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All Earth & Space Science resources

Moon Phase and Solar Eclipse

Book Chapter

Moon Phase and Solar Eclipse

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ understanding of the Earth- Sun-Moon system well enough to explain the causes of Moon phases and solar eclipses and how these two phenomena are related. ...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science Assessment

What Are Stars Made Of?

Book Chapter

What Are Stars Made Of?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about how astronomers investigate the composition of stars. The probe is designed to see if students recognize that the colors from the light given off by a star (its spectrum) revea...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science Assessment Disciplinary Core Ideas Phenomena Three-Dimensional Learning

How Far Away Is the Sun?

Book Chapter

How Far Away Is the Sun?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about relative distance. The probe is designed to find out if students can apply the same scale used to represent the difference in sizes between the Earth and Sun to also repre...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science 5E Science and Engineering Practices

Comparing Eclipses

Book Chapter

Comparing Eclipses

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about eclipse phenomena. The probe is designed to determine if students have a mental model of the Earth-Sun-Moon system that allows them to figure out why we see more eclipses of th...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science 5E Science and Engineering Practices

How Long Is a Day on the Moon?

Book Chapter

How Long Is a Day on the Moon?

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the day-night cycle on the Moon. The probe is designed to find out if students can coordinate two concepts: the Moon turns once on its axis each month, and half of the Moon ...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science 5E Science and Engineering Practices

Falling Through the Earth

Book Chapter

Falling Through the Earth

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about Earth’s gravity. The probe is designed to find out how students think gravity acts inside the Earth. ...

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science 5E Science and Engineering Practices

NSTA Press Book

Uncovering Student Ideas in Astronomy: 45 New Formative Assessment Probes

What do your students know—or think they know—about what causes night and day, why days are shorter in winter, and how to tell a planet from a star? Find out with this book on astronomy, the latest in NSTA’s popular Uncovering Student Ideas in ...

By Page Keeley, Cary Sneider

Elementary High School Middle School Astronomy Earth & Space Science Assessment Curriculum Instructional Materials Lesson Plans NGSS Phenomena Teaching Strategies Interdisciplinary Teacher Preparation

Day and Night

Book Chapter

Day and Night

Using a model, learners explore time zones and what causes day and night and how time zones change. Learners observed the position of the Sun in the sky at different times of day and relate those positions to the rotation of the Earth. For more info...

Elementary Earth & Space Science 5E Lesson Plans Teaching Strategies

NSTA Press Book

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

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 students about their preconception...

By Susan B. Koba with Carol T. Mitchell

Elementary Informal Education Earth & Space Science Physical Science Lesson Plans Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Teacher Preparation

NSTA Press Book

Picture-Perfect Science Lessons, Expanded 2nd Edition: Using Children's Books to Guide Inquiry, 3-6

How do you improve upon perfection? For years, new and experienced elementary school teachers alike have extolled the virtues of Picture-Perfect Science Lessons—the expertly combined appeal of children’s picture books with standards-based science...

By Karen Ansberry, Emily Morgan

Elementary Informal Education Earth & Space Science Physical Science Assessment Curriculum Disciplinary Core Ideas Instructional Materials Inquiry Lesson Plans NGSS Teaching Strategies Inclusion Interdisciplinary Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Professional Learning old Teacher Preparation

Over in the Ocean ClassPack

Class Pack

Over in the Ocean ClassPack

*LAST CHANCE! This product is not eligible for return or exchange. All sales are final.* Using More Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4 in your classroom is easier than ever! NSTA’s ClassPacks, each...

Early Childhood Elementary Earth & Space Science Life Science Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Science and Engineering Practices

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