In 19th-century America, one popular way people obtained new scientific information was through traveling lectures and science demonstrations, sometimes held in large halls called “lyceums.” Before the advent of radio and television, these were large public events designed to both educate and entertain. Often, such scientific demonstrations were great spectacles—as much or more about marketing and entertainment as they were about education.

In 19th-century America, one popular way people obtained new scientific information was through traveling lectures and science demonstrations, sometimes held in large halls called “lyceums.” Before the advent of radio and television, these were large public events designed to both educate and entertain. Often, such scientific demonstrations were great spectacles—as much or more about marketing and entertainment as they were about education.

Ecologists are biologists who study entire ecosystems and the interactions among their living and non-living components. Ecology can be applied in areas such as conservation biology, natural resource management, and even economics. Todd Elliott, who grew up in North Carolina, has been working as a freelance ecologist, photographer, and educator, and is currently working on his PhD in ecology in Australia.

Ecologists are biologists who study entire ecosystems and the interactions among their living and non-living components. Ecology can be applied in areas such as conservation biology, natural resource management, and even economics. Todd Elliott, who grew up in North Carolina, has been working as a freelance ecologist, photographer, and educator, and is currently working on his PhD in ecology in Australia.

Exploring light as it moves from one medium to another with the intriguing result of different speeds—the bending of light we call refraction.

Exploring light as it moves from one medium to another with the intriguing result of different speeds—the bending of light we call refraction.

Fostering scientific discourse with spider web discussions

Fostering scientific discourse with spider web discussions

This paper highlights learning supports associated with genetics lessons that were implemented in a urban high school biology classroom. The supports provided access to science content for ELs, students with IEPs, and struggling readers during an introductory unit on genetics. Due to space constraints, this paper does not include all assignments from the unit, but instead provides a sample of instructional approaches to promote success among all science students.

This paper highlights learning supports associated with genetics lessons that were implemented in a urban high school biology classroom. The supports provided access to science content for ELs, students with IEPs, and struggling readers during an introductory unit on genetics. Due to space constraints, this paper does not include all assignments from the unit, but instead provides a sample of instructional approaches to promote success among all science students.

A lesson that focuses on the intricate co-evolution of flowers with their pollinators is one way to help students learn the delicate balance in nature and help ensure that our actions do not upset this balance. In this lesson students use the engineering design process to engineer a flower that is a perfect model for its chosen pollinator. Next, they construct an explanation of the coevolution process that occurs between flowers and their pollinators.

A lesson that focuses on the intricate co-evolution of flowers with their pollinators is one way to help students learn the delicate balance in nature and help ensure that our actions do not upset this balance. In this lesson students use the engineering design process to engineer a flower that is a perfect model for its chosen pollinator. Next, they construct an explanation of the coevolution process that occurs between flowers and their pollinators.

Mobile geospatial technologies enable high school students to engage in authentic scientific data collection and analysis that promote spatial-thinking and reasoning skills, as well as problem-solving in a school’s local environment. We developed and implemented an Ecological Services investigation aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards in an urban high school with a large population of economically disadvantaged students.

Mobile geospatial technologies enable high school students to engage in authentic scientific data collection and analysis that promote spatial-thinking and reasoning skills, as well as problem-solving in a school’s local environment. We developed and implemented an Ecological Services investigation aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards in an urban high school with a large population of economically disadvantaged students.

Understanding students, adapting instruction, and addressing equity

Understanding students, adapting instruction, and addressing equity

This issue of The Science Teacher marks our 24th consecutive annual issue devoted to the theme, “Science for All.” Each year this special issue presents ideas and teaching strategies for helping all learners find success in their science classes. The primary goal is to provide instructional methods that can help narrow persistent academic achievement gaps associated with ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, physical disabilities, limited English-language proficiency, and learning differences.

This issue of The Science Teacher marks our 24th consecutive annual issue devoted to the theme, “Science for All.” Each year this special issue presents ideas and teaching strategies for helping all learners find success in their science classes. The primary goal is to provide instructional methods that can help narrow persistent academic achievement gaps associated with ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, physical disabilities, limited English-language proficiency, and learning differences.