All Resources

Journal Article

Cartoon and Bumper Sticker Science

Humor is one of the most profound and subtle tools used in influencing people’s attitudes. It is also an efficient and pleasant way to communicate information. Humor can be found in every type of media, including movies, plays, books, photographs, ...

Journal Article

The Truth Behind the Tabloids

In this age of tabloid news and easy Internet access, students must be savvy information consumers. They need to be aware that not all the reports they see may be accurate or factual. It is, therefore, essential that students learn ways of analyzing ...

Journal Article

Me, Teach Science?

The preservice years are critical in professional teacher development. While a survey reveals that many preservice teachers are insecure about their abilities to teach science, they do view science as an important part of elementary education....

Journal Article

Investigating Malformed Frogs: Using the internet to explore the impact of environmental changes on anurans

Malformed anurans (frogs and toads) are excellent bio-indicators—living organisms sensitive to environmental changes that are used to judge the quality of a certain habitat. Students investigate these phenomena online and start to understand the im...

Journal Article

Science Fiction and Science Education

Using science fiction films in the classroom can expose students to a wide variety of science topics. The films are particularly good for identifying student misconceptions, many of which are a product of these very films. A sample lesson using the m...

Journal Article

Names and Claims: Is it Science or Spin?

Students learn to be critical consumers of the media by analyzing “scientific” claims made by advertisers in commercials and print ads. After discussing advertising techniques and the concept of bias, students research consumer products and desig...

Journal Article

Editor's Note (March 2002)

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

Journal Article

The Campus Ecosystem Model

Interdisciplinary teaching, research experience, and active, collaborative strategies have all been identified as practices highly favorable to the learning process. By using the university campus as the focus for the study of the entire watershed wi...

Journal Article

Current Events and Technology: Video and Audio on the Internet

Teachers can utilize the vast audio and visual resources available on the Internet to bring current science events into the classroom. A wide variety of news sites as well as technology requirements and teaching suggestions are described....

Journal Article

Commentary: What is Science?

An opinion piece about how our ability to use the scientific process in and out of school affects our ability to recognize wrong answers and question poor reasoning....

Journal Article

Evaluating College Science and Mathematics Instruction

This paper reports evaluative data on five courses that have taken part in a curriculum reform effort called the Arizona Collaborative for Excellence in the Preparation of Teachers. Primarily through summer faculty workshops, teaching reforms advocat...

Journal Article

Teacher as Researcher: University programs help teachers bring modern research into the secondary classroom

Due to other professional commitments, teachers sometimes find it difficult to keep up with the latest developments in science and technology. Through the university Research Experience for Teachers (RET) programs, teachers have the opportunity to do...

Journal Article

Bridging Science and Engineering

The Colleges of Engineering and Education at Penn State University have collaborated to design and deliver an engineering course for education and other nonscience majors. In this course, students integrate basic principles of applied physical scienc...