All Resources

Journal Article

Expanding Language Use: Supporting Emergent Multilingual Learners’ Sensemaking in Science

Students bring with them rich cultural and linguistic ways of knowing and communicating when engaged in figuring out explanations of phenomena. However, it is a challenge for teachers to support bi/multilingual learners in language-intensive science ...

By Samuel Lee, Benjamin DiFrancesco, Caitlin Fine, Katherine McNeill

Inclusion Multicultural Multilingual Learners Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Fieldwork Fridays: Connecting Scientific Learning to Nature

Building routines around place-based learning allows students to apply their scientific learning to nature and form a connection with their local environment and the species in it over the course of a school year. Each Friday, in what are referred to...

By Katie Coppens

Earth & Space Science Labs Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Snapshot Safari: Elephant Edition

Citizen Science article for the September/ October 2024 issue of Science Scope...

By Jill Nugent

Biology Citizen Science Earth & Space Science Life Science

Journal Article

Using Conferences to Give Students a Sense of Belonging

Conducting student conferences similar to those used by English Language Arts teachers to improve reading skills can give middle school science students a sense of belonging and ownership in science. Once a set of conference goals is determined, a te...

By Tasha Kirby

Inclusion Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Unlocking the Power of Emotional Connections: Strategies for Teaching Climate Change in Middle School

In the face of the escalating climate crisis, effective climate education is imperative, not only for imparting knowledge, but also for inspiring action. This paper explores innovative strategies for teaching climate change in middle school, recogniz...

By Emily Godin, Jo'el Johanson

Climate Change Inclusion Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Dyeing to Last: Using Natural Dyes to Create an Ideal Fabric

In this project-based lesson, students explore how chemistry concepts relate to creative expression by investigating a variety of dyeing conditions. Through sequenced discussions and investigations, students arrive at a dyed cotton product that optim...

By Tyler St. Clair, Makayla Kraetsch, Mia Arrieta

Middle School Chemistry Instructional Materials NGSS

NSTA Press Book

Uncovering Student Ideas in Life Science, Volume 2: 30 New Formative Assessment Probes

Click here to view video of Uncovering Student Ideas in Life Science, Volume 2...

By Page Keeley

Elementary High School Middle School Assessment Instructional Materials

Journal

Science Scope—September/October 2024

Journal

Science and Children—September/October 2024

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 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