All Blog Posts
Blog Post
The big fish died. The constant silent presence of the plecostomus—now hiding in the cave, now sucking algae off the aquarium wall—is gone. Dona...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Who hasn’t looked into the night sky and wondered about the stars and the universe? But upper elementary and middle school may be the last chance fo...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
The S&C astronomy issue article Sky Observations by the Book (NSTA membership required) presents lessons specifically for teaching young children ...
By ManagingEditorSC
Blog Post
Walking fieldtrips to draw nature
A walking fieldtrip can bring much needed outdoor time and opportunity for scientific observation to a class schedule. The objective can be to view th...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Planting flower bulbs in the fall
Planting spring-flowering bulbs connects the seasons of Fall and Spring in the minds of young children as they wait all winter for the bulbs to sprout...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
No child (or teacher) left inside, and we're having a ball!
OK, it’s almost October and it’s time to celebrate science. Get ready for Earth Science Week this year (October 12-18, 2008). The theme...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Formative assessments: real-time responses
My principal is talking to us about using “formative” assessments. Does this mean taking time away from instruction for more tests? When will I ha...
By MsMentorAdmin
Blog Post
Displaying children's science learning
One way I like to show the science learning that goes on in school is by posting my photos or children’s work under headings borrowed from, or inspi...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Scientific literacy comes in handy
The importance of being scientifically literate, that is, being able to sift through the information and decide what seems likely to be true, was brou...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
“Don’t smile until Thanksgiving.” When I started teaching, that was the advice from a few veterans on the staff. Fortunately for my ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Scoring objective tests is easy: the answer is either correct or incorrect. But with essay questions, lab techniques, writing assignments, reports, co...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Finding materials for science activities
So many times I wish I had everything I need to do an activity with my five classes of two to five-year-olds—all in a kit. Managing materials in a ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Each chapter in my science textbook is loaded with new vocabulary. How can I help students to deal with this specialized vocabulary? —Dan, Ramap...
By MsMentorAdmin
Blog Post
Some of you may remember the pre-Internet days when if you didn’t subscribe to a mailed publication, you had to trek to a public or university libra...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Using science notebooks with young students
Science Notebooks can be useful tools, even with young students who are just learning to read and write. See how kindergarten teacher Kathryn Kaatz in...
By ManagingEditorSC