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A few years ago, I found some interesting background data for a professional development project I was working on–when elementary teachers were asked to name a specific science area that they would find difficult to teach, more than 60% mention...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
The snow was lovely for me, arriving on a Friday night after my children were home and enough neighbors were in town to make the shoveling more of a community gathering than a huge chore. I did wish that school was in session so I could le...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Here in the Northeast, we had to dig our way through the recent storm, the most snow we’ve had in my neck of the woods for two years! I once hosted an exchange teacher from Australia in January (their summer break), who had never seen snow. Sno...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Ask a question … none of us has all the answers but we might have some
Wondering if teaching about magnetism is appropriate for preschoolers, which chemistry activities can be safe for young children, what materials to provide for exploration of gravity, or how to raise butterflies? This is a place to ask a question fo...
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Encouraging class participation
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34053291@N05/3948369923/...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I’m a new middle school teacher, and last week I had to miss two days due to illness. When I came back, my classroom was in shambles and it appeared that the students did not do any work. What can I do, short of never missing another day, to ma...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Many of the concepts we teach in science relate to the concept of “scale” – things that are at the extremes of small (as in atoms, nanotechnology, or microbes), large (as in galaxies or blue whales), long (geologic time scale), short (h...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Making a dough for classroom play is also a time to teach vocabulary and math skills, and social skills such as cleaning up after oneself. Write the recipe on a page or easel paper to refer to even if your students are not yet reading. Illustrate wit...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Creative Commons handwritten recipe photo posted to flickr by Deb Roby....
By admin
Blog Post
Young children love using a periscope. Maybe because when you look through one, the view is not what your brain expects, somewhat like using someone else’s glasses. (My sisters and I used to take turns running down a hallway wearing my mother’s g...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
How many of use chose careers in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics because of our experiences in school? Some topics or activities must have stimulated our interest and curiosity, and the authors in this month’s edition share som...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Whenever I start a new unit, some students consistently ask, “Why do we have to learn this?” How should I respond? —Kevin, District of Columbia...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Have you seen NASA eClips? This is a collection of video clips on a variety of topics (such as the earth, sun, universe, STEM, aeronautics, and living in space), organized by grade level (K-5, 6-8, 9-12). Some of the notes for the clips include link...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
What's good for the girls in STEM?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmiehomeschoolmom/ / CC BY 2.0...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
ESP symposium: superpowers not required
Divining the keys to better science education doesn’t require extrasensory perception—just check out the ESP Symposium at the Phoenix Area Conference. Coordinated by Robert Yager, 1982-1983 NSTA president, NSTA’s Exemplary Science Program (ESP)...
By Lynn Petrinjak