Editor’s Corner: National Lab Day

Journal Article | March 2010

In November 2009, President Obama helped launch National Lab Day (NLD)—an initiative that promises to become the most ambitious science–education partnership project ever in the United States. NLD is a nationwide…

Safer Science: Overloading Science Labs

Journal Article | June 2009

The current recession has brought about a wave of changes for all of us. In some school districts, boards of education are “renegotiating” areas of teachers’ contracts, including class size maximums. Science…

Hydrogel Beads: The New Slime Lab?

Journal Article | June 2011

Students experience an inexpensive inquiry activity on chemical bonding, properties, and replacement reactions. In this activity, students synthesize a cross-linked polymer: hydrogel.

Idea Bank: Bird Beak Lab

Journal Article | December 2003

The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. In this month’s Idea Bank, the teacher introduces the “Bird Beak Lab.” This lab incorporates graphing, data collection,…

Idea Bank: A Big Bang Lab

Journal Article | September 2005

The authors of "How Far are the Stars," featured in the February issue of The Science Teacher, showed how the measurement of parallax permits scientists to infer astronomic distances. Give your students the chance to…

Teacher's Toolkit: Reforming cookbook labs

Journal Article | October 2005

The majority of ancillary materials provided with any textbook includes a large quantity of labs that have step-by-step instructions. Although it is important in science for students to learn how to follow directions,…

Science Sampler: Lab report blues

Journal Article | September 2004

For middle school students, writing a formal lab report can be challenging. For middle level teachers, reading students’ lab reports can be overwhelming. As a solution, why not try peer editing? By having students…

Folding Inquiry Into Cookbook Lab Activities

Journal Article | March 2012

Learn how to convert teacher-directed, highly structured lessons into more open-ended inquiry experiences that allow for student input, wonder, and individual exploration.

Scope on Safety: Permanent safety in a temporary lab

Journal Article | November 2010

In the last issue of Science Scope, the author discussed the science teacher’s role in the construction or renovation of science facilities. As a follow-up, in this month’s column, he will discuss how science teachers…

Idea Bank: Adding Inquiry to Cookbook Labs

Journal Article | August 2012

The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. This month’s Idea Bank presents a new approach to add inquiry to two common biology labs: Environmental Effects on Catalase…

Favorite Demonstration: Structure—Function Lab in a Bag

Journal Article | October 2009

This hands-on activity stimulates students to consider the close relationship between structure and function. This inquiry-type lab can be done as a group or cooperative learning experience using simple kitchen tools.…