JoinAsk the Experts – March 2007
In this month’s Ask the Experts column, the following question is addressed: “Do the cells in a placenta have DNA in them and if so, whose DNA does it match, the mother or the fetus?”
In this month’s Ask the Experts column, the following question is addressed: “Do the cells in a placenta have DNA in them and if so, whose DNA does it match, the mother or the fetus?”
In this month’s Ask the Experts column, the following question is addressed: “Do the cells in a placenta have DNA in them and if so, whose DNA does it match, the mother or the fetus?”
Point of View: Seen Any Red Pandas Lately?
We humans are pattern finders and explanation seekers. Fortunately, many of our seemingly reasonable patterns and explanations have not withstood the test of time. For example, we no longer believe that volcanic eruptions occur as a result of the god Vulcan firing up his furnace inside a volcano. During the past several centuries, we have developed and refined a process that avoids such wishful thinking. This process, science, makes it possible to separate reality from illusion. The rationale for accepting science’s way of evaluating phenomena is compelling: It works. Its self-correcting features allow us to determine which beliefs about reality are flawed.
We humans are pattern finders and explanation seekers. Fortunately, many of our seemingly reasonable patterns and explanations have not withstood the test of time. For example, we no longer believe that volcanic eruptions occur as a result of the god Vulcan firing up his furnace inside a volcano. During the past several centuries, we have developed and refined a process that avoids such wishful thinking. This process, science, makes it possible to separate reality from illusion. The rationale for accepting science’s way of evaluating phenomena is compelling: It works.
We humans are pattern finders and explanation seekers. Fortunately, many of our seemingly reasonable patterns and explanations have not withstood the test of time. For example, we no longer believe that volcanic eruptions occur as a result of the god Vulcan firing up his furnace inside a volcano. During the past several centuries, we have developed and refined a process that avoids such wishful thinking. This process, science, makes it possible to separate reality from illusion. The rationale for accepting science’s way of evaluating phenomena is compelling: It works.
Sublime Science
One of the shortcomings in most efforts to integrate art and science is that many of us have a shallow understanding of art, which inevitably leads to shallow connections between art and science. Coloring drawings of planets, building sculptures of volcanoes, and decorating scientific diagrams are fine activities, but they do not link science and art in powerful ways. One way to more deeply connect art and science is to consider art in its more broad form—aesthetics, and in this case, the sublime.
One of the shortcomings in most efforts to integrate art and science is that many of us have a shallow understanding of art, which inevitably leads to shallow connections between art and science. Coloring drawings of planets, building sculptures of volcanoes, and decorating scientific diagrams are fine activities, but they do not link science and art in powerful ways. One way to more deeply connect art and science is to consider art in its more broad form—aesthetics, and in this case, the sublime.
One of the shortcomings in most efforts to integrate art and science is that many of us have a shallow understanding of art, which inevitably leads to shallow connections between art and science. Coloring drawings of planets, building sculptures of volcanoes, and decorating scientific diagrams are fine activities, but they do not link science and art in powerful ways. One way to more deeply connect art and science is to consider art in its more broad form—aesthetics, and in this case, the sublime.
Inquiry in Action provides a selection of activities that will help to enhance your physical science curriculum. This guide includes valuable tips on classroom instruction. As a resource, it also offers content-related material along with assessment strategies. Inquiry will guide you through the school year with ease as your class journeys into science investigation.
Inquiry in Action provides a selection of activities that will help to enhance your physical science curriculum. This guide includes valuable tips on classroom instruction. As a resource, it also offers content-related material along with assessment strategies. Inquiry will guide you through the school year with ease as your class journeys into science investigation.
Science Sampler: Word wall connections
A word wall has many uses in the middle school science classroom. It is ideal for reinforcing vocabulary and connections between concepts. In this article, the author describes an interactive way to use the word wall to create food webs. In addition, an enrichment activity using the word wall as a game that students play at the end of class is also featured. Once students are comfortable with the vocabulary introduced through the word wall, they can engage in a culminating activity that allows them to work in pairs to make as many connections as possible among the words. You’ll be amazed at how many different combinations the groups develop and the various ways that the webs evolve.
A word wall has many uses in the middle school science classroom. It is ideal for reinforcing vocabulary and connections between concepts. In this article, the author describes an interactive way to use the word wall to create food webs. In addition, an enrichment activity using the word wall as a game that students play at the end of class is also featured. Once students are comfortable with the vocabulary introduced through the word wall, they can engage in a culminating activity that allows them to work in pairs to make as many connections as possible among the words.
A word wall has many uses in the middle school science classroom. It is ideal for reinforcing vocabulary and connections between concepts. In this article, the author describes an interactive way to use the word wall to create food webs. In addition, an enrichment activity using the word wall as a game that students play at the end of class is also featured. Once students are comfortable with the vocabulary introduced through the word wall, they can engage in a culminating activity that allows them to work in pairs to make as many connections as possible among the words.
Do the words “periodic table” send chills down your spine? Are you anxious about atomic structure? Confounded by chemical equations? Relax! The cure for chemistry confusion is within reach, courtesy of this newly available book in the Stop Faking It! series.
Do the words “periodic table” send chills down your spine? Are you anxious about atomic structure? Confounded by chemical equations? Relax! The cure for chemistry confusion is within reach, courtesy of this newly available book in the Stop Faking It! series.
Think you don’t have time to do research? How about professional growth—think that’s out of reach? Let your peers take you on their journeys and inspire you through their stories in Teacher Research. You will gain insight into teacher research—the kind that can take place when you reflect on how one question is leading to another, or on a colleague’s observation that offers a different lens through which to view the classroom, or on a conversation with a student that sheds light on classroom performance issues.
Think you don’t have time to do research? How about professional growth—think that’s out of reach? Let your peers take you on their journeys and inspire you through their stories in Teacher Research. You will gain insight into teacher research—the kind that can take place when you reflect on how one question is leading to another, or on a colleague’s observation that offers a different lens through which to view the classroom, or on a conversation with a student that sheds light on classroom performance issues.
Science-learning spaces are different from general-purpose classrooms. So if your school is planning to build or renovate, you need the fully updated NSTA Guide to Planning School Science Facilities. It’s the definitive resource for every K-12 school that seeks safe, effective science space without costly, time-consuming mistakes.
Science-learning spaces are different from general-purpose classrooms. So if your school is planning to build or renovate, you need the fully updated NSTA Guide to Planning School Science Facilities. It’s the definitive resource for every K-12 school that seeks safe, effective science space without costly, time-consuming mistakes.
Futurists predict that nanotechnology will be the next major scientific revolution—one with an even greater impact than the Industrial Revolution. Nanoscale Science will help your middle and high school students understand the big implications of tiny technology.
Futurists predict that nanotechnology will be the next major scientific revolution—one with an even greater impact than the Industrial Revolution. Nanoscale Science will help your middle and high school students understand the big implications of tiny technology.
Teachers raved when NSTA Press published Picture-Perfect Science Lessons in 2005.* They loved its lively mix of kid-magnet books, Standards-based science content and ready-to-teach lessons. So what could be more perfect? More Picture-Perfect Science Lessons! This volume offers 15 new lessons that combine picture books and inquiry to develop students’ interest in science and reading.
Teachers raved when NSTA Press published Picture-Perfect Science Lessons in 2005.* They loved its lively mix of kid-magnet books, Standards-based science content and ready-to-teach lessons. So what could be more perfect? More Picture-Perfect Science Lessons! This volume offers 15 new lessons that combine picture books and inquiry to develop students’ interest in science and reading.