Each issue of Science & Children, NSTA’s elementary school journal, features the column Science 101 with explanations of various topics and phenomena. These are written for teachers and include many examples and illustrations. The author is Bill Robertson, who has also written the NSTA Press book series, Stop Faking It! Finally Understanding Science So You Can Teach It.
If you need some background on a topic, regardless of the grade level you teach, this is the place to go. The topic usually corresponds with the theme of the journal that month and clears up misconceptions and provides a context for many of the activities in the other articles. They are not lesson plans as written but provide a “background booster.” These articles are written in a user-friendly style, and they could also be used by secondary students.
Even you subscribe to a different print journal, you still can access these articles online, to read them and add them to your Learning Center Library. Here is a recap of topics this school year, along with comments from reviewers and some related SciLinks:

• Science 101: What Causes Friction? He [Bill] gives a very simple and easy to understand description of friction. He also gives a simple explanation of adhesion and cohesion. He uses several illustrations to explain friction. He says friction was “invented”….read the article to find out why!! [SciLinks: Friction, Force and Friction]

• Science 101: What Do Energy Drinks Do to Your Body? This EXCELLENT article about energy drinks should be published in all the NSTA journals. It is very informative and describes the pros and cons of drinking energy drinks. It gets into the chemistry of energy drinks and what they do to the human body.

• Science 101: What Is the Physics Behind Simple Machines? As teachers we teach simple machines, but seldom do much with the physics behind them. In this article, Bill shows several simple ways to explain the physics concepts that he calls “force-for-distance trade-off”. [SciLinks: Simple Machines]

• Science 101: What Causes Electromagnetic Induction?  [SciLinks: Electromagnetism]

• Science 101: How Does an Electron Microscope Work? [SciLinks: Microscopes, Electron Microscope]

• Science 101: If Energy Is Neither Created Nor Destroyed, What Happens to It? This article does a magnificent job of looking at energy in a way that can be explained to middle school or above students, while providing wonderful background for teachers of all ages. I especially appreciated how Dr. Robertson provided a connection between energy and the ecological pyramid. The examples within the text are common place enough for students to be able to see what it means, “To lose energy.” [SciLinks: Food Chains, Food Webs]

• Science 101: What Determines the Quality of Musical Notes? The author of this article gives a very clear explanation of frequency and pitch, after which he goes on to explain timbre. He also gives several easy experiments to demonstrate this. Websites are suggested to help teach the concept of timbre. Basically, timbre mostly depends on how experienced the musician is in the usage of their instrument or voice. [SciLinks: Sound Quality]

• Science 101: What Causes Major Wind Patterns, Such as Trade Winds?  One such broadly held misconception that teachers pass on to their students is summed up in this simple statement: “Warm air rises.” You may have used this statement to explain why it is hotter in the second floor of a two-story home. The truth is, warm air is less dense than cooler air. All air will be impacted by gravitational pull and will tend to sink unless forced up and out of the way by something denser. I loved Dr. Robertson’s demonstration of water and oil to help explain this point. If you are going to teach weather patterns, this is a must-read article. [SciLinks: Winds, Wind Currents, Atmospheric Pressure and Winds]

On behalf of the staff of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and our leadership team, I would like to thank the following members of our Standing Committees, Advisory Boards, and Panels whose terms of appointment end on May 31, 2014. NSTA has done a lot in the past year, promoting the Next Generation Science Standards and STEM education at the highest levels. I’m so proud to be a part of the NSTA community and can truly say that you have helped me live up to my goals of my year in office. My theme was Building and Sustaining Teacher Leadership in Science, Standards, and Literacy, and I feel that we’ve built some fantastic new leaders. So, to all of you on the list below, I say “Thank You” and I look forward to working with you in new capacities in the years to come.
NSTA members who are interested in volunteering for a position on one our committees, advisory boards, or review panels can find more information on our Committees page online.

