Learning Through Sharing

Journal Article | February 2002

This paper describes how to use collaborative groups as a teaching strategy in a 200-student introductory astronomy class for nonscience majors. The authors present a brief rationale for this approach and then describe…

Editor’s Corner: A Flat World?

Journal Article | October 2007

Beyond preparing our students for imminent economic realities, we should prepare them to think globally. American economic competitiveness in a global economy is a significant challenge that will be addressed at least…

Yes! We are Rocket Scientists!

Journal Article | August 2006

Launch your middle school students' interest, incorporate hands-on/minds-on learning, and focus on inquiry learning while still meeting state and national standards by implementing the following water-bottle rocket…

Applying Scientific Principles to Resolve Student Misconceptions

Journal Article | March 2012

Using sinking and floating as an example, this article introduces a method to guide students to solve misconception problems by using scientific principles.

Science 2.0: Upgrade Your Science Fair

Journal Article | October 2011

This column shares web tools that support learning. This month’s issue discusses Google's science fair in which students can participate by sharing their research projects on the internet.

Health Wise—Summer 2009

Journal Article | June 2009

What are the health risks of sun exposure—are there any benefits? Also, are some sunscreens better than others?

Chemistry Cook-Off

Journal Article | October 2012

Students use food to enhance understanding of physical and chemical changes.

Science 101: What causes surface tension?

Journal Article | February 2011

This column focuses on background science information for elementary teachers. In this month’s column, learn about surface tension.

Editor's Note (March 2007)

Journal Article | February 2007

Wars are fought over it. The price of it can stir fear, even despair, among us. Energy. Energy drives our universe. Our use of certain types of energy sources may even be destroying our planet. Energy is a difficult…

Conceptualizing Nanoscale

Journal Article | November 2006

One strategy for enhancing students’ understanding of nanoscale is to shift students’ existing understandings of relative scale by helping them conceptually transport their strongest scale benchmark—themselves—into the…

Safer Science: SDS: Step One to Safety

Journal Article | March 2013

This column provides best safety practices for the science classroom and laboratory. This month’s issue discusses the new system of classification and labeling of chemicals.

Crazy About Crayfish

Journal Article | March 2006

What breathes and eats in water, dramatically clamps down on students' pencils, carries eggs that hatch to produce many offspring, excites students tremendously, does not die easily and stinks up a classroom, and--most…

The Early Years: Roll With It

Journal Article | June 2006

Sliding common objects, such as blocks, boxes, balls, empty containers, and even play foods down a ramp is a fun way for kids to start exploring some physical science concepts related to the position, force and motion…

The Case Study: The Benign Hamburger—Teaching the Nuclear Science Behind Food Irradiation

Journal Article | August 1998

This column provides original articles on innovations in case study teaching, assessment of the method, as well as case studies with teaching notes. In this month’s issue the case is based on the Jack in the Box food…

Methods and Strategies: Modeling Problem-Based Instruction

Journal Article | November 2007

Students get excited about science when they investigate real scientific problems in the classroom, especially when the investigation extends over several weeks. This article describes a health-science problem-based…