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Give students the dirt on soil with a practical book that brings new meaning to the term "hands-on." Using these 12 activities and two original stories as guides, kids will soon be up to their elbows in the study of soil formation, habitats and land use, animals that depend on soil, plants that grow in soil, soil science, and soil conservation. Each teacher-tested lesson plan offers helpful background, assessment methods, and suggestions for further exploration.
Give students the dirt on soil with a practical book that brings new meaning to the term "hands-on." Using these 12 activities and two original stories as guides, kids will soon be up to their elbows in the study of soil formation, habitats and land use, animals that depend on soil, plants that grow in soil, soil science, and soil conservation. Each teacher-tested lesson plan offers helpful background, assessment methods, and suggestions for further exploration.
Stepping Up to Science and Math invites you to step back and rethink the way you teach both of these essential subjects. Then it illustrates how you can step up the pace with Standards-based activities that make learning more effective and efficient.
Stepping Up to Science and Math invites you to step back and rethink the way you teach both of these essential subjects. Then it illustrates how you can step up the pace with Standards-based activities that make learning more effective and efficient.
You asked for it—now you’ve got it! In a focus group at a recent NSTA convention, teachers of prekindergarten through second grade clamored for help. They do want easy-to-do science activities they can use for everyday teaching. But they don’t want to be forced to adapt material meant for older children.
You asked for it—now you’ve got it! In a focus group at a recent NSTA convention, teachers of prekindergarten through second grade clamored for help. They do want easy-to-do science activities they can use for everyday teaching. But they don’t want to be forced to adapt material meant for older children.
At last: a sure cure for science fair fatigue. This new book -- a collection of 20 articles from NSTA's member journals for elementary, middle, and high school teachers -- is bound to re-energize the way you plan and produce these mainstay events. The articles explore all aspects of getting ready for a science fair. You'll learn how to help students pick their projects; understand what makes for fair judging; and create innovative alternatives, including festivals and expos. Several articles even debate the pros and cons of sponsoring a science fair.
At last: a sure cure for science fair fatigue. This new book -- a collection of 20 articles from NSTA's member journals for elementary, middle, and high school teachers -- is bound to re-energize the way you plan and produce these mainstay events. The articles explore all aspects of getting ready for a science fair. You'll learn how to help students pick their projects; understand what makes for fair judging; and create innovative alternatives, including festivals and expos. Several articles even debate the pros and cons of sponsoring a science fair.
Tired of teaching genetic concepts with the same old pink petunias and Mendel’s peas? With Garden Genetics, you can present core content in ways that are fun for students and fresh for you.
Tired of teaching genetic concepts with the same old pink petunias and Mendel’s peas? With Garden Genetics, you can present core content in ways that are fun for students and fresh for you.
Your students need to understand that stuff doesn’t just happen—it has a life cycle. Using common products like the telephone, this lively book helps students learn about the flow of energy and matter through Earth’s system. Seven illustrated sections (useful as stand-alone units or as a cumulative program) give you hands-on activities to teach:
• What is a life cycle?
• How does product design influence the life cycle?
• What are products made of and why?
• How can products be less wasteful at the end of their useful lives?
Your students need to understand that stuff doesn’t just happen—it has a life cycle. Using common products like the telephone, this lively book helps students learn about the flow of energy and matter through Earth’s system. Seven illustrated sections (useful as stand-alone units or as a cumulative program) give you hands-on activities to teach:
• What is a life cycle?
• How does product design influence the life cycle?
• What are products made of and why?
• How can products be less wasteful at the end of their useful lives?
 

Student-Centered Learning in an Earth Science, Preservice, Teacher-Education Course

Journal of College Science Teaching—July/August 2009 (Volume 38, Issue 6)

Student-Centered Learning in an Earth Science, Preservice, Teacher-Education Course

In an effort to get elementary teachers to teach more science in the classroom, a required preservice science education course was designed to promote the use of hands-on teaching techniques. This paper describes course content and activities for an innovative, student-centered, Earth science class. However, any science-content course could be adapted in a similar manner to include more student-centered activities.

