All Resources

Journal

The Science Teacher—September/October 2024

Book Chapter

Uncovering Student Ideas in Life Science, Volume 2: 30 New Formative Assessment Probes (Book Sample)

Workshop

OpenSciEd Curriculum/Unit Workshop

Journal Article

Cultivating Genius for Science Contexts: Where Does the Pursuit of Joy Fit into Science Learning?

Where do Goldy Muhammad’s Cultivating Genus Pursuits fit into science learning? In this article, 5th grade teachers are adding the pursuits into a FreshWater project based science unit. Focusing on Identity and Joy, in particular, they find that sc...

By Alice Severson, Leigh Kohlmann, Emily Miller, Kevin Anderson

Elementary Learning Progression Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Leading Effective Science Curriculum-Based Learning

Leadership Matters...

By Patrick Brown, Rodger W Bybee, Joseph Taylor

Elementary Curriculum Leadership Learning Progression Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Light, Forces, Sticks, Crates and So Much More: A Loose Parts Learning Approach to STEM

The use of loose parts can be an effective teaching method to improve and enhance student understanding of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Loose parts can inspire children to use their creativity and critical thinking skills in the classroo...

By Carla Gull, Suzanne Levenson Goldstein, Tricia Rosengarten

Elementary Learning Progression Physical Science STEM Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Beyond Definitions: Using Hexagonal Thinking for Sensemaking

This article was written for the purpose of introducing the hexagonal thinking strategy to upper elementary teachers. The strategy, in which students make connections across the vocabulary and concepts to develop a map, has become more popular in the...

By Simone Nance

Elementary Learning Progression Sensemaking Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Engaging in Socioscientific Issues by Observing Habitats in the Context of Water Use and Drought

Teaching young students to engage in socioscientific reasoning can feel like an overwhelming task due to the abstract reasoning required. Yet, Sadler et al., (2007), note the importance of helping students develop socioscientific reasoning from a you...

By Grace Brunner, Catherine Lowe, Isaiah Kent-Schneider, Jerrid Kruse

Elementary Environmental Science Life Science Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Summertime fun with Life Science!

In this issue of Tech Talk, learn about two terrific life science apps, Rewild the World from Google Arts and Culture and Explore.org. Engage your learners in NGSS Science and Engineering practices of Developing and Using Models and Asking Questions ...

By Heather Pacheco-Guffrey

Elementary Life Science Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Wonderings Drive Learning

N/A...

By Alissa Lange

Elementary Learning Progression Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Science is for Questions

Poem and Art and Explore More...

By Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Elementary Inquiry Learning Progression Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Q: If Students Have Different Learning Styles, What Kinds of Science Activities Are Best for Reaching All Students?

Science 101...

By Matthew Bobrowsky

Equity Inclusion Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Redefining Teaching Practices

From the Editor...

By Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn

Elementary Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Scaffolding Fourth-graders’ Inquiry about Erosion

This sequence of lessons has students observing erosion and creating ideas about factors that affect erosion. Then, as a class, students first explore the impact of vegetation on erosion. Then, groups of students more independently investigate the im...

By Alexandria Burns, Jami Daniel, Jerrid Kruse, Ellen Gow

Elementary Earth & Space Science Inquiry Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Engaging elementary students in science practice: Strategies for helping children plan investigations

This article presents a tool that teachers can use to support children in planning science investigations. Using an extended example from a second-grade investigation into seed dispersal, we describe strategies for structuring conversations that anch...

By Annabel Stoler, Eve Manz

Elementary NGSS Sensemaking Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Formative Assessment From a Translanguaging Perspective in the NGSS Classroom

The Next Generation Science Standards hold promise for cultivating the diverse assets that students bring to science learning. One key asset in linguistically diverse science classrooms is translanguaging, or the use of one’s full communicative rep...

By Abigail Schwenger, Scott Grapin, Nicole Altamirano, Alison Haas, Okhee Lee

Assessment Literacy NGSS

Journal Article

I CAN: Strategies for Rethinking How We Share Objectives

Teachers are often required to display or explicitly state learning objectives prior to beginning a lesson. In particular, many elementary classrooms are required to post or state “I CAN…” statements related to their standards. Unfortunately, t...

By Julianne Wenner, Brooke Whitworth

Elementary Assessment Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Capturing Photons

Smart Telescope technology and its suggested use for the Science classroom....

By Bob Riddle

Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science

Journal Article

Phenomena in the Classroom

From the Editor's Desk...

By Patricia McGinnis

Phenomena Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Finding Instructional Resources for Teaching about Scientific Misinformation

Commentary...

By Andy Zucker

Middle School Advocacy Literacy

Journal Article

Conducting authentic moth research with students to encourage scientific inquiry.

Studying moths is an excellent way to include students in science practices by introducing them to a ubiquitous but under-appreciated animal group that can be found in their local places, including urban, suburban, agricultural, forested, and other h...

