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Science learning in six domains
In the March issue of NSTA Reports, Dr. Robert Yager shares his perspective on the six domains for teaching and assessing science learning in the Educated Opinions column. “A View of the Importance of Six Domains for Teaching and Assessing Sc...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
STEM: Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
I wonder how teachers include the “E” in this acronym when designing or selecting class activities. And yet, the play that children do can be the foundation for future interest in engineering....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Gardening begins, inch by inch
A sprouting bean plant constructed on a felt board....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Tweets, treats, and the tricks of Web 2.0
Flickr photo from www.flickr.com/photos/rattler97...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Recent activity on NSTA's various online outposts
Tweet-up in Philadelphia! Join your fellow Listserv users, Facebookers, Tweeters, and LinkedIn’ers, and online Community users on Wednesday evening at the Brew Pub adjacent to Reading Terminal, 1150 Filbert St., for a (at your own expense) face...
By Howard Wahlberg
Blog Post
My next-door neighbor is a lovely young woman, currently at the top of her junior class and gathering information on colleges. She’s interested in studying chemistry/chemical engineering (hooray!). I was reflecting on the opportunities she has ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
An offer you can't refuse
The conference blog has reported on some interesting topics/conference events and sights to see in Philadelphia, but you’re disappointed that you won’t be able to attend this year—the economy, schedule conflicts, time constraints, e...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Thanks to everyone who posted a comment and e-mailed me directly. Boosting meeting attendance seems to be on everyone’s mind. While there is usually no one “quick fix,” here are some ideas to think about:...
By Howard Wahlberg
Blog Post
Did you know that nearly every NSTA Press book has a free sample chapter you can download from the Science Store? To make it easier for science teachers to locate these resources, we’ve created a new page listing the freebie chapters that include...
By Claire Reinburg
Blog Post
Recording in a journal—video clips model using a science journal
Not having any “kids” at home these days, I have to make a special effort to learn about the programs my preschool students are watching on television. I like to know the opening songs so I can impress the children! After spending some time on th...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
Latest from NSTA's online outposts
Recent Activity on NSTA’s various online outposts On our listservs, there are great conversations about moldy cats (yes, that’s right, moldy cats) on our Biology list, engineering and Newton’s laws on our General Science list, class s...
By Howard Wahlberg
Blog Post
Exemplary science program monograph series
The seventh ESP monograph, now in final stages of editing, should be available for the three NSTA fall area conferences. This series from NSTA Press has focused on meeting the reforms central to the National Scienc...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
I’ve been teaching middle school science for 15 years, and I love my job. But I’m wondering what other opportunities there might be for sharing and expanding my experiences and knowledge. I don’t think I want to be an administrator, but...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Welcome to the Chapter and Associated Groups (CAG) Blog! Let me start by introducing myself. I’m Anne O’Donnell, CAE. I have been in association management for almost 20 years serving a wide variety of associations and professions. I am p...
By Howard Wahlberg
Blog Post
Leaders from diverse constituencies in science education bring their insights and advice together in an important new book from NSTA Press....
By Claire Reinburg
Blog Post
Peering into students' "private universe"
Photo uploaded to Flickr.com’s Creative Commons by marcusrg...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Science, technology, engineering and math are linked together in what is called “STEM” curriculum. If we break down this (possibly unfamiliar) term into it’s parts, we see that much of it is already happening in early childhood programs. Scien...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
There was an interesting article recently in eSchool News. Survey: Educators aren’t discussing STEM careers with students reports on a survey of students who basically said that their teachers make the content interesting, but they don’t alw...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
The melting snow piles outside NSTA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, provide daily reminders of the D.C....
By Claire Reinburg
Blog Post
I will be attending the NSTA national conference for the first time. And while I am really excited, I am also nervous. Can you give a newbie some advice on how to approach the conference? I want to make the most of this experience. —Krishna, Ch...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Latest from NSTA's online outposts
What’s New, 2/22/2010 On our listservs, there are great conversations about meiosis and fruit flies on our Biology list, reaction rates on our Chemistry list, teaching seasons and stars on our Earth Science list, density on our General Science ...
By Howard Wahlberg
Blog Post
I currently teach third grade, and I’m a candidate for National Board Certification (NBC) for Generalist/Middle Childhood (7–12 year olds). I would like advice for studying for the Knowledge of Science assessment. I’d also appreciat...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Different strokes for different … students
Creative Commons Different Sides posted to flickr by JP<3! English-language learners…gifted and talented…female/male…minority…urban…rural…special needs—so many diverse groups of...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Consider the facility that students have with electronic communications and games. They somehow had to “learn” how to use these tools and figure out the rules and strategies of the games. But I heard some teachers talking about how “...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Are you an urban or rural educator seeking pearls of wisdom for engaging your students? Plan to attend the NSTA National Conference in Philadelphia....
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Teachers use several strategies at the end of the school year. One strategy is to try to cram in as many topics as possible in an effort to “cover” everything. Other teachers use culminating or capstone projects to integrate concepts an...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
The Great Backyard Bird Count: Community science in your backyard or schoolyard
Bird counts involve children in citizen science projects where a greater community contributes to the data used by scientists to understand bird behavior and more. The Great Backyard Bird Count is happening now and counting can take place through Mon...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I’m hoping that secondary teachers will take a look at the articles that describe authentic investigations conducted by young scientists in their communities: Creative Soil Conservation and ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Footprints in the snow—books to extend learning
Bird footprints in fresh snow...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
The Frugal Science Teacher, PreK–5
When the going gets tough, the tough get creative. Challenging times mean lean budgets in many schools, but science teachers have a knack for stretching resources to keep students engaged in lively educational activities even in a pinch....
By Claire Reinburg
Blog Post
Exploring form and function with hats: books about firefighters
In the February 2010 Early Years column (Science and Children) I wrote about exploring form and function using hats, and testing them for how water flows off of them. Children might think, “Of course a firefighter’s hat works well to keep drippin...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I’m looking for suggestions for formative assessments. Do you have some unique ideas to assess students quickly and adjust instruction accordingly? —Karen, Arizona...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Latest from NSTA's online outposts
What’s New, 2/1/2010 Here’s a quick look (with lots of links!) at what’s going on at NSTA’s online outposts: In the NSTA online professional learning communities, we have new groups created on a variety of topics…...
By Howard Wahlberg
Blog Post
Seeking inventive college students
A new series for a major cable network is searching for college students who are always inventing things and building things. If you know any smart, creative, and talented students who have a flair for science and engineering, please share this anno...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Science activities: quantity vs. quality
My ninth grade students enjoy labs, but my colleagues say I do too many and the students aren’t learning anything. How many labs should I do each week? —Carolyn, Billings, Montana...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Two-year-olds explore transparent, translucent, and opaque materials
Science activities with two-year-olds may not last very long but sometimes the children surprise me. One group of four children spent about 15 minutes exploring a set of cardboard tubes with ends covered with either clear plastic wrap, wax paper, or ...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
NSTA Press author Richard Konicek-Moran has always been challenged and inspired by what he calls Everyday Science Mysteries, those events you stumble on that make you ponder “why on...
By Claire Reinburg
Blog Post
To help students understand this month’s earthquake in Haiti, the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology has compiled a set of resources called Recent Earthquake ...
By Mary Bigelow