JoinAll Blog Posts
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Science Teachers Needed to Support Libraries’ Solar Eclipse Events
Public libraries across the country are receiving 2 million eclipse viewing glasses and a booklet of information to help prepare the public to view the sky event of the decade – the All American total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. (This distr...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
A short story about one Massachusetts middle school deciding between a layered or integrated curriculum format...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
I teach fourth grade, looping with them to fifth. I’m thinking of ways to keep my students and their families involved with science over the summer. I don’t have a lot of money to spend. —D., Florida...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Every Student Succeeds Act Looking for funding sources for STEM activities, resources and professional learning this fall? Take a look at this powerpoint on the Every Student Succeeds Act, the new federal education law, which includes key highligh...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Ed News: More Must Be Done To Strengthen Girls Interest In STEM Fields
This week in education news, more must be done to increase girls interest in the STEM fields; Florida needs a scientifically literate public; an English teacher’s video explains why teaching is so tiring; misconceptions about climate change common...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
The Requirements of Emergency Showers and Eyewash Stations
Most science teachers know that emergency showers and eyewash stations are needed in the presence of potential biological, chemical, and physical hazards. But which ones should they choose, and how should they be installed, operated, and maintained? ...
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
New Book: Perspectives on Science Education
What is the purpose of science education? As science educators it’s important to take time to analyze and discuss the reasons why we teach science to children. How does science affect our daily lives, how can it inspire and motivate us, how can it ...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
Pollinator Week June 19-25, 2017
Unexpectedly a butterfly flew around a group of preschoolers, repeatedly landing on one and then another. We had been outside on a hot day last week and were sweating underneath our sun screen lotion. What did the butterfly taste as it touched its pr...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
NSTA Retiring President Mary Gromko Thanks Retiring Committee Members
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By Guest Blogger
Blog Post
In science classes, do students work better in random groups or with their friends? I’m a student teacher in middle school. – S., Arizona...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Cars and plants: following children's interests and teaching science
“Regardless of the curriculum, it is important to remember that every lesson portrays an image of science to students and conveys information about what science is and how science works.”...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Are you interested in enhancing your STEM teaching repertoire? Or in integrating engineering concepts but not sure where to start? There have been some new features added to a free resource which is appropriate for in-school and informal K-12 educato...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Explore the Power of Investigating
How can a teacher build and maintain a learning environment that will help students investigate meaningful questions? That’s the central question of The Power of Investigating: Guiding Authentic Assessments by Julie V. McGough and Lisa M....
By Carole Hayward
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 focus on classroom instruction, though, the crosscutting concepts are often the forgotten dimension....
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
At the core of a Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) classroom is the sequence of exposing students to an interesting natural phenomenon, having students generate questions about the phenomenon, investigating student questions, then creating a s...
By Cindy Workosky
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) labs. One of the biggest challenges I faced was limited lab time in our elementary school. Because we ...
By Cindy Workosky
Blog Post
Do you have any ideas for faculty meetings for a new science department chairperson? I’m sure I can handle most of the responsibilities, but I’m terrified of leading meetings. —S., Indiana Facilitating a meeting is not unlike teaching a...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Relating weather watching to periodic nature events
Two-years-olds may be too young to remember the seasonal changes that happened in the last year but they are not too young to understand and talk about the natural changes that happen on a shorter time scale—the cycle of day and night....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Trump Budget Proposes Cuts in Education
President Trump’s budget is not expected out until Tuesday, May 23, but the Washington Post is reporting that the Administration is planning massive cuts to the U.S. Department of Education, and is proposing that another $1 billion be provide...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Build Your Middle Level STEM Repertoire This Summer at the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo
I want to personally invite as many middle level educators as possible to attend the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo, hosted by NSTA. This year’s roster of middle level sessions explores a wide array of STEM education professional development. NST...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
Many of the chemicals on the Department of Homeland Security’s Anti-Terrorism Standards Chemicals of Interest List can be found in high school storerooms. These chemicals may be prone to theft and unauthorized lab experiments. Some terrorist websit...
By Kenneth Roy
Blog Post
Dive In! Immersion in Science Practices for High School Students
Are you ready to integrate science practices into your classroom?...
By Carole Hayward
Blog Post
I coach teachers at an elementary school. One teacher is trying to improve his science instruction (one of the school goals), but he’s struggling with classroom management and organization during class activities. I’ve shared some ideas, ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Ed News: The Search For A Middle Ground Between Teacher And Administrator
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By Kate Falk
Blog Post
The 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo is the Place to Be for Upper Elementary Educators
Any and all upper elementary educators looking to build their repertoire of STEM knowledge would benefit from attending the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo. The Expo will be held in Kissimmee/Orlando, Florida from July 12-14. The event promises to...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
I have some chemistry students who ask “Why do we have to learn this?” How can I address this other saying “you’ll need it in college.” —D., Delaware Why are we studying this? What good is this? ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Live! And recorded, music and nature
How is the experience of listening to, attending to, live music different from listening to a recording? I can be very moved by recorded music, moved to sing along or dance....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Congress (Finally) Approves FY2017 Budget
Although we are now more than half way through FY2017, as expected both the House and Senate passed, and President Trump signed into law, the bill for FY2017 appropriations before the May 5 deadline that would have closed the federal government. H...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
Ed News: Helping Parents Understand The Next Generation Science Standards
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By Kate Falk
Blog Post
STEM Sims: Data Visualization Introduction...
By Edwin P. Christmann
Blog Post
Teaching About Science in the News
Tenth graders in Kathryn Kennedy’s science class at Prairie Seeds Academy in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, discuss current events related to a Bioethics unit. Photo credit: Kathryn Kennedy...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Focus on Physics: The Delightful Catenary Curve
Figure 1. A. Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. B. St. Paul’s Cathedral, London....
By sstuckey
Blog Post
Early Childhood and Lower Elementary Teachers Need to Attend the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo
Come join us at the 6th Annual STEM Forum & Expo. It is the event where early childhood and lower elementary teachers need to be. It is a unique event where you will find a great deal of focused ideas on how to engage, nurture, and teach what our...
By Korei Martin
Blog Post
FY2017 Funding, Vouchers and More
First up—guidance you do not want to miss: Last week, the U.S. Department of Education issued a seven page memo detailing possible uses of federal funding through ESSA to support STEM education. The must-see document has helpful examples of ho...
By Jodi Peterson