—Bill Badders, NSTA President, 2013–-2014                                                                                                         

Retiring Standing Committee Members

College
Jeff Schinske
Jan Sikorsky
Stephen Smith
Coordination and Supervision
Becky Ashe
Kirsten Smith
Mary Weller
High School
Patrick Adams
Ophelia Barizo
Kristen Kohli
Informal
Gary Sampson
Eileen Tramontana
Bryan Wunar
Middle Level
Leanna Aker
Rhiannon Boettcher
Cheryl Frye
Multicultural/Equity
Jennifer Atkinson
Gioya De Souza-Fennelly
Amy Morris
Preschool-Elementary
Sarah Carrier
Sherry Harrington
Melissa Sleeper
Preservice Teacher Preparation
Terri Hebert
Mary Lightbody
Rajeev Swami
Professional Development 
Carson Krook
Christine Nassar
Laura Spence
Research
James Hollenbeck
Theresa Jimarez
Anita Welch
Audit     
John Whitsett
Awards and Recognition
Marilyn Lisowski
Marilyn Richardson
Vanessa Westbrook
Budget and Finance
Bonnie Brunkhorst
Nominations
Carolyn Elliott
Christine Royce
Yolanda Smith-Evans
Elizabeth (Libby) Little
Lois Mayo
Retiring Advisory Board Members

Aerospace
Eric Muhs
Alicia Oelfke
Richard Varner
Conference
Cynthia Willingham
Development
James Barufaldi
International
Catherine Bale
Paul Nordhaus
Teresa Monteiro Seixas
Investment
Peter Lincoln
JCST       
Grant Gardner
Linda Keen-Rocha
Richard Schwenz
NSTA Reports
Daniel Bryant
Debby Chessin
Richard Gelderman
Retired Members 
Rebecca Bell
Janet Brittain
Ruth Ruud
S&C
Carol Ann Brennan
Christine Purkiss
Mary Thomas
Science Matters    
Greer Harvell
Linda Lacy
Walter Woolbaugh
Science Safety
Fran Hess
Science Scope
Ken King
Becky Litherland
Peggy Perdue
Special Needs
Sami Kahn
Kitchka Petrova
Maryann Stimmer
Technology
Barbara DeSantis
John Park
Jeffrey Piontek
TST
Issam Abi-El-Mona
Joel Palmer
Tamica Stubbs
Urban Science
Beth Carnate
Tony Dickensheets
Mike Rivas
Retiring Panel Members

NSTA/CBC Review
Rebecca Monhardt
Kathy Renfrew
Vana Richards
New Science Teachers Academy
Nicole Glen
John Hunt
Shell Science Teaching Award Judging
David Brock
Greer Harvell
Steven Long

We had an incident in a high school physical science class where the substitute teacher left the room and several students engaged in dangerous behaviors with gas jets and flames. Fortunately, no one was injured and no damage occurred. I’m gathering suggestions on how to deal with this and prevent this in the future.
–Paula from Florida
First of all, you, the administrators, the substitute teacher, and the other students in the class at the time can be grateful that no injuries or damages occurred.
Experienced substitute or guest teachers in the sciences are hard to find, and good ones are an asset to the school and deserve our respect and appreciation. They make it possible for teachers to attend professional development programs or stay home when they are sick. Unfortunately, some students try to take advantage of substitutes, and once in a while, we hear of situations such as this one.
Several issues should be addressed:

• The students need to be held accountable for their behavior. It sounds like they waited until the teacher left the room (more on that later), moved out of their seats to a lab table, produced a flame with matches or a lighter, and turned on the gas. This would be a deliberate and serious violation of the class safety contract, far beyond a student accidently breaking a beaker or having to be reminded to wear goggles. The school administration should be the ones to impose consequences for this dangerous behavior, which may also have violated school policies.
• I’d be concerned why the guest teacher left the students unsupervised. I’m not sure what a good reason would be, but I’d ask for an explanation. Perhaps he or she was unaware of the potential dangers in a science lab? In any case, I would not want this person in my classroom again.
• This incident points out the need for having and using shut-off valves for utilities, especially gas, in lab classrooms. The gas should be turned off at all times when not being used for a planned, supervised lab investigation.

The incident is an opportunity to revisit your class safety contract. Does it specify that these rules apply when a another teacher, or no teacher, is in the room? Have a discussion with your students about appropriate behavior when another teacher is in the classroom. Establishing routines can be helpful so students know your expectations and can stay on task.
Ask your administrators to meet with the science department to become more familiar with the intensive level of supervision needed in a science lab to insure that students do not engage in unsafe behavior or vandalize the facility. The liability issue alone should get their attention. Occasionally in my school if substitute teachers were not available, the principal asked other teachers to cover classes during their planning time. If these teachers had to travel from another part of the building, it meant that students were unsupervised for a few minutes at the beginning of the class period, enough time for trouble. Frankly, if no substitute teacher is available, it might be better for the science classes to meet elsewhere.

