All Resources

Journal Article

Springtime Flights of Fancy

Students of all ages are fascinated by space because it represents a mysterious frontier, and rockets excite students because they represent the means by which scientists learn about this frontier, through satellites or probes to other planets. Use t...

Journal Article

Communication Problems in a Distance-Education Setting: Diminishing the Impersonal Nature of a Distance-Education Classroom

At Central Washington University, groups of on-campus and distance education students in an elementary science methods class interacted with each other via email to complete five cooperative reaction papers. In surveys about their views on writing pa...

Journal Article

The Case Study: Death in a Viennese Maternity Ward—Childbed Fever—A Nineteenth-Century Mystery

This case provides a brief, factual account of the pioneering work of Ignaz Semmelweis and his efforts to remedy the problem of childbed fever. The case is featured in four parts, each followed by study questions. Teaching Notes are provided....

Journal Article

Engaging Science

One of your greatest challenges as a new teacher is learning how to engage your students. If students aren’t actively involved in the learning process, they cannot excel in the science classroom. This article presents some strategies for capturing ...

Journal Article

Some Practical Tips for Instituting Investigative Biology Laboratories: The Nuts and Bolts of Successful Laboratory Instruction

This paper describes some of the nuts and bolts problems associated with making the transition from traditionally taught laboratories to investigative student-centered ones. The three main areas the authors consider are: 1) What are the institutional...

Journal Article

The Study of Ethics in the Applied Science Curriculum: Training Future Science Educators in the Ethics of Nutrition

Science classes are an appropriate place for students to examine relevant ethical problems. Nutrition science classes, in particular, discuss current scientific information as well as ethical issues, such as cultural differences, meanings attached to...

Journal Article

Editor's Note: Holding Hands

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

Journal Article

Drawing to Learn Morphology in a Fish Taxonomy Laboratory: The Allure of a Taxonomy Course that Embraces Multiple Learning Processes

Taxonomy laboratories typically emphasize learning by rote memorization. In place of memorization, however, the authors designed a laboratory notebook exercise that employs drawing and close observation for a better educational experience. This artic...

Journal Article

Commentary: The Science of Special Education

An opinion piece about the need to improve science curricula in the area of special education....

Journal Article

Mentors in Medicine

Educators and scientists alike acknowledge the shortage of minorities pursuing science careers. To address this problem, West Virginia University (WVU) has created the Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA), which reaches out to underrepresent...

Journal Article

Analysis Problems—A Means to Developing Students’ Critical-Thinking Skills: Pushing the Boundaries of Higher-Order Thinking

To teach critical-thinking skills in introductory biology, the authors selected an immersion system using analysis problems that incorporates critical thinking into a specific discipline rather than presenting it as an isolated topic. Analysis proble...

Journal Article

Idea Bank

The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. This month’s Idea Bank includes an analogy for understanding electron configurations, information on electronic mailing lists, along with a listing of some usef...

Journal Article

Editor's Corner: Teachers Who Care

The Science Teacher’s editor shares thoughts on the current issue....

Journal Article

Rocks as Windows into the Past: Taking the idea of rocks as stories and developing a rock investigation

In order to best teach fourth-grade students about rocks, the author used an empowering metaphor—rocks as stories from the past—that was applied to an entire unit. Rather than seeing rocks as lifeless, uninteresting chunks students kick while wal...

Journal Article

Poetry and the Environment: Poetry enhances children's study of the environment and provides a link with science and the language arts

Many poems for children published in the past few decades focus on aspects of environmental study. Combining these newer contributions with poetry published in the past can greatly enhance children’s study of the environment and provide a link with...

Journal Article

Classroom of the Sea

Although most students do not have the opportunity to conduct in situ research projects until college, the Classroom of the Sea program at the American School for the Deaf (ASD) provides an unusual opportunity for students to work directly with scien...

Journal Article

The Energy—Culture Connection

Understanding other cultures provides students with a global identification, which allows them to see how our nation fits into the world society. When advances in science are incorporated into multicultural lessons, students comprehend the relevance ...

Journal Article

SCST and Kendall/Hunt—Together Celebrating Outstanding Undergraduate Science Teaching: Recognizing the Achievements of Some First-Rate College Science Educators

In this column the leadership of the Society for College Science Teaching (SCST) shares its views with JCST readers. This month’s issue celebrates the collaboration of SCST and Kendall/Hunt in the selection of an Outstanding Undergraduate Science T...

Journal Article

Research and Teaching: Using Internet Class Notes and PowerPoint in the Physical Geology Lecture: Comparing the Success of Computer Technology With Traditional Teaching Techniques

The Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU) study compared student performance in physical geology lecture classes using a traditional method of presentation with that of using Internet notes and PowerPoint lecture slides. In the traditional metho...

Journal Article

Commentary: Engaging Students in Science Research

An opinion piece about connecting the classroom to scientific research to help students develop conceptual understanding....

Journal Article

Natural Cycles: Coming Full Circle—Using natural cycles to teach elementary science objectives

Native Americans commonly use a circle in their art and stories to represent the fact that matter is conserved. From generation to generation, Native Americans passed on the idea that matter is conserved and used the wheel, hoop, or circle as a symbo...

Journal Article

Scientific Literacy for All

All students, including English language learners (ELLs), benefit from a curriculum that emphasizes the teaching of concepts in depth and focuses on process and critical thinking skills. Often, simply using the inquiry-based learning and hands-on app...

Journal Article

Making Your Science Program Work

Although improvisation is a skill that can be mastered, it does require a bit of patience and persistence, especially when you’re just starting out. The following article is designed to help new teachers make a smooth transition from the college en...