All Inquiry resources

NSTA Press Book

Picture-Perfect STEM Lessons, 3-5: Using Children’s Books to Inspire STEM Learning

"Teachers in our district have been fans of Picture-Perfect Science for years, and it’s made a huge impact on how they fit science into their school...

By Emily Morgan, Karen Ansberry

Postsecondary Elementary Informal Education STEM Assessment Curriculum Instructional Materials Inquiry Lesson Plans Teaching Strategies Interdisciplinary Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Teacher Preparation

Blog Post

Using the Crosscutting Concepts to Scaffold Student Thinking

At the recent NSTA National Conference in Los Angeles, three-dimensional learning was, of course, a major topic of discussion. When those discussions ...

By Cindy Workosky

Middle School Elementary High School Chemistry Crosscutting Concepts Curriculum Engineering Equity Inquiry Literacy New Science Teachers Physical Science Physics Preservice Science Education Professional Learning old STEM Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies Technology Three-Dimensional Learning

Blog Post

Digging Deeper: Modeling

At the core of a Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) classroom is the sequence of exposing students to an interesting natural phenomenon, having ...

By Cindy Workosky

Informal Education Preschool Astronomy Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Inquiry Instructional Materials Learning Progression Lesson Plans New Science Teachers NGSS Phenomena Physical Science Physics Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Blog Post

Introducing Crosscutting Concepts in the Elementary Grades

Four years ago, I moved from teaching middle school science to teaching grades 2–5 STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) la...

By Cindy Workosky

Early Childhood Elementary Preschool Biology Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Multilingual Learners Equity General Science Inquiry Labs Learning Progression Lesson Plans Life Science Literacy New Science Teachers NGSS Phenomena Preservice Science Education Science and Engineering Practices Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Blog Post

Digging Deeper: Designing Solutions

This month’s Digging Deeper column for the Next Gen Navigator focuses on the practice of constructing explanations and designing solutions, and spec...

By Cindy Workosky

Elementary 5E Crosscutting Concepts Curriculum Inquiry Instructional Materials Mathematics NGSS Phenomena Physical Science Physics Science and Engineering Practices STEM Teaching Strategies Technology Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Disequilibrium: Layered Liquids

This column shows how to use discrepant events to confront misconceptions. Students may hold onto the misconception that all liquids naturally combine...

Middle School General Science Physical Science 5E Inquiry Phenomena

Journal Article

Science 102: The Sound of One Hand Clapping

This column shares exercises to challenge content knowledge. This month's issue presents a new challenge and answers the Raindrops Keep Falling challe...

Elementary High School Middle School Life Science Crosscutting Concepts Inquiry Phenomena

Journal Article

Disequilibrium: The Bernoulli Bag

This column shows how to use discrepant events to confront misconceptions. Students explore pressure and the Bernoulli principle with a Bernoulli Bag....

Middle School Physical Science 5E Inquiry Phenomena