JoinEditor's Note (November/December 2004)
At a time in which teachers are pressured to teach more and more to higher standards, writing in the content areas can provide an authentic way to teach writing skills. This selection includes notes from the field editor of Science and Children on incorporating writing in the science curriculum.
At a time in which teachers are pressured to teach more and more to higher standards, writing in the content areas can provide an authentic way to teach writing skills. This selection includes notes from the field editor of Science and Children on incorporating writing in the science curriculum.
At a time in which teachers are pressured to teach more and more to higher standards, writing in the content areas can provide an authentic way to teach writing skills. This selection includes notes from the field editor of Science and Children on incorporating writing in the science curriculum.
The Nature of Science: Always Part of the Science Story
Understanding how science works is crucial to scientific literacy because bound up in content and public policy decisions involving science are issues regarding what science is, how knowledge in science comes to be accepted, and what science can and cannot do. Mistaken ideas of science likely affect students’ attitudes toward science and learning in science classes. The strategies presented in this article will help teachers to effectively communicate what science is and how science works.
Understanding how science works is crucial to scientific literacy because bound up in content and public policy decisions involving science are issues regarding what science is, how knowledge in science comes to be accepted, and what science can and cannot do. Mistaken ideas of science likely affect students’ attitudes toward science and learning in science classes. The strategies presented in this article will help teachers to effectively communicate what science is and how science works.
Understanding how science works is crucial to scientific literacy because bound up in content and public policy decisions involving science are issues regarding what science is, how knowledge in science comes to be accepted, and what science can and cannot do. Mistaken ideas of science likely affect students’ attitudes toward science and learning in science classes. The strategies presented in this article will help teachers to effectively communicate what science is and how science works.
Tech Trek: Time for class
One of the most abstract concepts that you will teach to your students is the concept of time. Usually introduced at the beginning of the school year, the concept of time is taught along with measurements and scientific units such as length, mass, and volume. However, unlike length, mass, and volume, time can be a very confusing concept to understand. This overview of the concept of time also links to internet resources and includes several classroom extension ideas.
One of the most abstract concepts that you will teach to your students is the concept of time. Usually introduced at the beginning of the school year, the concept of time is taught along with measurements and scientific units such as length, mass, and volume. However, unlike length, mass, and volume, time can be a very confusing concept to understand. This overview of the concept of time also links to internet resources and includes several classroom extension ideas.
One of the most abstract concepts that you will teach to your students is the concept of time. Usually introduced at the beginning of the school year, the concept of time is taught along with measurements and scientific units such as length, mass, and volume. However, unlike length, mass, and volume, time can be a very confusing concept to understand. This overview of the concept of time also links to internet resources and includes several classroom extension ideas.
Using Scoring Rubrics to Evaluate Inquiry
This article explores the problem of assigning grades to students engaged in nontraditional activities, especially scientific inquiry. The authors suggest using scoring rubrics to guide students in their work and to assist teachers with grading. They present the steps involved in the construction of rubrics, and also include sample rubrics in this article.
This article explores the problem of assigning grades to students engaged in nontraditional activities, especially scientific inquiry. The authors suggest using scoring rubrics to guide students in their work and to assist teachers with grading. They present the steps involved in the construction of rubrics, and also include sample rubrics in this article.
This article explores the problem of assigning grades to students engaged in nontraditional activities, especially scientific inquiry. The authors suggest using scoring rubrics to guide students in their work and to assist teachers with grading. They present the steps involved in the construction of rubrics, and also include sample rubrics in this article.
The Laughter-Learning Link
These high-interest activities use humor to complement traditional classroom learning. For example, after completing a three-week unit of physics labs, middle school students watched several Three Stooges films and looked for examples of physics principles in action. In another example, students create humorous cartoons to illustrate one of Newton's Laws of Motion. Although science is, by nature, a serious business, each activity will help students identify and explain the concepts taught while enjoying themselves in the process!
These high-interest activities use humor to complement traditional classroom learning. For example, after completing a three-week unit of physics labs, middle school students watched several Three Stooges films and looked for examples of physics principles in action. In another example, students create humorous cartoons to illustrate one of Newton's Laws of Motion. Although science is, by nature, a serious business, each activity will help students identify and explain the concepts taught while enjoying themselves in the process!
These high-interest activities use humor to complement traditional classroom learning. For example, after completing a three-week unit of physics labs, middle school students watched several Three Stooges films and looked for examples of physics principles in action. In another example, students create humorous cartoons to illustrate one of Newton's Laws of Motion. Although science is, by nature, a serious business, each activity will help students identify and explain the concepts taught while enjoying themselves in the process!