Ask another teacher to keep an eye on your classroom and be a resource for your guest teacher (and make sure the gas is turned off and the storage areas are secure). If the substitute did not follow your plans or allowed students to behave in unacceptable or unsafe ways, you have the responsibility to share this information with your principal.
Safety should be a primary concern and you should not depend on a guest teacher to know all of the hazards of your labs. Even if you’re positive the teacher is credentialed in science and is familiar with laboratory routines and safety rules, don’t ask him or her to do a lab investigation with the potential for student injury, such as those requiring chemicals, live specimens, flames, projectiles, or heat sources.
See these archived Ms Mentor columns for related issues, including Plans for Substitutes  and Getting Started as a Sub.

Each issue of The Science Teacher, NSTA’s high school journal, features the column The Green Room, with background information, classroom activities, and resources to make your teaching more environmentally friendly. Amanda Beckrich is the author of these articles. She is an environmental science teacher and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program Coordinator at Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, South Carolina.
If you subscribe to a different print journal, you still can access these articles online, to read them and add them to your Learning Center Library. Here is a recap of topics this school year:

• Pests and Pesticides. The article discusses the environmental, economic, and societal impacts of pesticides and the role of synthetic chemicals in agriculture.
• The Gray Wolf, A Good Case Study. Use the gray wolf as a case study for such topics as endangered species, wildlife conservation methods, ecosystem restoration, general population dynamics, and predator-prey interactions.
• Get Grounded in Groundwater. Extend lessons in the water cycle by exploring issues related to groundwater.
• Back to Ecological Basics, Part 1. How does energy flow through an ecosystem?
• Back to Ecological Basics, Part 2. The cycling of key elements/molecules—water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous—among an ecosystem’s biotic and abiotic components is crucial to its functioning.
• Why Care About Wetlands? Nesting grounds, flood control, waste water treatment, habitats…the list of reasons goes on.
• Good Ozone, Bad Ozone. Compare and contrast stratospheric (“good”) and tropospheric (“bad”) ozone.
• Underlying Causes of Environmental Problems. Most environmental problems can be traced to human population growth and consumption patterns.

 
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/smif/473670116

Middle and high school science teachers who seek engaging chances for their students to first watch something happen—and then become curious enough to explore and discover why—should check out two new books by authors Matthew Bobrowsky, Mikko Korhonen, and Jukka Kohtamäki. This trio has teamed up to write two experiment-rich books that offer students the opportunity to observe natural phenomena and then build scientific models and theories based on their observations.
According to the authors, these two books, Using Physical Science Gadgets and Gizmos (Grades 6-8) and Using Physics Gadgets and Gizmos (Grades 9-12), take an “approach to learning that is based on curiosity and creativity—a fun way to learn!”
Phenomenon-based learning (PBL) forms the pedagogical foundation for each of these books and is described as building learning on observations of real-world phenomena. Students conduct group exercises as well as draw group conclusions with the teacher serving as a guide and resource. (Another way to think of PBL is like a scientific puzzle: Each concept and phenomenon are pieces that ultimately fit together and develop a picture, which portrays the real situation.)
In offering 35 attention-grabbing experiences (such as a water rocket, fire syringe, a mirage, and energy balls) in Using Physical Science Gadgets and Gizmos, students will be able to:

• Think about problems from different angles and attempt different strategies;
• Demonstrate process skills, working logically and consistently;
• Collaborate with other students to solve problems;
• Use the language of physical science (and science in general);
• Reflect on the thinking process that helped them to acquire new knowledge and skills in physical science; and (maybe most importantly!)
• View physical science as interesting and fun.

