All Science and Children resources

Journal Article

Students are usually quick to draw conclusions about their surroundings. Their generalizations, however, are often based on a single experience or even a story recounted by a friend. As we gain more experience in the world, out ability to reason in...

Journal Article

Electrolyte Racers

A fast way to teach investigative skills in science is to tie them to NASCAR using Hot Wheels Formula Fuelers Race Cars. These inexpensive toy cars travel different distances based on the strength of the electrolyte (a substance that conducts electr...

Journal Article

The Early Years: Young Questioners

Children are often described as natural scientists and their curiosity as a basic human trait. They amaze adults with perceptive questions and extended explorations of the environment. Asking questions is part of the National Science Education Teac...

Journal Article

Science Shorts: Building Bridges

London Bridge is falling down, falling down...Can you finish the song? Although there are various stories that suggest the meaning of this famous nursery rhyme, the London Bridge, which spans the River Thames, did indeed "fall down" several times th...

Journal Article

Timing is Everything

Kids today are growing up with televisions, movies, videos, and DVDs, so it's logical to assume that this type of media could be motivating and used to great effect in the classroom. But at what point should film and other visual media be used? Are...

Journal Article

Outdoor Classrooms -- Planning Makes Perfect

Schoolyard wildlife habitats aren't just for beauty and fun--they are outdoor classrooms where real science learning takes place. Schoolyard habitat projects involve conservation and restoration of wildlife habitat; however the learning doesn't have...

Journal Article

Say Cheese! Digital Collections in the Classroom

Children love gadgets. And what better "gadget" to work with in the classroom than a digital camera? Digital cameras are easy to find, easy to use, and offer great potential for incorporating technology into your lessons. One fourth-grade class em...

Journal Article

Science 101: What Causes Lightning and Thunder?

The mechanism that leads to lightning is complicated and not well understood. That it's not well understood isn't surprising, as this is often the case when going from scientific models to the real world. Even so, we can paint a reasonable picture ...

Journal Article

Methods and Strategies: Getting Creative With Assessments

There are many creative ways to assess student science learning beyond traditional paper and pencil tests. Interviews, focus groups, surveys, card sorts, and more--the options are plentiful and exciting. Creative assessment can reveal different inf...