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Science Scope
Featured Issue
AI in the Science Classroom
March/April 2026
Volume 49, Issue 2
Ask anyone about the use of AI in the classroom and you’ll get a plethora of opinions. Whether you are an AI convert or not, it is imperative for us to become familiar with it in order to make well-informed decisions regarding its use. One can easily see how its utilization can be a time-saver for teachers, as it can allow us to do our job more efficiently while benefitting students at the same time. One of the biggest advantages is the ability to customize learning for our students. AI can adjust the difficulty of lessons, offer up differentiated readings based on student ability, and can craft test questions and worksheets for classroom use. Modifications of this magnitude are difficult for teachers due to the labor intensity of creating personalized lessons. In fact, some experts feel that AI may lead to fewer teaching jobs in the future (Pew Research Center, 2025). It is important to note, however, that AI should be viewed as a tool to support teaching. The crucial work of supporting our students socially and emotionally cannot be replicated by AI. Quite simply, students need connection with their teachers and peers; something AI cannot provide.
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Science Scope—July/August 2023
Volume 46, Number 6 Eclipses Across America Two wonderful teachable celestial events will occur during this school year in North America, allowing plenty of time to plan. A solar eclipse “double-header” occurs on Saturday, October 14, 202...
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Volume 46, Number 5 May/June 2023 Exploring Real-World Problems Engaging middle school students in the exploration of real-world problems, particularly those that require engineering, can not only garner student engagement, but also put st...
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Science Scope—March/April 2023
Volume 46, Number 4March/April 2023Earth and Human ActivityThis issue of Science Scope includes articles that address the impact of humans on the Earth, overconsumption of natural resources, and how natural events—such as volcanoes—shape the deci...
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Science Scope—January/February 2023
Volume 46, Number 3 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics A healthy ecosystem can be defined as one that “has the ability to maintain its structure and function over time in the face of external stress.” Managing ecosystems in...
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Science Scope—November/December 2022
November/December 2022 Volume 46, Number 2 Three-Dimensional Learning The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) call for three-dimensional learning, or the intentional integration of disciplinary core ideas (DCIs), crosscutting co...
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Science Scope—July/August 2022
Volume 45, Number 6 Energy is a cross-disciplinary subject that extends far beyond the natural sciences into the social sciences....
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May/June 2022 Volume 45, Number 5 Consciously implementing practices that foster an equitable classroom takes time and energy, but the payoff is great. To learn more about equitable practices, pursue the articles cited in this editorial ...
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Science Scope—March/April 2022
March/April 2022 Volume 45, Number 4 This issue of Science Scope focuses on implicit bias in the science classroom. No matter how good we are at teaching to the standards, central to the success of our lessons is classroom community....
Middle School Equity Inquiry Multicultural Social Justice Teaching Strategies
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Science Scope—January/February 2022
Volume 45, Number 3 Science Teaching Challenges How does one keep emotionally healthy, given the tremendous stress that teachers are under? Engaging in stress-reducing strategies such as yoga, exercise, and meditation can be beneficial, as ca...
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Science Scope—November/December 2021
Volume 45, Number 2 November/December 2021 The Importance of Professional Development Nearly all teachers participate in professional development (PD), much of which is mandated by individual states and school districts....
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Science Scope—September/October 2021
Volume 45, Number 1 September/October 2021 What can you do to promote creative thinking in your classroom? Consider a project-based learning approach and involve your students in competitions, science fairs, and engineering tasks. Connect the...
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Science Scope—July/August 2021
Volume 44, Number 6 Visual Literacy A staple of 21st-century skills, visual literacy is addressed in several Common Core State Standards, but the skills associated with visual literacy are also essential to the sciences. Today’s students ha...
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Science Scope—March/April 2021
Volume 44, Number 4 Science Beyond the Classroom Much of what our students know about science is a result of interactions outside the classroom. Whether it is visiting a museum, a zoo, or a nature center, there are numerous venues that blend ...
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Science Scope—January/February 2021
Volume 44, Number 3 There are a multitude of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies that can be employed to make learning accessible for all. This issue of Science Scope features a sample of strategies, including immersion into real-worl...
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Science Scope—November/December 2020
Volume 44, Number 2 Using Literature in the Science Classroom ...
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Science Scope—July/August 2020
Volume 43, No. 9 Waves and Their Applications Digital Edition ...
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Volume 43, Number 8 Fieldwork and Outdoor Lessons ...
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Volume 43, Number 5 Over the past decade, the proliferation of superhero movies has exploded. Although the heroes fight crime and uphold the law, few abide by the laws of physics. To tap into students’ interests, students were presented with...
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Science Scope—November/December 2019
Using technology to transform lessons into meaningful learning experiences means focusing on learning goals rather than the technology tool. Step outside of your comfort zone as you integrate technology into your classroom with the articles found in ...
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By nature, adolescents often desire to make a difference in the world, but aren’t always afforded the opportunity. Provide students with actionable steps to improve the health of our planet with the articles found in this issue of Science Scope....
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Tried and True Teaching Ideas addresses classic demonstrations and experiments that have been proven to work time and time again in your classroom. We share new twists on familiar activities and provide the science community with fresh ideas for the...
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The road to classroom implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards can be fraught with challenges. The articles found in this issue of Science Scope will help you engage students in all three dimensions of the NGSS: science and engineering...
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If you ask students where their food comes from, they will most likely answer, “the grocery store.” Raise student awareness of the agricultural industry and our food supply chain with the articles found in this issue of Science Scope....
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Biological evolution is a concept students must understand to achieve science literacy. Learn how you can strengthen students’ understanding of this concept with the articles found in in this issue of Science Scope....
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A performance task is an excellent assessment vehicle because it allows students to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, and proficiency through a product or performance. Learn how to create your own performance tasks, and other assessment veh...
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The crosscutting concept of Stability and Change helps students understand dynamic systems such as the Earth’s climate. Explore how large systems are affected by change with the articles found in in this issue of Science Scope....
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Not everyone lives in close proximity to an ocean, but everyone on the planet is affected by these massive bodies of water. Learn how changes in our oceans are affecting biodiversity, sea levels, and the climate with the articles found in this issue...