All Elementary resources

Journal Article

Cultivating Genius for Science Contexts: Where Does the Pursuit of Joy Fit into Science Learning?

Where do Goldy Muhammad’s Cultivating Genus Pursuits fit into science learning? In this article, 5th grade teachers are adding the pursuits into a FreshWater project based science unit. Focusing on Identity and Joy, in particular, they find that sc...

By Alice Severson, Leigh Kohlmann, Emily Miller, Kevin Anderson

Elementary Learning Progression Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Leading Effective Science Curriculum-Based Learning

Leadership Matters...

By Patrick Brown, Rodger W Bybee, Joseph Taylor

Elementary Curriculum Leadership Learning Progression Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Light, Forces, Sticks, Crates and So Much More: A Loose Parts Learning Approach to STEM

The use of loose parts can be an effective teaching method to improve and enhance student understanding of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Loose parts can inspire children to use their creativity and critical thinking skills in the classroo...

By Carla Gull, Suzanne Levenson Goldstein, Tricia Rosengarten

Elementary Learning Progression Physical Science STEM Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Beyond Definitions: Using Hexagonal Thinking for Sensemaking

This article was written for the purpose of introducing the hexagonal thinking strategy to upper elementary teachers. The strategy, in which students make connections across the vocabulary and concepts to develop a map, has become more popular in the...

By Simone Nance

Elementary Learning Progression Sensemaking Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Engaging in Socioscientific Issues by Observing Habitats in the Context of Water Use and Drought

Teaching young students to engage in socioscientific reasoning can feel like an overwhelming task due to the abstract reasoning required. Yet, Sadler et al., (2007), note the importance of helping students develop socioscientific reasoning from a you...

By Grace Brunner, Catherine Lowe, Isaiah Kent-Schneider, Jerrid Kruse

Elementary Environmental Science Life Science Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Summertime fun with Life Science!

In this issue of Tech Talk, learn about two terrific life science apps, Rewild the World from Google Arts and Culture and Explore.org. Engage your learners in NGSS Science and Engineering practices of Developing and Using Models and Asking Questions ...

By Heather Pacheco-Guffrey

Elementary Life Science Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Wonderings Drive Learning

N/A...

By Alissa Lange

Elementary Learning Progression Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Science is for Questions

Poem and Art and Explore More...

By Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Elementary Inquiry Learning Progression Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Redefining Teaching Practices

From the Editor...

By Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn

Elementary Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Scaffolding Fourth-graders’ Inquiry about Erosion

This sequence of lessons has students observing erosion and creating ideas about factors that affect erosion. Then, as a class, students first explore the impact of vegetation on erosion. Then, groups of students more independently investigate the im...

By Alexandria Burns, Jami Daniel, Jerrid Kruse, Ellen Gow

Elementary Earth & Space Science Inquiry Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Engaging elementary students in science practice: Strategies for helping children plan investigations

This article presents a tool that teachers can use to support children in planning science investigations. Using an extended example from a second-grade investigation into seed dispersal, we describe strategies for structuring conversations that anch...

By Annabel Stoler, Eve Manz

Elementary NGSS Sensemaking Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

I CAN: Strategies for Rethinking How We Share Objectives

Teachers are often required to display or explicitly state learning objectives prior to beginning a lesson. In particular, many elementary classrooms are required to post or state “I CAN…” statements related to their standards. Unfortunately, t...

By Julianne Wenner, Brooke Whitworth

Elementary Assessment Teaching Strategies