All Resources

Journal Article

Primary Paleontologists: Students "dig in" to excavate buried "fossils"

Prior to the students' dig, each second-grade teacher digs and models the role of an excavation expert in the same square of the dig site. This simulated dig is a memorable culmination to classroom study of dinosaurs. The dig reinforces what students...

Journal Article

Exploring Experimental Design: Using hands-on activities to learn about experimental design

This article presents the basic concepts of experimental design through a series of hands-on activities. This allowed students to focus on one or two fundamental concepts during each activity, reducing the likelihood of confusion. Even though the pr...

Journal Article

The Versatile Armchair Penny Balance

In this activity, students construct their own balance for a hands-on lesson on how a balance works and the principles behind weights and measurements. After construction students use their Armchair Penny Balance to weigh solids and liquids by counti...

Journal Article

Something to Crow About

Crows are among the most interesting birds to study firsthand, and are available for study through a variety of sources. In this unit, students learn about crows through reading, writing, discussion, and observation. The activities include researchin...

Journal Article

Science and Technology: A Great Combination

As educators meet the challenge of teaching a new generation of technologically literate and curious children, opportunities for classroom inquiry is crucial. The Internet becomes the perfect vehicle for assisting students with inquiry and fostering ...

Journal Article

After the Bell: Beyond the exhibits

Over school vacations, students tend to forget what they learned during the school year. In other words, their brain goes on vacation too. This article provides information on some science-related facilities to help expand student learning opportunit...

Journal Article

Editor's Note: Exciting Involvement

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

Journal Article

Tech Trek: In search of . . .

This article focuses on the SETI@home project—Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence....

Journal Article

Beak Adaptations

Adaptation—the modification of an organism or its parts—is a basic principle of evolution. This hands-on simulation helps students understand adaptations by examining the diversity of bird beaks....

Journal Article

The Method in Motion

In this activity, students are challenged to see how problem solving can be applied to all aspects of their lives. Students learn how to separate and control variables, identify relationships, and make predictions in this pendulum activity....

Journal Article

Editor's Roundtable: Real testing, real learning

This article features activities based on hands-on learning and alternative assessment. As science and technology become more important teachers need to make sure students are prepared for the future by understanding not just science facts, but also ...

Journal Article

Weather Detectives: Searching for Cool Clues

It is a well-kept secret that weather is nature's way of redistributing energy and converting it to heat. There are many opportunities to teach these concepts—all it takes is a little detective work to recognize them. To teach these concepts, the a...

Journal Article

Thought for Food: Students learn science with healthy eating

This article features activities used in a schoolwide science unit on nutrition. ...

Journal Article

Scope on the Skies: January Blues

This column focuses on astronomy throughout the year. This month’s issue explains the occurrence of a second full moon within a month—this January happens to be such a month. ...

Journal Article

Web of Life Connections; Learning about the interdependence of life

This article offers suggestions for helping students understand the interdependence of life through firsthand experiences, by focusing on something familiar—their family, and by playing "what if" games to open up an array of possible scenarios. It ...

Journal Article

Classroom Meets Real World

To achieve a truly multicultural curriculum, the entire composition of lessons must be re-envisioned to embrace the global community. Principles are recommended for designing and implementing culturally responsive middle school science programs. A mu...

Journal Article

1948: The New Imperative for Science Literacy

This paper was presented by the author at the February 1998 Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)....

Journal Article

Using a Small-Scale Demonstration Farm as a Teaching Arena in Biology and Environmental Science: Learning Ecological Principles While Growing Food

Small-scale sustainable agriculture is a rich, vibrant arena for teaching and learning. This article features a farm used to teach students in a course on environmental education. Farm research is relatively easy to plan and conduct, and it provides ...

Journal Article

Favorite Demonstration: Floating Spinach Disks—An Uplifting Demonstration of Photosynthesis

This exercise is ideal for studying the overall process of photosynthesis. It employs disks punched out of a spinach leaf with a hole-puncher. The flexible experimental design provides the opportunity for open-ended, student-directed original inquiry...

Journal Article

A Botany Laboratory Inquiry Experience: Investigating the Effect of Soil Resistance on Bean Seedling Emergence

This article describes how a Botany Laboratory Inquiry Project (BLIP) can be included in a general botany laboratory. The stated purpose of the BLIP component is to provide a student with the opportunity to select a hypothesis, develop a logical expe...

Journal Article

Applying Inquiry-Based and Cooperative Group Learning Strategies to Promote Critical Thinking: Training Students' Minds and Improving Their Intellect to Become Informed Members of Society

This paper demonstrates how a course in molecular genetics can use problem-based activities and cooperative group strategies to support students learning the necessary skills for critical thinking, The course format can be implemented in most science...