Teaching Through Trade Books: A Balancing Act

Journal Article | September 2011

This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. In this month’s issue students explore activities that involve balance.

Teaching Through Trade Books: A Season to Inquire

Journal Article | October 2004

Aside from learning about naturally occurring cycles that happen over time, trade books about seasons can help students learn about the cause of the seasons. The activities based on this month’s books deepen students'…

Teaching Through Trade Books: Sunrise, Sunset

Journal Article | March 2009

The next time you watch the Sun rise; take a minute to think about what’s really going on. You are standing on a giant ball of rock that is hurtling through space, and the spot where you are standing is rotating in the…

Teaching Through Trade Books: The Mystery of Migration

Journal Article | June 2011

This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. The lessons in this month's column explore what we know about animal migration and what still remains a mystery.

Teaching Through Trade Books: The Stealth Profession

Journal Article | December 2012

This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. This month’s issue gives students not only an awareness of the work of engineers but also the opportunity to think like engineers.

Teaching Through Trade Books: Bridges and Skyscrapers

Journal Article | November 2012

This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. This month’s issue talks about the secrets behind engineering marvels and discovering that the materials you choose to build something are just as…

Teaching Through Trade Books: The Wonder of Water

Journal Article | November 2008

Water is an extraordinary substance that we often take for granted. Not only is it what makes our planet uniquely habitable, water is the only substance on Earth that naturally occurs in three different forms. In this…

Teaching through Trade Books: Seeing the Seasons

Journal Article | February 2003

Children’s literature can be a wonderful springboard for classroom learning, motivating students to think scientifically, and helping them develop important science-process skills. The following books: When the Root…

Teaching Through Trade Books: Talking Trees

Journal Article | January 2005

Students love outdoor activities and will love them even more when they build confidence in their tree identification and measurement skills. The activities in this month's Teaching Through Trade Books column help…

Teaching through Trade Books: Dealing with Data

Journal Article | August 2003

The elementary classroom is full of opportunities to collect and organize information—or data—of all kinds. This article suggests two trade books that help children explore concepts of measurement. A background section…

Teaching Through Trade Books: Seeing Stars

Journal Article | January 2008

The winter months are a great time to make observations of several familiar constellations. While there’s no scientific reason to “know” the constellations—they are simply imaginative pictures imposed on stars—studying…

Teaching through Trade Books: A Habitat Is a Home

Journal Article | August 2009

We all have our own habitats, and this month students spend time thinking about what other organisms need to survive, what types of habitats they live in, and how to set up a habitat for a classroom animal.

Teaching Through Trade Books: Meet the Decomposers

Journal Article | June 2004

This month's Teaching Through Trade Books column focuses on three books about decomposers: Compost Critters, A Pill Bug’s Life, and A Slug's Life. Activities for grades K-3 and 4-6 help children learn about animals’…

Science Safety in the Community College (e-book)

eBook | May 2015

Science Safety in the Community College is specifically designed to help two-year college faculty—including adjunct faculty—lay a good safety foundation for students in introductory science courses—even when they have…

Look and See: I Wonder Why (e-book)

eBook | August 2016

This lively book’s title makes the perfect motto for young scientists: Look and see! With the help of charming text and bright pictures, you learn just how much you can use your sense of sight. Toys and tools, birds and…