In Using Physics Gadgets and Gizmos, the authors acknowledge that in science, there are many phenomena that are difficult at first to understand. The majority of physics books start with theory and then outline demonstrations and applications to follow. The reverse is true in this book. Rather than simple fact memorization, students will be doing real science using any number of the 54 experiments outlined in these books, which take them through pressure and force, laws of thermodynamics, energy, visible light and colors, resonance, buoyancy, two-dimension motion, angular momentum, magnetism, and electromagnetic induction.
The PBL approach to physics allows students to engage in collaboration, communication, and critical thinking, which support the goals of the Next Generation Science Standards. At the end of each chapter the authors provide a list of relevant standards from the NGSS to reinforce their focus on core ideas and practices of science vs. just the scientific facts.
If you’re looking to help your students grasp the “big picture” around physical science and/or physics, and you’ve already experimented with inquiry-, problem- or project-based learning, then the PBL approach to teaching and learning may be a natural next step for you.
Albert Einstein said it best: “The most beautiful thing that we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.”
These books are also available as e-books: Using Physical Science Gadgets and Gizmos (Grades 6-8) and Using Physics Gadgets and Gizmos (Grades 9-12).

The world of a young child is full of “wow.” Children are constantly observing, exploring and discovering phenomena around them. From those activities they build models of how they think the world works and make predictions from those models. That’s the essence of science, although we seldom use that term for what we see our children do every day.
Early this year a select committee of early childhood experts and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Board and Council came together to formulate a position statement emphasizing the vital importance of science learning in the preschool years. They reaffirmed a progression of experiences and skills that begins during ages 3 through 5 and its place in the overall mission of the association. And just last month the board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) joined us by endorsing that statement. By sharing our perspectives and increasing the lines of communication between the associations, we begin an important collaboration.
Here are some key points from NSTA’s position statement, Early Childhood Science Education:

• Young children have the capacity for constructing conceptual learning and the ability to use the practices of reasoning and inquiry (NRC 2007, 2012). In previous decades, many educators underestimated the capacity of young children to reason in the context of their physical experiences (structured play.) Today’s best practice calls for increased attention in this area.
• Experiences can best contribute to science learning when an adult prepares the environment for science exploration, focuses children’s observations, and provides time to talk about what was done and seen (NAEYC 2013, p. 18). Key words here are “time” and “talk.” The NGSS practice of scientific argumentation begins at the earliest level. But first we listen.
• Children need to have opportunities to engage in science learning in informal settings, such as at home with cooking activities and outdoor play or in the community exploring and observing the environment. Communicating with parents and other mentors is essential. They always want to support school experiences, but benefit when their educational partners help them see how best to bridge the home-school connection.
• Young children need opportunities for sustained engagement with materials and conversations that focus on the same set of ideas over weeks, months, and years (NRC 2007, p. 3) A science experience isn’t like a flu shot; one experience doesn’t create lasting ideas. The progressions of experiences and investigations that occur again and again are key to building understanding and models that work.
• The range of experiences gives them the basis for seeing patterns, forming theories, considering alternate explanations, and building their knowledge.. Multiple and varied experiences keep science constantly exciting. Physical, life and Earth sciences are all part of the 3-dimensional learning described by the Frameworks for K–12 Science Education.

An endorsement by our partners at NAEYC is, of course, exciting. But that vote is just the beginning. We will be working both within the association and with all early childhood educators to increase our understanding of and resources for this important level.
NSTA has already begun to expand its publications at the early childhood level. Editor Linda Froschauer has introduced many more articles for this level in Science and Children, and a column by Peggy Ashcroft continues to support teachers there. Resources like Page Keeley’s Uncovering Student Ideas in Primary Science (NSTA, 2013) help teachers increase their sensitivity to preconceptions and address them with the sorts of progressive experiences needed at this age. Workshops are planned all year and further publications will follow. The association has also partnered with both NAEYC and the International Reading Association as exhibitors and participants in their conferences, with cordial invitations to come to us as well.
But there is a lot more to be done. It is true all too often that the educators of older students misunderstand or underestimate the vital importance of high quality early childhood science education. Here’s an example I encountered in a conversation not too long ago: I was discussing a measurement activity for kindergarten students with a secondary teacher, who asked: “Did you use metric or English units?” I responded that it didn’t matter if these explorers used feet, giant steps or anything else that was handy because both Common Core and best practice emphasize that at this stage the important thing is to teach that things can be measured. My colleague really didn’t agree, but our conversation was rich and perceptive. In the months to come NSTA won’t just be developing professional development for early childhood educators but for all levels about these topics.
Another area where we need much more work is in the evaluation of trade books for young children and the way this evaluation can drive the market. NSTA has worked with the Children’s Book Council for 44 years to develop selection criteria and use them to identify the best literature at every level. But the choices for early childhood remain limited. In all those years there have only been a handful of books on physical science for preschool use. The books that appear on the media’s “best seller” lists often don’t meet these criteria. This year we join with the International Reading Association and Science Books & Films to offer a “Celebration of Literacy” in Richmond, Virginia October 18. Hopefully, with our new partnerships things will change.
It’s exciting to be part of these new endeavors. Although much of my career was spent at the secondary level, I returned to school after two decades to gain accreditation for early childhood–an eye-opening experience. (I often told my secondary colleagues that I must have been teaching “developmental 9th grade” all along!) I recommend that everyone who cares about scientific literacy take the time to “begin at the beginning” and take the time to see the world through the eyes of young children. Ask “why”…and then “why not.”
(We’ve started a special forum on the topic of Early Childhood Science Education in the Learning Center. Come join us there to extend the conversation.)

