Commentary: A Testable Prediction

Journal Article | April 2003

An opinion piece about the definition of "hypothesis."

Case Study: To Boldly Go… Or Not

Journal Article | August 2008

This public-hearing case study is centered upon the recent decision by President George W. Bush to set NASA’s primary goal as a return to the Moon, followed by a mission to Mars. The members on the expert panel are…

Ask the Experts—December 2006

Journal Article | November 2006

The Experts address the following question in this month’s column: "Since helium is an inert gas that drifts to space, where do we get the helium that we use here on Earth for balloons and other applications?"

Editor's Corner: Conceptual Shift

Journal Article | February 2013

The Science Teacher’s editor shares thoughts on the current issue.

Quizzing Students on the Myths of Science

Journal Article | October 2004

One way to promote better understanding of the nature of science is to study myths of science by teaching, testing, and reflecting on these ideas at many points during instruction. The authors have developed a “Myths of…

Science Sampler: Using the IFSMU method to solve mathematical word problems

Journal Article | November 2007

The author’s experience with middle school learners has taught him that they need structure with the steps in solving mathematical word problems. They need a tool they can rely on if all else fails. As a result, he…

Every Day Science Calendar: August (2010)

Journal Article | June 2010

This monthly feature contains facts and challenges for the science explorer.

Linking General Education and Science Teacher Preparation

Journal Article | October 2007

This educational project involves prospective science teachers in implementing a natural science course for nonscience majors. The model creates a space for nonscience majors to experience learner-centered teaching…

Teaching Through Trade Books: Figuring Out Food Chains

Journal Article | January 2013

This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. In this month’s issue students investigate and construct models of food chains or food webs to help them grasp the core idea.

Design-Based Science: A problem-solving experiment compares different brands of batteries

Journal Article | February 2003

Developing useful skills for a wide range of actual problem-solving situations involving science is one goal of design-based science. This article features a problem-solving experiment where students compare different…

Idea Bank: Demonstrating the Self-Assembly of the Cell Membrane

Journal Article | September 2007

Although the cell membrane is a complex structure, its basic form, and the self-organizing behavior of the molecules that produce it, can be easily simulated in a high school science classroom. One such simulation,…

Tried and True: Inquiry-based environmental science investigations with the fantastic fruit fly

Journal Article | December 2009

The use of inquiry in life science can be particularly daunting because of the additional management and care living systems require. However, there are some low-maintenance organisms that work well in the classroom.…

Research and Teaching: Encouraging Female Undergraduate Students

Journal Article | September 2002

Two case studies of undergraduate chemistry departments highlight differences between a department graduating a high percentage of women and one that is not, and provide possible ways in which departments can attract…

Outside Learning: It’s Elementary

Journal Article | September 2001

Through a partnership with elementary teachers at Main Elementary School in Rome, Georgia, 42 children (one third-grade class and one fourth-grade class) learned how to use newspapers to rebuild slopes on their…

Science Sampler: Pick-a-number

Journal Article | August 2005

The Pick-a-number activity, a variation of the game 20 Questions, provides a way to address challenges at the beginning of the school year, in a standards-based way. It also helps students develop the essential skill of…