JoinAll Science Scope resources
Journal Article
A bowling alley isn’t just a hangout where adolescents eat pizza, drink soda, and socialize with their friends. It can be transformed into a giant physics laboratory where students study energy transfer and calculate factors affecting their game. T...
Journal Article
Editor's Roundtable: Do state standardized science tests bring out the Chicken Little in us?
Recently, discussions of state standardized science tests have been spreading anxiety and dread in science department meetings and teacher lounges across the country. Before you run for cover in anticipation of the world crashing down around you, tak...
Journal Article
Sinking & Floating: A Graphical Representation of the Concept of Density
Density is a derived quantity that can be confusing for middle school students. Try using a graphical depiction of mass and volume to guide students in understanding and applying this concept. In this activity, students will collect various materials...
Journal Article
Scope on the Skies: Tidal forces
Tidal forces are gravitational and vary between objects; in this case between the Moon and Earth. With an elliptical orbit, the Moon's gravitational influence, its tidal force, on the Earth varies with each apogee and perigee. At perigee, one would e...
Journal Article
At the beginning of the year in life science, students learn about science equipment use, metric manipulation, and cells. This pumpkin activity assesses all these areas while the students enjoy themselves doing a seasonal activity. In addition, it ev...
Journal Article
Science Sampler: Building student mental constructs of particle theory
The concept of particle theory is a basic idea in chemistry and physics and leads students to understand why solids, liquids, and gases have different properties although they are they are made of the same materials. Understanding particle theory hel...
Journal Article
Scope on Safety: (Lack of) safety in numbers?
What is the safe number of students for one teacher to teach? Like many issues in education, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. There are several factors that need to be considered when establishing the safe number of students to teach. In this mo...
Journal Article
Science Sampler: Professor Color Presents... Acids, bases, and indicators
If you are looking for an exciting way to introduce a unit on acids, bases, and indicators, consider using the following demonstration, based on a chemistry presentation described by Hutton and Smith (1984), which has been adapted for use in the midd...
Journal Article
Building Knowledge & Intrigue: Creating an Interactive Science Museum
The energy and enthusiasm shown by young students walking through the doors of an interactive science museum is difficult to surpass. The excitement and wonder that informal science education generates were instrumental in the author’s decision to ...
Journal Article
Science Sampler: Mapping variables
One of the biggest obstacles students encounter during the inquiry process is conducting valid investigations. Many students get caught up in the questions they have, the variety of materials they have access to, and the excitement of "doing" science...