All Science and Children resources

Journal Article

Teaching Through Trade Books: Disease Detectives

“You’ve got cooties!” is a traditional taunt between children on the playground. Although children’s avoidance of “boy or girl” germs is not scientifically based, students have an innate understanding that transmission of germs can happen...

Journal Article

Editor’s Note: Selecting Inquiry Investigations

The National Science Education Standards (NSES) specifically addresses the frequency with which teachers should incorporate inquiry as a strategy in their science classrooms. “Although the Standards emphasize inquiry, this should not be interpreted...

Journal Article

Science 101: What causes convection?

Convection is when different parts of a fluid move in a more-or-less circular path, with parts of the fluid at the bottom moving to the top and vice versa. Here fluids refer to both liquids and gases. Convection happens when you have two fluids toget...

Journal Article

PD Pathways: Teacher? Learner? Both!

Teachers often have questions about how the strategies they learned at a professional development (PD) workshop will work with their students. Wouldn’t it be great if teachers had the opportunity to practice implementing new strategies during PD so...

Journal Article

Outdoor Integration

An outdoor classroom is an exciting way to connect the learning of science to nature and the environment. Many school grounds include gardens, grassy areas, courtyards, and wooded areas. Some even have nearby streams or creeks. These are built-in lab...

Journal Article

What’s the Next Step?

The authors developed a demonstration with two similar setups that provide students with both the prior experience to form an expectation and the discrepancy to grab their attention. They follow the demonstration with a structured exploration format ...

Journal Article

Thinking <em>Inside</em> the Box

The authors conducted a test to determine whether they could incorporate a discovery box into a preschool setting was successful. It stimulated the students’ natural inquiry processes while promoting understanding of healthy foods and allowing for ...

Journal Article

Editor’s Note: Understanding Data

Science is a data-based subject. In any experiment, the two most important product components are the data and the analysis of that data—what happened, and what does it mean? When considering how to design inquiry experiences for students, the auth...

Journal Article

Natural Resources: Fireside Science

Enthusiasm is contagious. From you to your students, and from scientists to you! Though many of you are enjoying temperate winters and continuing your outdoor adventures, we know many others are spending the coldest months curled up with a good book....

Journal Article

Methods and Strategies: Math and Science Night

Family Math and Science Nights engage students and parents in active investigations tied to the curriculum in a fun, informal environment. Through this program, families actively explore math and science ideas, discover together through guided inquir...

Journal Article

Formative Assessment Probes: How Far Did It Go?

The formative assessment probe “How Far Did It Go?” in Uncovering Student Ideas in Physical Science: 45 Force and Motion Assessment Probes (Keeley and Harrington 2010) can be used to reveal whether students recognize that units of distance travel...