All Science Scope resources

Journal Article

Scope on Safety: Hammering home Earth-science safety

Kids love to cut up, tear apart, and smash things in order to study them. This is one reason they get so excited about the opportunity to study rocks and minerals in the lab or out in the field. Although this can certainly be fun and fuel their curio...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Doing sophisticated science simply—Help students understand the nature of science

We all recognize the power of inquiry-based instruction when implemented in our classrooms. It engages students and motivates them to actively participate in their learning. But do our students develop a deep understanding about the nature of science...

Journal Article

Using Narrative Informational Book Circles, Connection Charts, and Notebooks to Showcase Science as a Human Endeavor

Narrative informational book circles are the product of our efforts to combine current research in learning and cognition with integrated science and language-arts activities. They present instructional strategies that support students as they make c...

Journal Article

Teacher’s Toolkit: Improving science instruction through effective group interactions

Cooperative learning is a popular teaching strategy in which groups of students work together to accomplish a common goal, aiding them in developing a comprehensive understanding of a topic or concept. This strategy enables students of diverse backgr...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Metamorphosing into readers

One way to encourage students to read is to choose a subject that interests them. During middle school, students are metamorphosing into young adults. To take advantage of their natural interest in body changes, this unit on moths and butterflies was...

Journal Article

Supporting English Language Learners’ Reading in the Science Classroom

It may seem obvious that students with limited reading skills also have limited educational opportunities. Students acquiring English as their second, non-native language—presently referred to as English Language Learners (ELLs)—face this obstacl...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Give students a purpose to read

After some reflection, the author found that by giving her students a purpose to read has led to a deeper understanding of the text. In this article, she outlines the questions teachers should ask themselves prior to assigning a reading to ensure its...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Using the arts to enhance science learning

Over the years, the author has developed several lessons in which songs, arts and crafts, drama, and body motions are used to better facilitate student learning in life science. This article presents a sample of songs that correspond with a study of ...

Journal Article

Teacher’s Toolkit: Methods for success as a middle school science teacher

Effective teachers are prepared with methods for teaching science. Without them, the first day of school will be a disaster that will likely continue throughout the year. This article outlines some methods that will ensure success in teaching middle ...

Journal Article

Tech Trek: Electronic bulletin boards and digital student groups

Nothing is as irksome as a student who returns from a couple of days of being absent and asks nonchalantly, “Did I miss anything?” Not only do you have to backtrack through what you did in the last few days of instruction, but you must also remem...

Journal Article

Science Sampler: Did the beanstalk really reach the sky? Using fairy tales to teach science

Inquiry is the guiding philosophy in school science curriculum design in Singapore. Inquiry requires students to be able to use their existing scientific knowledge to formulate hypotheses and critique and evaluate things they observe around them. Thi...