The Case Study: The Case of the Dividing Cell—Mitosis and Meiosis in the Cellular Court

Journal Article | January 2004

The Honorable Judge Cellular is presiding over the case of the State v. Egg Cell Number 6624223. As the prosecuting attorney calls each witness to the stand and the courtroom drama unfolds, students learn about the…

Idea Bank: The Area of an Irregular Object

Journal Article | April 2004

Science teachers are often looking for ways to integrate more mathematics applications into laboratory situations. Quantifiable data can provide students with a greater understanding of scientific concepts. Direct…

Teaching Through Trade Books: Survival Skills

Journal Article | September 2005

Animals have many adaptations that help them survive in their environment and meet their special needs of food and shelter. This month’s column focuses on two such adaptations: camouflage and beaks. This articles comes…

Ask the Experts – March 2007

Journal Article | February 2007

In this month’s Ask the Experts column, the following question is addressed: “Do the cells in a placenta have DNA in them and if so, whose DNA does it match, the mother or the fetus?”

The Art and Science of Notebooks

Journal Article | September 2011

Along with inquiry-based teaching, exploring the elements of art can guide students to view and represent objects realistically. Understanding line, shape, color, value, form, space, and texture helps bridge the gap…

Teaching Demands verses Research Productivity

Journal Article | April 2002

Faculty in undergraduate institutions are scholars and need to be actively engaged in research. They must also publish and get grants to be promoted and tenured. The strong demand on their time for teaching and college…

Science Sampler: Glacial ice action

Journal Article | September 2008

Current news reports discuss the loss of glacial ice in the Antarctic and Greenland as examples of the effects of global warming. But what are glaciers and how do they work? An understanding of the process that causes…

Science Sampler: Classroom management, rules, consequences, and rewards! Oh, my!

Journal Article | June 2009

Teachers must start with an organized classroom. Think through how you want your classroom arranged, how students will turn in work, and where supplies are located. Students should also be instructed how the classroom…

Atomic Poetry: Using poetry to teach Rutherford's discovery of the nucleus

Journal Article | August 2001

Most students regard literature and science as two separate subjects with no obvious connections to one another. This interdisciplinary, cross-curricular approach integrates the two to teach physical science students…

What Might Happen If . . .?

Journal Article | March 2000

The lessons many students learn in traditional school curricula are too removed from the problems they encounter in daily life to be useful. One tool that can be used in the classroom to help students analyze and…

Bridging Science and Engineering

Journal Article | February 2002

The Colleges of Engineering and Education at Penn State University have collaborated to design and deliver an engineering course for education and other nonscience majors. In this course, students integrate basic…

Science 101: How Do Microscopes Work?

Journal Article | December 2003

Microscopes allow scientists to examine everyday objects in extraordinary ways. They provide high-resolution images that show objects in fine detail. This articles includes details on how microscopes work and how they…

Science 101: When Is the Bernoulli Effect Not the Bernoulli Effect?

Journal Article | October 2012

This column provides background science information for elementary teachers. In this month’s issue the author discusses the Bernoulli Effect.

More Is Less

Journal Article | September 2012

By playing into students' inquisitive nature and taking a closer look into the details of science content, teachers can start uncovering student misconceptions, correcting them, and even preventing future misconceptions…

SCST: Changes in Science Education—Are We Getting Ready? Predicting Education’s Future

Journal Article | January 2000

In this column the leadership of SCST shares its views with JCST readers. This article's focus is on the new millennium which establishes a natural marking point for change. Reflection on the last 10 years might give…