Bringing Outdoor Science In: Thrifty Classroom Lessons (e-book)

eBook | February 2012

When it’s just not possible to take students out to explore the natural world, bring the natural world to the classroom. Clearly organized and easy to use, this helpful guide contains more than 50 science lessons in…

Building Successful Partnerships: Community Connections for Science Education (e-book)

eBook | December 2009

No single educator can help children learn all they need to become scientifically literate. Resources are all around us—not only in traditional science classrooms and laboratories, but also in gardens, nature centers,…

Buzz Into Action: The Insect Curriculum Guide for Grades K–4 (e-book)

eBook | March 2012

Calling all aspiring entomologists, apiologists, and lepidopterists—as well as kids who just think bugs, bees, and butterflies are cool! Buzz Into Action is a lively insect-education curriculum for teaching…

Hands-On Herpetology: Exploring Ecology and Conservation (e-book)

eBook | June 2009

Plentiful, diverse, and readily available, these animals—known in science as “herps”—are also perfect for teaching students about biology, ecology, and conservation, including problems affecting both amphibians and…

Hard-to-Teach Science Concepts: A Framework to Support Learners, Grades 3–5 (e-book)

eBook | May 2011

Authors Susan Koba and Carol Mitchell introduce teachers of grades 3–5 to their conceptual framework for successful instruction of hard-to-teach science concepts. Their methodology comprises four steps: (1) engage…

Help! I'm Teaching Middle School Science (e-Book)

eBook | December 2002

Like your own personal survival guide, Help! I’m Teaching Middle School Science is a nontechnical how-to manual—especially for first-year teachers. But even veteran teachers can benefit from the plentiful ideas,…

Hop Into Action: The Amphibian Curriculum Guide for Grades K–4 (e-book)

eBook | February 2011

K–4 teachers, homeschoolers, camp leaders, and naturalists will find the standards-based lessons in this slim volume the perfect introduction to environmental science for young learners. Hop Into Action helps teach…

Practicing Real Science in the Laboratory

Journal Article | October 2001

In a molecular biology laboratory, students study the role of the enzyme polygalacturonase in the softening of tomatoes during ripening, developing their own hypotheses and designing their own experiments. While the…

Career of the Month: An Interview With Science Institute Program Director Laura Heisler

Journal Article | February 2009

Laura Heisler always wanted to apply her interest in science to help people and make a difference. As a science program director, she brings together scientists, members of the business community, and others for the…

Science 101: How do insects survive winter?

Journal Article | October 2003

This month's column explains how insects survive in the winter.

Paint-Stirrer Submarine

Journal Article | January 2007

In today’s fast-paced, technological world, it is a constant struggle for teachers to find new and exciting ways to challenge and engage our students. The Paint-Stirrer Submarine is a unique and challenging laboratory…

Exploring the Unknown

Journal Article | February 2012

This article describes The Concord Consortium's High-Adventure Science Project, which brings frontier science into the classroom, allowing students to explore questions in Earth and space science that scientists are…

Integrating a Single Tablet PC in Chemistry, Engineering, and Physics Courses

Journal Article | December 2007

A tablet PC is a versatile computer that combines the computing power of a notebook with the pen functionality of a PDA (Cox and Rogers 2005b). The authors adopted tablet PC technology in order to improve the process…

Science Sampler: Students learn best by teaching

Journal Article | February 2007

Traditionally, science fair projects allow students to share their personal investigations about nature. In a science fair presentation, a student typically lectures, pointing out observations, data, analysis, and…

Editor’s Note: Windows Into Understanding

Journal Article | March 2008

In this month’s column, the editor reflects on how teacher programs in the early 1980s gave little attention to assessment. The assumption was that end-of-chapter tests in textbooks and standardized state tests provided…