By Brian Keas, Peter White, Christopher Brown, David Stroupe, Sara Best, M. LeTarte

Middle School Biology Research

Journal Article

Explanation and Argumentation: How Middle School Students Make Sense of the Phenomenon of Niagara Falls

The Framework and NGSS emphasize using lines of evidence to construct explanations and develop arguments that demonstrate understanding about scientific phenomena. For this vision to be actualized in science classrooms, students must engage in invest...

By Kenneth Huff

Middle School 5E Phenomena Sensemaking

Journal Article

Loud and Clear Project: An Introduction to Geospatial Tools for Project-Based Learning

Project-based and student-driven learning continue to be at the forefront of school reform efforts. Technology is a significant bridge and tool used empower and leverage student projects. Geospatial technologies continue to be underutilised in the mi...

By Kurtz Miller

Middle School Instructional Materials STEM Technology

Journal Article

Using Local Phenomena to Support Student Learning

Research on science teaching and learning supports instructional sequences that are driven by phenomenon, provide student-agency, and are made relevant to students. The use of locally-based, phenomenon-driven instruction that creates opportunities fo...

By Martha Inouye, Clare Gunshenan, Amanda Lopez

Phenomena Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Sparking students’ curiosity: Embedding strategies to promote curiosity alongside teaching static electricity

In this article, we use the strategies listed above to engage students in a 5E lesson on static electricity (partially addressing MS-PS2-3). We start the engage phase by using a “magic trick” as a hook to engage students about static electricity....

By Jesse Wilcox, Stephanie Zavalza Flores, MacKenzie Bruns, Sarah Nolting

Middle School 5E Inquiry STEM Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Ecology in Urban Spaces: Contributions of Urban Green Spaces to Ecological and Community Health

Our program seeks to introduce middle school students to a range of STEM topics and careers. We planned and enacted a five-lesson unit themed around the contributions of trees/green spaces to ecological and community health. Humans thrive in ecologic...

By Yelena Janumyan, Zachary Conley, Heidi Carlone, Hannah Ziegler, Tessaly Jen, Liwei Zhang, Jingyi Chen

Middle School Earth & Space Science Environmental Science STEM

Journal Article

Summer Science with the Secchi Dip-In Project

Secchi Dip-In citizen science project for Science Scope...

By Jill Nugent

Middle School Citizen Science

Journal Article

Communicating With Data Around Phenomena (Data Literacy 101)

Helping our students make sense of data while they are working with phenomenon can be an excellent way for students to build critical 21st-century data skills in engaging and authentic ways. Here I outline an instructional strategy we can use when in...

By Kristin Hunter-Thomson

Middle School Literacy News Phenomena

Journal Article

Some Physics of Wheels and Tires

Focus on Physics...

By Paul G. Hewitt

High School Physics Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Exploring the Favorites in Science Education Issue

Editor's Corner...

By Ann Haley Mackenzie

High School Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Teaching about the Critical Role of Key Scientific Institutions

Fact or Faux?...

By Andy Zucker, Jocelyn Miller

High School Literacy News

Journal Article

Geology from a Beaker: Student Activities in Earth Science

Student activities based on deposition in a beaker introduce Walther’s Law, which states that, if uninterrupted, vertical deposition is duplicated in the horizontal. When gravel, sand, and clay (mud) are stirred in a beaker of water, they settle ou...

By Jr. Miller

High School Earth & Space Science Labs

Journal Article

Coral Diseases: Incorporating Scientific Research and Authentic Learning into the High School Science Classroom

This article discusses an innovative approach to science education focused on engaging students through authentic learning experiences and hands-on activities. It emphasizes the importance of linking classroom instruction with real-world science rese...

By Ashley Booker, Katherine Eaton

High School Earth & Space Science Interdisciplinary Pedagogy Research

Journal Article

Blockbuster Science: Checking our positions

Media has always played a significant role in shaping education. Visual cues and observable phenomena brought to life on screens or through vivid and engrossing sound effects make science accessible to people in ways that textbooks, journals and tech...

By Joy Barnes-Johnson

High School Advocacy Literacy

Journal Article

Finding Zero: Exploring Mathematical Models with Pendulum Paintings

Pendulum paintings are fun to make and fascinating to observe in process, but they can be used to model real scientific analysis using messy data. In this activity, students create pendulum paintings and develop an analysis using measurements of mult...

By Daniel McKinney

High School Interdisciplinary Mathematics Phenomena

Journal Article

Going Beneath the Surface: Using Socioscientific Issues to Explore Human Impacts on Soil

Socioscientific issues (SSIs) can help students think about the moral and ethical issues related to science. When SSI issues are based on local phenomena and issues within students’ communities, they can also resonate more with students....

By Jesse Wilcox, William Lange, Shane Breheny

High School Earth & Space Science Equity Inquiry Interdisciplinary Social Justice