At a professional development workshop several years ago, I heard a teacher say “I do lots of activities. My students are so busy, they don’t have time to think!” Her statement has haunted me to this day. I wondered what students learned by following someone else’s busy, fast-paced agenda of activities. It sounded exhausting, for both the teacher and the students.
Another time, I visited a classroom in a school that had 90-minute class periods. The teacher presented a series of activities, changing topics about every 15 minutes–lecture, worksheet, small group discussion, writing, hands-on activities, pop quizzes—but there was no segue between activities and no common theme or unifying concept. These students were also “busy,” but I wondered what they were actually learning from this series of disconnected events.
Fast forward to this week, when I read the article You Really Can ‘Work Smarter, Not Harder’   describing a study on the value of reflection. (Note: the primary source working paper Learning by Thinking: How Reflection Aids Performance from the Harvard Business School is available as a PDF file. According to the abstract of the study:

Research on learning has primarily focused on the role of doing (experience) in fostering progress over time. In this paper, we propose that one of the critical components of learning is reflection, or the intentional attempt to synthesize, abstract, and articulate the key lessons taught by experience. Drawing on dual-process theory, we focus on the reflective dimension of the learning process and propose that learning can be augmented by deliberately focusing on thinking about what one has been doing. We test the resulting dual-process learning model experimentally, using a mixed-method design that combines two laboratory experiments with a field experiment conducted in a large business process outsourcing company in India. We find a performance differential when comparing learning-by-doing alone to learning-by-doing coupled with reflection. Further, we hypothesize and find that the effect of reflection on learning is mediated by greater perceived self-efficacy. Together, our results shed light on the role of reflection as a powerful mechanism behind learning.

As with any study, there are problems generalizing the results to other populations, subject areas, and learning tasks. But it seems that doing hands-on activities or investigations is only part of the learning process; giving students time to process and think about what they are learning pays off.
Reflection doesn’t necessarily mean students staring into space (although that’s what I do when I’m thinking). Reflection involves articulating or summarizing what was learned, making personal connections to previous learning, and formulating questions for future learning. Science teachers often use notebooking, sketching, exit activities, or dictating into a smartphone or app for these reflections. For those teachers who already have students use reflective processes, it’s nice to have validations from more formal studies.
I suspect that most of our students need some examples and modeling of reflective thinking, along with a rationale as to why it is important to learning. This could be an interesting action research project for the classroom!

Authors and designers of books by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Press cover the content science teachers need, so it’s no wonder that the outsides of the books are as impressive as the insides. We are pleased to announce that four NSTA book covers have received honors from the 2014 Washington Book Publishers Design and Effectiveness Awards. Congratulations to the following authors and designers!
Citizen Science: 15 Lessons That Bring Biology to Life, 6-12
Edited by Nancy Trautmann, Jennifer Fee, Terry M. Tomasek, and NancyLee R. Bergey
Cover designed by Joe Butera

What Are They Thinking? Promoting Elementary Learning Through Formative Assessment
By Page Keeley
Cover designed by Rashad Muhammad
Using Physics Gadgets and Gizmos, Grades 9-12: Phenomenon-Based Learning
By Matthew Bobrowsky, Mikko Korhonen, and Jukka Kohtamäki
Cover designed by Joe Butera
Science for the Next Generation: Preparing for the New Standards
Edited by William Banko, Marshall L. Grant, Michael E. Jabot, Alan J. McCormack, and Thomas O’Brien
Cover designed by Joe Butera
More About NSTA Press