Science and Children—July/August 2024

In this issue of Tech Talk, learn about two terrific life science apps, Rewild the World from Google Arts and Culture and Explore.org. Engage your lea...

By Heather Pacheco-Guffrey

Elementary Life Science Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Engaging in Socioscientific Issues by Observing Habitats in the Context of Water Use and Drought

Teaching young students to engage in socioscientific reasoning can feel like an overwhelming task due to the abstract reasoning required. Yet, Sadler ...

By Grace Brunner, Catherine Lowe, Isaiah Kent-Schneider, Jerrid Kruse

Elementary Environmental Science Life Science Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Scaffolding Fourth-graders’ Inquiry about Erosion

This sequence of lessons has students observing erosion and creating ideas about factors that affect erosion. Then, as a class, students first explore...

By Alexandria Burns, Jami Daniel, Jerrid Kruse, Ellen Gow

Elementary Earth & Space Science Inquiry Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Light, Forces, Sticks, Crates and So Much More: A Loose Parts Learning Approach to STEM

The use of loose parts can be an effective teaching method to improve and enhance student understanding of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). L...

By Carla Gull, Suzanne Levenson Goldstein, Tricia Rosengarten

Elementary Learning Progression Physical Science STEM Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Beyond Definitions: Using Hexagonal Thinking for Sensemaking

This article was written for the purpose of introducing the hexagonal thinking strategy to upper elementary teachers. The strategy, in which students ...

By Simone Nance

Elementary Learning Progression Sensemaking Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Formative Assessment From a Translanguaging Perspective in the NGSS Classroom

The Next Generation Science Standards hold promise for cultivating the diverse assets that students bring to science learning. One key asset in lingui...

By Abigail Schwenger, Scott Grapin, Nicole Altamirano, Alison Haas, Okhee Lee

Assessment Literacy NGSS

Journal Article

Q: If Students Have Different Learning Styles, What Kinds of Science Activities Are Best for Reaching All Students?

Science 101...

By Matthew Bobrowsky

Equity Inclusion Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Engaging elementary students in science practice: Strategies for helping children plan investigations

This article presents a tool that teachers can use to support children in planning science investigations. Using an extended example from a second-gra...

By Annabel Stoler, Eve Manz

Elementary NGSS Sensemaking Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

I CAN: Strategies for Rethinking How We Share Objectives

Teachers are often required to display or explicitly state learning objectives prior to beginning a lesson. In particular, many elementary classrooms ...

By Julianne Wenner, Brooke Whitworth

Elementary Assessment Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Cultivating Genius for Science Contexts: Where Does the Pursuit of Joy Fit into Science Learning?

Where do Goldy Muhammad’s Cultivating Genus Pursuits fit into science learning? In this article, 5th grade teachers are adding the pursuits into a F...

By Alice Severson, Leigh Kohlmann, Emily Miller, Kevin Anderson

Elementary Learning Progression Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies