Making Everyday Phenomena Phenomenal

Journal Article | April 2020

Jumping to Conclusions

Journal Article | March 2019

Are They Talking About Climate or Weather?

Lesson Plan | July 2021

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about climate. The probe is designed to find out whether students distinguish between weather and climate.

Coldest Winter Ever!

Lesson Plan | June 2021

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about weather versus climate. The probe is designed to find out if students distinguish between a one-time weather-related change and a change in climate…

Renewable or Nonrenewable?

Lesson Plan | July 2021

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about Earth’s natural resources. The probe is designed to find out if students can distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.

Grand Canyon

Lesson Plan | July 2021

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the formation of the Grand Canyon. The probe is designed to find out if students recognize the role of rivers and flowing water and connect them to…

The Greenhouse Effect

Lesson Plan | July 2021

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the greenhouse effect. The probe is designed to reveal whether students confuse the greenhouse effect with other environmental concerns or lump the…

Freebies for Science Teachers, December 7, 2021

Reports Article | December 2021

Is the Sun a Star?

Lesson Plan | July 2021

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the Sun and stars. The probe is designed to uncover students’ ideas about the nature of stars and their recognition that the Sun is an average star…

Talking About Forces

Lesson Plan | June 2021

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit beginning ideas about forces. The probe is designed to reveal whether students generally identify forces as pushes and pulls.

Spaceships

Lesson Plan | June 2021

This probe is designed to elicit students’ ideas about changing the direction of motion in the absence of air. Many students will have seen movies or television shows in which spaceships turn by banking or using wing…

Apple in a Plane

Lesson Plan | June 2021

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about force related to the interaction between inanimate objects. The probe is designed to determine which forces students think act on an object at rest…