DNA Sequencing in Undergraduate Laboratory Courses: Duplicating Current Research Protocols Using Biochemical Methods of Analysis

Journal Article | February 1997

The basic goal in designing the molecular biology lab was to provide students with exercises that were as representative as possible of current research protocols. This goal was easy for some exercises but the DNA…

Fostering Inquiry in Nonlaboratory Settings

Journal Article | August 2004

Inquiry is an important learning strategy, even for students who cannot or do not perform actual experiments. The authors describe two activities, other than experimentation, that they used in introductory biology…

Teaching Through Trade Books: Water Wherever

Journal Article | January 2004

Whether rain, sleet, or snow, February weather across the country provides students with opportunities to observe the many different ways the water cycle affects our daily lives. This month's trade books that focus on…

Cell-Phone Use and Cancer: A Case Study Exploring the Scientific Method

Journal Article | August 2007

Designed for an introductory nonmajors biology course, this case study presents students with a series of short news stories describing a scientific study of cell-phone use and its health effects. Students read the news…

Science Sampler: Correcting student misconceptions

Journal Article | December 2005

Before learning any formal science, children try to make sense of natural phenomena on their own. However, several studies have shown that it can be difficult to convince a student to give up a long-held misconception…

Teacher's Toolkit: Two-tiered assessment

Journal Article | January 2006

Developing good instruments that can be used to assess what students really know about scientific content is one of the most difficult tasks facing teachers in middle school classrooms today. However, two-tiered tests…

Reach for the Stars!

Journal Article | December 2011

This article describes NASA and NSTA teaching resources that can accentuate your Earth and space science lessons.

Presenting the Scientific Process

Journal Article | November 2003

In a course titled Scientific Process, the authors introduce undergraduates to the philosophy and practice of science and initiate them into a 2-year undergraduate research track. Engaging exercises and discussions help…

A Natural Integration

Journal Article | March 2007

A five-week study taught students how to write a field guide that identified the plants in a small wooded area they passed through on their way to their school playground. By creating this authentic genre of science…

Every Day Science Calendar—November 2007

Journal Article | October 2007

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

Career of the Month: Chief Executive Officer

Journal Article | June 2012

This column shares interviews with professionals using science in the workplace. This month’s issue describes the work of the chief executive officer for the National Ecological Observatory Network.

A Traveler's Guide to the Universe

Journal Article | March 2012

Summer enrichment activities about space keep students' minds engaged wherever they travel.

Reconstructing Environmental Change Using Lake Varves as a Climate Proxy

Journal Article | February 2012

This article describes an investigative activity in which eighth-grade students reconstructed past environmental change in the New England area using data from lake varves in central Vermont to examine evidence of…

Editor's Roundtable: Sleuthing with science

Journal Article | February 2011

Science Scope’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue.

Scope on Safety: Safe Speakers

Journal Article | October 2003

This column shares safety information for your classroom. In this month’s issue the author discusses how guest speakers can motivate students and help them understand real-world science. The steps that teachers need to…