Join
Menu
Menu Search Join

Teacher Research: Stories of Learning and Growing

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.
For the littlest scientists, the whole wide world can be a laboratory for learning. Nurture their natural curiosity with A Head Start on Science, a treasury of 89 hands-on science activities specifically for children ages 3 to 6.

The activities are grouped into seven stimulating topic areas: the five senses, weather, physical science, critters, water and water mixture, seeds, and nature walks.
For the littlest scientists, the whole wide world can be a laboratory for learning. Nurture their natural curiosity with A Head Start on Science, a treasury of 89 hands-on science activities specifically for children ages 3 to 6.

The activities are grouped into seven stimulating topic areas: the five senses, weather, physical science, critters, water and water mixture, seeds, and nature walks.

Radioactive Waste: Resources for Environmental Literacy

Since World War II, hundreds of thousands of tons of radioactive materials have been produced in the United States. How we will dispose of nuclear waste is a controversial issue with a large technical component. This book provides a useful resource for enhancing student understanding of the physics of radioactivity as well as the storage and disposal of radioactive waste. It encourages students to discuss these complex environmental issues using arguments based on the science behind issues related to radioactivity, technology, risk assessment, and tradeoffs.
Since World War II, hundreds of thousands of tons of radioactive materials have been produced in the United States. How we will dispose of nuclear waste is a controversial issue with a large technical component. This book provides a useful resource for enhancing student understanding of the physics of radioactivity as well as the storage and disposal of radioactive waste. It encourages students to discuss these complex environmental issues using arguments based on the science behind issues related to radioactivity, technology, risk assessment, and tradeoffs.

Genetically Modified Crops: Resources for Environmental Literacy

Supporters of genetic engineering point to the potential of genetically modified (GM) crops to improve human health and increase environmental protection. But some concerned groups argue that the risks of GM crops may outweigh their benefits. These groups urge avoiding GM crops, or at least subjecting them to more rigorous government scrutiny.

Supporters of genetic engineering point to the potential of genetically modified (GM) crops to improve human health and increase environmental protection. But some concerned groups argue that the risks of GM crops may outweigh their benefits. These groups urge avoiding GM crops, or at least subjecting them to more rigorous government scrutiny.

 

Science 101: How does photosynthesis work?

Science and Children – April/May 2007

Energy transformations are an important part of the functioning of ecosystems, and a key part of those energy transformations is photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, bacteria, and other organisms use the energy of sunlight to manufacture food in the form of sugar. If it weren’t for photosynthesis, the energy source (sunlight) for all ecosystems would be useless. In other words, we’d all die, even though we might have really nice tans.
Energy transformations are an important part of the functioning of ecosystems, and a key part of those energy transformations is photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, bacteria, and other organisms use the energy of sunlight to manufacture food in the form of sugar. If it weren’t for photosynthesis, the energy source (sunlight) for all ecosystems would be useless. In other words, we’d all die, even though we might have really nice tans.
Energy transformations are an important part of the functioning of ecosystems, and a key part of those energy transformations is photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, bacteria, and other organisms use the energy of sunlight to manufacture food in the form of sugar. If it weren’t for photosynthesis, the energy source (sunlight) for all ecosystems would be useless. In other words, we’d all die, even though we might have really nice tans.
 

Ask the Experts – March 2007

The Science Teacher – 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?

Journal of College Science Teaching – March/April 2007

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

Science and Children – February 2007

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.
Subscribe to
Asset 2