Science Scope

Read NSTA's award-winning, peer-reviewed practitioner journal for middle level and junior high school science teachers.

Current Issue

November/December 2022

Three-Dimensional Learning

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) call for three-dimensional learning, or the intentional integration of disciplinary core ideas (DCIs), crosscutting concepts (CCCs), and scientific and engineering practices (SEPs). The integration of the three dimensions is necessary if we are to ensure our students have the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the performance expectations, for it is the integration that allows students to confidently and competently make sense of phenomena and to create solutions to problems.

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Journal Article

Three-Dimensional Learning

By Patty McGinniss

Middle School Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas NGSS Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Oh Deer! Using Socioscientific Issues to Teach Inquiry-Based Lessons With English Language Learners

By Sissy S. Wong, Jie Zhang, Heather Domjan

Middle School Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Inquiry Multilingual Learners Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Bringing the Ethical Debate to Life

By Deena L. Gould, Tyler Eglen, Tawnya Brusstar, Gene Moran, Tamara Merritt, and Ruth Wylie

Middle School Biology Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Life Science NGSS Performance Expectations Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Reimagining Science Lessons Through Translanguaging

By Sage Andersen, Karina Méndez Pérez, and María González-Howard

Middle School Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Interdisciplinary Multilingual Learners NGSS Pedagogy Performance Expectations Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Using Summary Tables to Support Students’ Explanations of Science Phenomena

By Kraig A. Wray, Jonathan D. McCausland, Scott McDonald, Amy Pallant, and Hee-Sun Lee

Middle School Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas NGSS Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Coordinating Modeling With Content Representations to Support Students’ Three-Dimensional Learning

By Susan M. Kowalski, Betty Stennett, and Lindsey Mohan

Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Multicultural NGSS Performance Expectations Science and Engineering Practices

Journal Article

Get in the “Sknow” for Science!

By Jill Nugent

Middle School Citizen Science Earth & Space Science Instructional Materials

Journal Article

Where on Earth Is Mars?

By Bob Riddle

Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science

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