In an effort to get elementary teachers to teach more science in the classroom, a required preservice science education course was designed to promote the use of hands-on teaching techniques. This paper describes course content and activities for an innovative, student-centered, Earth science class. However, any science-content course could be adapted in a similar manner to include more student-centered activities.

In an effort to get elementary teachers to teach more science in the classroom, a required preservice science education course was designed to promote the use of hands-on teaching techniques. This paper describes course content and activities for an innovative, student-centered, Earth science class. However, any science-content course could be adapted in a similar manner to include more student-centered activities.

If ever a subject could benefit from a strong dose of perspective, it’s evolution. This important new book supplies the necessary insights by bringing together the views of leading scientists, professors, and teachers. Working from the premise that only those students whose schools teach them about the nature of science will truly understand evolution, the collection gathers 12 influential articles first published in the NSTA member journal, The Science Teacher.
If ever a subject could benefit from a strong dose of perspective, it’s evolution. This important new book supplies the necessary insights by bringing together the views of leading scientists, professors, and teachers. Working from the premise that only those students whose schools teach them about the nature of science will truly understand evolution, the collection gathers 12 influential articles first published in the NSTA member journal, The Science Teacher.
 

Science Sampler: Classroom management, rules, consequences, and rewards! Oh, my!

Science Scope—Summer 2009

Teachers must start with an organized classroom. Think through how you want your classroom arranged, how students will turn in work, and where supplies are located. Students should also be instructed how the classroom is set up and who should be retrieving supplies. Having numbered containers with supplies is a quick way to distribute materials and check that everything has been returned at the end of the period. This article outlines additional classroom management plans that will prepare new teachers for the first day of school and throughout the entire school year.
Teachers must start with an organized classroom. Think through how you want your classroom arranged, how students will turn in work, and where supplies are located. Students should also be instructed how the classroom is set up and who should be retrieving supplies. Having numbered containers with supplies is a quick way to distribute materials and check that everything has been returned at the end of the period. This article outlines additional classroom management plans that will prepare new teachers for the first day of school and throughout the entire school year.
Teachers must start with an organized classroom. Think through how you want your classroom arranged, how students will turn in work, and where supplies are located. Students should also be instructed how the classroom is set up and who should be retrieving supplies. Having numbered containers with supplies is a quick way to distribute materials and check that everything has been returned at the end of the period. This article outlines additional classroom management plans that will prepare new teachers for the first day of school and throughout the entire school year.
 

Staying up-to-date on professional issues

By Mary Bigelow

Posted on 2009-06-30

I subscribe to many blogs and other RSS feeds to try to stay up-to-date. In a previous post, I noted how RSS feeds from organizations such as NASA, Scientific American, and the National Science Foundation provide summaries of current issues and interesting topics in science.
There are many other resources that can give us up-to-date information on issues related to teaching and learning. I particularly like the Inside School Research blog from Education Week. It includes brief summaries of current research with a link to the full report or study. Recent topics include independent-study schools, teacher mobility, the value of frequent quizzes, cell phones in the classroom, and value-added measures.
I also like the ASCD (Association for Curriculum and Supervision) Inservice blog. Recent topics include Tracking “Makes You Feel Like You’re Not Smart”, Hypotheses: They’re Not Just for Science Anymore, Practice, Practice, Practice (Or: Homework, Homework, Homework?), Middle School Math and the Achievement Gap with links to reports or book chapters with more details.
I’ve also started to follow some interesting “tweets” on Twitter. Yes, I know that people post trivial and mundane information (I’m eating lunch. I’m at the beach.), but I’ve found some interesting folks to follow (e.g., NSTA’s Lab Out Loud guys) as well as organizations such as NSTA, ASCD, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that provide leads on interesting information. And I’ve started to tweet with some of my own “finds.”
Of course, you don’t have time to read everything, but when you can get summaries or abstracts to skim, you can pick and choose what is relevant.
Please share any of your favorites!

I subscribe to many blogs and other RSS feeds to try to stay up-to-date. In a previous post, I noted how RSS feeds from organizations such as NASA, Scientific American, and the National Science Foundation provide summaries of current issues and interesting topics in science.

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