JoinAll Blog Posts
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Explore Before Explain to Engage More Students
A new addition to the Instructional Sequence Matters series has arrived!...
By Carole Hayward
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Go Green This Spring, Apply for a Green Ribbon School Award by Jim Elder
Is your school a green school? Is it doing amazing work in reducing environmental impacts, such as waste, water, energy, and transportation? Does your school work to improve the health and wellness of students and faculty with coordinated schoo...
By Kate Falk
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Multicultural Scientific Contributions Matter Every Day
February is designated as Black History Month. Why is this the only time that black inventors and scientists are recognized? —Tammy, Alabama...
By Sharon Delesbore
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Using rain to manipulate art media, and modeling rain
A day where the rain had lasted so long that the playground became soupy led to an investigation of the properties of art media—tempera paint and oil pastels. As a science investigation we (most of us) followed my procedure of using tempera paint o...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
President Releases Education Budget for FY21 Programs
The Trump Administration released its education budget for FY2021 last week, and it was immediately and rounded criticized by education advocates and denounced by Democratic lawmakers. The president is proposing a 7.8 percent cut to U.S. Departmen...
By Jodi Peterson
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Fact or phony? Scientifically evaluating data
From information about the novel coronavirus to viral posts on social media, it can be a challenge to sort out fact from fiction in what we read on the web. Students face this challenge in their daily reading, too, and these featured resources can he...
By Claire Reinburg
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As I continue to teach my science class, I often wonder throughout my unit if the students are really grasping the concepts. How do I know my students are getting it? Don, New York...
By Sharon Delesbore
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Novel Coronavirus: What’s the Real Story?
Author: William Reed, High School STEM Teacher at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep, Chicago, IL Grade Level: Secondary Lesson Overview In this lesson, students will generate and prioritize questions about the novel COVID-19 and evaluate scienti...
By Korei Martin
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Enhancing STEM in PreK-3 Education by Kevin Anderson
In September of 2019, Education Commission of the States (ECS) brought together a group of experts in early childhood and/or STEM education to discuss policies and actions a state might implement to support STEM programming for preschool through thir...
By Kate Falk
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I love science fair but is it still practical? Rosa, TX...
By Sharon Delesbore
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I use social media but I am not sure of the best way to incorporate it into teaching. Do the rules for student confidentiality vary from school to school, and is it best to create a page focused entirely for teaching and teaching resources only? —H...
By Gabe Kraljevic
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Blog Post
Achieving Equity Through Assessments
Our school requires all students to take chemistry. We teach all levels, ranging from Collaborative/Inclusive Chemistry to Honors and AP Chemistry. All of our classes have students who speak different languages, as well as students with a range of so...
By Laura Littrell and Kevin Williams
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NGSS: Planning for Science Success for All Students
Creating an Environment for All Students to Show Their Understanding Much discussion has focused on how the NGSS (and other state standards based on the Framework and NGSS) make science accessible to all students. I believe all students can be suc...
By Hallie Booth
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Using Senses in Nature to Experience Equity
In one of my favorite lessons, I take my kindergarten students outside to explore the schoolyard. Though I take my students outdoors throughout the year, I do this lesson at the beginning of the year because it’s an opportunity to teach students to...
By Julia Deevers-Rich
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Learning STEM by Building Airplanes
Texas nonprofit Tango Flight builds Van’s Aircraft RV-12 airplanes with students at high schools nationwide. Organizations around the country are helping students and teachers experience the challenges and rewards of building a full-size air...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Why teach evolution? Evolution isn’t just a unifying concept that connects elements of the natural world: It’s also the link among science, our students, and their world. Why is that important? Evolution can be used as a “hook,” a way to show...
By Beth Allan
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Nature of science: a new NSTA position statement
Winter weather often makes us wonder how wild animals survive without a heated environment....
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
I was wondering how to reintroduce a lesson interrupted by unexpected days off (such as due to weather). Also, if the majority of the class is absent do you do an alternative lesson and finish the planned one when all the students are back? — L., ...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
A quarter of my grade 7 students are at a beginning reading level. None are on grade level for reading. Can you help me help them? — K., Alaska Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. To answer your question, I consulted with a colleague, Rita Mac...
