Quicksand Query: Using a popular fallacy to teach about density and volume

Journal Article | October 2001

A popular misconception—quicksand sucks people under—is used to teach students about density. In a series of lab activities, students create quicksand, determine its density, and measure the density of water and…

Science Sampler: Feel the heat

Journal Article | October 2002

This article features a simple game that can help students understand the nature of heat transfer through conduction.

A High-Stakes-Test Intervention: Moon-Phase Models as Viewed from Earth and Space

Journal Article | December 2010

Schools are under increasing pressure to meet accountability requirements and show growth in student achievement across tested content areas. As a result, throughout the school year, student achievement data are…

A Consumer Guide to Professional Development

Journal Article | March 2008

How can a science teacher find professional development (PD) opportunities that are meaningful, coherent, and sustained that will foster teacher and student learning? The authors believe that science teachers can and…

To Review or Not to Review? Review techniques help foster student achievement

Journal Article | August 2003

Review techniques are implemented to enhance student understanding of material and assessment performance. Reviewing materials before an exam gives students more exposure and experience with the subject matter, and the…

Commentary: The Case for Integrated Science

Journal Article | March 2000

An opinion piece about the increasing interest in high school integrated science courses throughout the United States.

Going Underground

Journal Article | November 2011

This article describes how geologists investigate groundwater flow systems in areas of karst topography—geologic formations shaped by dissolving bedrock—and provides a way for students to replicate this research.…

Developing Patterns for Learning in Science Through Reflection

Journal Article | August 2009

The process of the development of critical thinking and knowledge application requires more than rote memorization and the ability to get correct answers on lab reports or on a multiple-choice test. Purposeful, guided…

Commentary: Let Fossils Make the Case

Journal Article | September 2000

An opinion piece about how to teach evolution to students who already have misconceptions.

No Child Left Inside

Journal Article | August 2008

Earth Science Week (ESW) 2008 encourages people around the globe to open doors and investigate new opportunities. This year’s theme, “No Child Left Inside,” is a call to explore our natural environments. The celebration…

Connecting to Your Community Through Birds and Citizen Science

Journal Article | October 2012

Use BirdSleuth to engage students in a variety of community-based birding activities.

Push-ups and Propulsion

Journal Article | February 1999

In this activity, students build and experiment with a balloon car for a hands-on investigation of action and reaction in a jet propulsion simulation, with the help of a few plastic plungers from Push-Up ice cream…

Science Sampler: A slice of solar cooking

Journal Article | April 2003

Using the principles of scientific investigation, students design a solar cooker using materials supplied by the teacher. Students then spend individual time designing a solar cooker on their own. Afterward, students…

The Polar Insulation Investigation

Journal Article | September 2006

In this article an oceanographer discusses her development of an activity to help students explore polar-related questions more fully. "The Polar Insulation Investigation" builds on students' natural interest in "…

Putting Public Television to Work for You

Journal Article | February 2002

Public television programs such as ZOOM, A Science Odyssey, and NOVA can be a great way to enhance the science curriculum. Suggestions for using these programs in the classroom and accessing supplemental materials,…