Article

Physics Careers Web Site: Expanding College Women’s Perceptions of Physicists’ Lives and Work

Twenty college women used a Physics Careers Web site that aligned profiles of the college’s physics alumnae with the curriculum of introductory physics during an experimental version of the course. Twenty-one college women took a control course tha...

Journal Article

Computer Analogies

Computer science analogies can aid the understanding of gene expression, including the storage of genetic information on chromosomes and the fate of genes that are no longer used. Computer science analogies can also aid the understanding of species i...

Journal Article

Commentary: Finding Purpose—Reflecting Upon Curriculum and Assessment

An opinion piece about how the purpose of teaching plays a sginificant role in how lessons are received and valued. The challenge for teachers is to critically reflect upon the purpose of their curriculum and assessments, and most importantly share t...

Journal Article

Editor's Note - November/December 2002

Science and Children’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue....

Journal Article

Rubric for Content Classification

Are teaching strategies such as collaborative learning, student-centered classrooms, and guided inquiry always appropriate? How do we decide what topics to teach? The Rubric for Content Classification is a taxonomy of material covered in a general sc...

Journal Article

Not for Teachers Only

The author describes how she revised an environmental science workshop exploring the use of graphing tools and sensors at the last minute to meet the needs of elementary students, high school students, and adults. ...

Journal Article

Rocket Flight

Launch rockets to test the effect of design modifications on flight characteristics. As a culminating activity to a unit on motion, students design, build, and launch model rockets....

Journal Article

Designed for Successful Learning: Using multiple intelligence assessment in the science classroom

This article reports the results of a research study that assessed the multiple intelligences of high school students enrolled in physics courses. ...

Journal Article

Simply Butterflies

Fourth-grade students explore the life cycle of the Painted Lady butterfly using an inexpensive butterfly observatory. This interdisciplinary unit incorporates various journaling and illustration techniques that develop students’ observation skills...

Journal Article

Inquiry through Portable Technology

Explore your world with the latest probes, sensors, and other pocket-size technology. ...

Journal Article

Science and Communication: Incorporating language arts instruction into science lessons

Good communication skills are essential to the success of every student. With minor adjustments science teachers can teach communication skills without sacrificing science content. The author suggests four ways to integrate language arts skills into...

Journal Article

Naturalist Writers and Environmental Sentiments

Develop students' awareness and appreciation for the world around them through the written word. Using the work of naturalist writers such as John Muir, Rachel Carson, or Henry David Thoreau offers a refreshing complement to science learning. Sample ...

Journal Article

Idea Bank: A Forgotten Resource

The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. This month’s Idea Bank focuses on the one educational resource often overlooked—guest speakers. They can offer an excellent insight into science and science c...

Journal Article

After the Bell: Newspaper science—Read all about it!

Newspapers that regularly feature science can be used to introduce students to current events. These resources can also lead the way to meeting the National Research Council's suggestions on helping to increase scientific literacy....

Journal Article

Minimizing Misconceptions: Tools for identifying patterns of reasoning

By distinguishing clear patterns of reasoning, teachers can face the long list of student misconceptions without feeling overwhelmed. This article offers chemistry teachers a useful tool that describes eight thinking rules and examples of alternative...