The 1988 Fires in Yellowstone

Journal Article | January 2008

The 1988 fires at Yellowstone National Park burned 1.4 million acres in the tri-state areas of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho—encompassing the greater Yellowstone area—and burned some 800,000 acres within the park itself (…

Professional Development for You

Journal Article | January 2004

No Child Left Behind’s emphasis on accountability and demands for a quality teacher in every classroom has spawned a cottage industry of providers of professional development. How can educators begin to sort through…

Editor's Note (February 2006)

Journal Article | January 2006

Even though chemistry is a cornerstone of scientific literacy--standng smack in the intersection of physics and biology--we haven't done a good job communicating either its importance or how interesting it is. This…

Science Sampler: Birds make learning easy

Journal Article | October 2004

The Classroom Feeder Watch (CFW) curriculum published by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology can be the basis for an engaging classroom unit. Through this middle school curriculum, students observe bird feeders…

The Basics of Data Literacy: Helping Your Students (and You!) Make Sense of Data (e-book)

eBook | November 2013

Here’s the ideal statistics book for teachers with no statistics background. Written in an informal style with easy-to-grasp examples, The Basics of Data Literacy teaches you how to help your students understand data.…

Be a Winner! A Science Teacher’s Guide to Writing Successful Grant Proposals (e-book)

eBook | March 2016

Be a Winner! is your chance to learn from veteran science teachers about the secrets to successful grant writing. Formatted as a handy workbook, this practical book takes you step by step through the writing process.…

Practical Ways to Assess and Change Students’ Perceptions of Scientists

Journal Article | June 2010

One exercise that challenges students’ stereotypical perception of scientists is the Scientist Match-Up Activity. In this interactive lesson, students are asked to match a person to a profession based on three sets of…

Putting a Spring in Archimedes’ Step

Journal Article | January 2000

As teachers with often limited resources, we are constantly looking for ways to promote serious science at low cost and with minimal equipment. This activity helps students to understand buoyancy and targets important…

Find Out Why: Use this program during this year's National Science and Technology Week

Journal Article | January 2000

Find Out Why is the flagship publication of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Science and Engineering Outreach Programs. Each issue asks a question that is shaped around children’s interests and explores…

Modeling Leeuwenhoek’s Tools With Disposable-Camera Microscopes

Journal Article | September 2007

When students design and build their own versions of instruments, they appreciate them more—and are more likely to appreciate how experimentation plays a critical role in explaining the world around them (NRC 1999). In…

Methods and Strategies: More Than a Human Endeavor

Journal Article | January 2008

Helping young children avoid developing deeply held misconceptions and promoting developmentally appropriate Nature of Science (NOS) ideas will establish a foundation for students from which they will later develop more…

Investigating Microgravity: Using inquiry, students study objects in a weightless environment

Journal Article | September 2002

In classroom discussions, students often have misconceptions about how objects behave in a weightless environment. This article provides instruction on how to create a weightless environment in the classroom to enable…

Perspectives: Thinking About Thinking in Science Class

Journal Article | January 2009

Self-regulated learners are able to set learning goals, find strategies that help them achieve those goals, and monitor their progress (Schraw, Crippen, and Hartley 2006). An important part of self-regulation is…

Saving the Salmon

Journal Article | April 2004

In November 2000, wild Atlantic salmon were placed under the protection of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Washington Academy (WA) in Maine has played an integral role in the education and restoration of this…

Commentary: Educating the Public on Food Safety

Journal Article | September 2004

In 1993, the Pacific Northwest witnessed an outbreak of the pathogen Escherichia coli (E. coli) 0157:H7 from undercooked, contaminated hamburgers served at Seattle-area Jack in the Box fast-food restaurants (Golan et…