All Phenomena resources

NSTA Press Book

The Explore-Before-Explain Guidebook for Science Education: Creating High Quality Lessons for the Classroom and Professional Learning

This guidebook uses an Explore-before-Explain instructional sequence to help you facilitate the design of active meaning-making lessons in science....

By Patrick Brown

Elementary High School Middle School Preschool Curriculum Pedagogy Phenomena Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Professional Learning old Teacher Preparation Sensemaking

NSTA Press Book

Model-Based Inquiry in Chemistry: Three-Dimensional Instructional Units for Grades 9-12

Transform your chemistry lessons from abstract concepts into engrossing learning experiences that help high school students understand what happens in the world. You can do it with Model-Based Inquiry in Chemistry: Three-Dimensional Instructional Uni...

By Todd Campbell, Ron Gray

High School Chemistry Instructional Materials NGSS Phenomena Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Puddles to Floods: Field-based Investigations on Flooding in New Orleans

All students deserve access to field-based learning experiences where they can conduct investigations and collect data to answer their questions about the world. These opportunities are particularly important in the context of complex climate-related...

By Brooke Sprague, Claire Anderson, Karen Marshall, Jazmine Henderson, Shermaine Johnson

Earth & Space Science Phenomena

NSTA Press Book

Wild Wonderings: Scientists and Their Questions

Click here to view video of Wild Wonderings Let your curiosity run wild! This lively book will inspire you to ask questions like scientists do. Why? Because questions can lead you to amazing discoveries. Like what? Like when theoretical physicist ...

By Jessica Fries-Gaither

Postsecondary Early Childhood Elementary High School Informal Education Middle School Pre-service Teachers Preschool Technical and Vocational Education General Science STEM 5E Multilingual Learners Instructional Materials Inquiry NGSS Pedagogy Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Equity Inclusion Interdisciplinary Literacy Multicultural New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Professional Learning old Teacher Preparation Sensemaking

NSTA Kids

Wild Wonderings: Scientists and Their Questions

Click here to view video of Wild Wonderings Let your curiosity run wild! This lively book will inspire you to ask questions like scientists do. Why? Because questions can lead you to amazing discoveries. Like what? Like when theoretical physicist ...

Postsecondary Early Childhood Elementary Informal Education Pre-service Teachers Preschool Technical and Vocational Education General Science STEM 5E Crosscutting Concepts Multilingual Learners Instructional Materials Inquiry NGSS Pedagogy Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Equity Inclusion Interdisciplinary Literacy Multicultural New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Professional Learning old Teacher Preparation Sensemaking

Journal Article

Scaffolding an Inquiry-Based Spring Constant Activity for Differentiated Physics Instruction

This activity gives students the opportunity to design an experiment, collect data, and solve for the spring constant of different springs. The use of low-cost materials and the inquiry-based structure makes it more accessible for teachers and more e...

By Eric Lindley

High School Inclusion Phenomena Physical Science Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Engaging Middle School Students with the Nature of Particles, Waves, and Light

This three-day unit engages students in the exploration of light behavior and makes connections to the advanced idea of the wave-particle duality of light. Students begin by exploring the behaviors of marbles (particles) as they interact with differe...

By Isaiah Kent-Schneider, Jerrid Kruse, Dan Chibnall, Paige Anderson, Emma Richards, Brooke Christenson

Literacy Phenomena Physical Science Physics Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Exploring Beneficial Species Interactions: A Phenomenon-Driven Approach to Understanding Legumes and Rhizobia Mutualism

This phenomenon-driven unit focuses on students making sense of the mutually beneficial species interactions between legumes and rhizobia. Many science classes spend less time studying the nitrogen cycle due to time constraints and more focus on othe...

By Kerrie Rovito, Lara Smetana, Michael Grillo, Alyssa Hoffman, Sydney DelGhingaro

Biology Phenomena Sensemaking

NSTA Kids

Next Time You See a Snowflake

Click here to view video of Next Time You See a Snowflake This book will have you seeing snowflakes in a whole new way. You’ll learn about the science of snowflakes – how they form, why they are six-sided, what conditions are necessary for the...

Postsecondary Early Childhood Elementary Informal Education Middle School Pre-service Teachers Preschool General Science Mathematics STEM 5E Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Multilingual Learners Instructional Materials Inquiry NGSS Phenomena Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Interdisciplinary Literacy New Science Teachers Sensemaking

Journal Article

Activating Learning with Phenomena

By Patrick Brown

Phenomena Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Phenomena-driven Science Instruction

Editor's Note...

By Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn

Early Education Kindergarten Pre-K Early Childhood Elementary Phenomena

Journal Article

Why is that Pole Wet on One Side and Not the Other?: Transitioning to Phenomenon and Problem-Driven Teaching in Kindergarten

This paper discusses two teachers’ experiences implementing a phenomenon and problem-driven curriculum for the first time in two kindergarten classes. It describes how teachers shifted their teaching to support students’ collaborative sensemaking...

By Mary Short, Nancy Costanzo, Allison Fleming

NGSS Phenomena Physics

Journal Article

Making Space for Local Science: Strategies for teachers to find and adapt phenomena in science units

This article discusses strategies for teachers to find and use local phenomena in designed science units. The Next Generation Science Standards promote grounding learning in observable phenomena that students investigate using science practices. Howe...

By Katahdin A Whitt, Becky Hallowell

Earth & Space Science Phenomena Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Remarkable Adaptations

The emperor penguin is one of the most identifiable animals on earth. Its survival depends on a variety of factors, such as temperature and other environmental elements. In order to engage fifth-grade students in exploring the captivating phenomenon ...

By Robyn Yewell, Ron Gray

Inquiry Life Science Phenomena

Journal Article

Q: How can I address science misconceptions using phenomena-driven instruction?

Q: How can I address science misconceptions using phenomena-driven instruction?...

By Matthew Bobrowsky

Inquiry Literacy Phenomena