By Gabe Kraljevic
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Making Sense of Science and Religion
In the science classroom, the rigorous discussion of certain scientific concepts may challenge the religious beliefs of students as well as educators....
By Carole Hayward
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History and Social Studies Integration with STEM
NGSS, STEM, STEAM, and Common Core all speak of the importance of the integration of science with ELA, math, and art. However, we are missing one more layer needed to achieve the goal of total integration. We should also look at the integration of so...
By Judy Boyle
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Play—outdoor, in-door recess, and science
Children move eagerly to get their winter wear gear, stream out the door, across the street and onto the playground....
By Peggy Ashbrook
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What Makes a Good STEM Trade Book?
This is a question a lot of people are asking. Since 2016 NSTA has published the Best STEM Books a companion piece to the Outstanding Science Trade Books list....
By Carrie Launius and Christine Anne Royce
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I am looking for some opinions how handle situations where there are misconceptions on the material. I was wondering how to know the amount of time that is needed to clear up a misconception and when to move on to other material? — R., New Jersey M...
By Gabe Kraljevic
Blog Post
Teach about science in the news in 2020
What do wildfires, drought, and extreme weather have in common? All these events in the news can be doorways to exploring weather, climate, and more with your students. NSTA’s Book Beat issue this month features lessons by NSTA Press authors that ...
By Claire Reinburg
Blog Post
STEM For All Multiplex Launches by Joni Falk
This new, interactive video platform will enable researchers, educators, and parents to access federally funded innovative programs aimed at improving STEM teaching and learning. TERC is pleased to announce the launch of the STEM for All Multiplex...
By Kate Falk
Blog Post
Congress Passes Funding for FY20 Federal Programs
Prior to adjourning for the holidays Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the spending bill that funds the government for the remainder of fiscal 2020. The bill largely rejects the Trump administration’s proposal to cut approximat...
By Jodi Peterson
Blog Post
School Facility Safety/Security! (Part 1)
I. Unsecured School Facilities...
By Kenneth Roy
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Inspiring Young Geoscientists With Fossils
Troy J. Simpson’s students at Glenn Raymond School in Watseka, Illinois, use a limestone slab with brachiopods and trilobite fossils to make claims of past geologic environments. Photo courtesy of Jasmine Essington “I have an extensive fossil...
By Debra Shapiro
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Book clubs, professional learning communities, and resources on equity
One of my favorite professional learning opportunities was an informal Professional Learning Community (PLC) organized by a colleague before the term “PLC” came into common usage....
By Peggy Ashbrook
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Developing Risk-Taking Students
I want my students to “take risks” when learning but I am not sure how to start. Alicia, Mississippi...
By Sharon Delesbore
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I teach advanced science courses. Many of my students see school as a competition so they just want the correct answers to study for a good grade. How do I help build student ownership for learning in my science classroom? –Chelia, Louisiana...
By Sharon Delesbore
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Plan Labs with Assessments, School Calendars in Mind
I have written a lab about quarks. The problem is there are no Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) about quarks. The only standards that refer to the nucleus is about protons and neutrons. How can I align my lab with standards that don’t e...
By Sharon Delesbore
Blog Post
I’m a first-year high school science teacher seeking desperately the best way to connect with my freshman biology students who are very smart but are not use to being pushed to comprehend a rigorous curriculum. Any suggestions would be greatly appr...
By Sharon Delesbore
Blog Post
100 days of school–weather watching and documenting plant growth
Just as numerals marking the number of in-school days are sometimes posted in one long line stretching across walls of the classroom, weather data can be collected and posted throughout the year. Using symbols that both children and scientists recog...
By Peggy Ashbrook
Blog Post
How PLCs Helped Move Us Toward Equitable High School Assessment Practices
My colleagues and I began using units intentionally designed for the NGSS for biology in early 2017. We started with a high-quality unit evaluated by my colleagues on the Science Peer Review Panel, and eventually used a full program from the unit’s...
By Holly Hereau