Point of View: The Community College Funding Gap
In this month’s opinion piece, the author expresses her displeasure with President Bush’s commitment to provide more funding for community colleges, made in his third State of the Union address in January 2004. He proposed “increasing our support for America’s fine community colleges, and I will do that so they can train workers for industries that are providing the most jobs.” She feels that Bush shortchanged the role community colleges play in higher education, as enrollment is not limited to industry training programs. She asserts, "academic programs at community colleges are drastically underfunded, and that is where funds need to go." As 4-year colleges become more financially inaccessible, the role of the community college grows.
In this month’s opinion piece, the author expresses her displeasure with President Bush’s commitment to provide more funding for community colleges, made in his third State of the Union address in January 2004. He proposed “increasing our support for America’s fine community colleges, and I will do that so they can train workers for industries that are providing the most jobs.” She feels that Bush shortchanged the role community colleges play in higher education, as enrollment is not limited to industry training programs.
In this month’s opinion piece, the author expresses her displeasure with President Bush’s commitment to provide more funding for community colleges, made in his third State of the Union address in January 2004. He proposed “increasing our support for America’s fine community colleges, and I will do that so they can train workers for industries that are providing the most jobs.” She feels that Bush shortchanged the role community colleges play in higher education, as enrollment is not limited to industry training programs.
Idea Bank: The Area of an Irregular Object
Science teachers are often looking for ways to integrate more mathematics applications into laboratory situations. Quantifiable data can provide students with a greater understanding of scientific concepts. Direct application of these skills provides an interdisciplinary science-math approach to solving problems. One such application is for students to determine the area of an irregular object, which is described here.
Science teachers are often looking for ways to integrate more mathematics applications into laboratory situations. Quantifiable data can provide students with a greater understanding of scientific concepts. Direct application of these skills provides an interdisciplinary science-math approach to solving problems. One such application is for students to determine the area of an irregular object, which is described here.
Science teachers are often looking for ways to integrate more mathematics applications into laboratory situations. Quantifiable data can provide students with a greater understanding of scientific concepts. Direct application of these skills provides an interdisciplinary science-math approach to solving problems. One such application is for students to determine the area of an irregular object, which is described here.
Science 101: What's the difference between frogs and toads?
Frogs and toads belong to a group of Amphibians known as Anura (Latin for "without tail"). Though different on many levels, frogs and toads share some basic similarities. Here are the basic facts about these animal favorites.
Frogs and toads belong to a group of Amphibians known as Anura (Latin for "without tail"). Though different on many levels, frogs and toads share some basic similarities. Here are the basic facts about these animal favorites.
Frogs and toads belong to a group of Amphibians known as Anura (Latin for "without tail"). Though different on many levels, frogs and toads share some basic similarities. Here are the basic facts about these animal favorites.
Science 101: Are there different types of force and motion?
"Red Rover! Red Rover let Jesse come over!" Young students are familiar with the observable effects of force and motion but may not have considered the many varieties demonstrated in simple ways every day on the playground. This brief article offers the basics of force and motion for teachers.
"Red Rover! Red Rover let Jesse come over!" Young students are familiar with the observable effects of force and motion but may not have considered the many varieties demonstrated in simple ways every day on the playground. This brief article offers the basics of force and motion for teachers.
"Red Rover! Red Rover let Jesse come over!" Young students are familiar with the observable effects of force and motion but may not have considered the many varieties demonstrated in simple ways every day on the playground. This brief article offers the basics of force and motion for teachers.
Finding Science Past and Present: National Buildings Museum, Washington, D.C.
The National Buildings Museum, which was founded in 1980, is perhaps the only museum focusing exclusively on the art and science of design and building construction in the United States. Exhibits and programs explore the nation’s constructed environment and examine innovations in construction, engineering, design, and landscape architecture through urban planning models, photos, and other types of media. The museum’s most important artifact is the building in which it is housed. This structure was revolutionary in design when it was first constructed and is now, according to its own brochure, a “case study of achievement in the building arts.”
The National Buildings Museum, which was founded in 1980, is perhaps the only museum focusing exclusively on the art and science of design and building construction in the United States. Exhibits and programs explore the nation’s constructed environment and examine innovations in construction, engineering, design, and landscape architecture through urban planning models, photos, and other types of media. The museum’s most important artifact is the building in which it is housed.
The National Buildings Museum, which was founded in 1980, is perhaps the only museum focusing exclusively on the art and science of design and building construction in the United States. Exhibits and programs explore the nation’s constructed environment and examine innovations in construction, engineering, design, and landscape architecture through urban planning models, photos, and other types of media. The museum’s most important artifact is the building in which it is housed.