It's Alive: Students observe air-water interface samples rich with organisms

Journal Article | April 2002

After collaboration with a university researcher, students found that the air-water interface was a thin biofilm on the surface of still water composed of a rich variety of living microorganisms. Samples exposed to day-…

Observing children observing bees

Blog Post | July 2019

Some children feel a kinship with all kinds of living things. They may reach out to touch a bumble bee on a flower or hug a worm too tightly. Touching a bee may be fine if the temperature is so cold it has paused on…

Tried and True: Cubes and Raisins: A Student-Centered Lesson Designed to Teach Observations and Inferences

Journal Article | June 2012

This column provides classic demonstrations and experiments with a new twist. This month’s issue discusses making observations and inferences.

Unlocking the Power of Observation: Activities to teach early learners the fundamentals of an important inquiry skill

Journal Article | August 2006

For several years, many of the authors' new-school-year resolutions have revolved around a common theme: improving the introduction of inquiry skills to young (kindergarten through second grade) learners, particularly…

Archive: Science Update: NOAA - Observing and Understanding Earth Systems, November 3, 2022

Web Seminar | February 2022

Together we will explore all the places where we can find NOAA employees and how this federal agency allows us to observe and understand Earth systems - from the surface of the Sun to the depths of the Ocean. Do not…

Science Update: Exploring the Applications of Low Earth Orbit Observations, May 8, 2025

Web Seminar | December 2024

Join us on Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET, to learn about the applications of low Earth orbit observations. The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is a joint mission between NOAA and NASA that…

Sunrise, Sunset: Using Personal Observations to Understand Changing Sun Patterns from an Earth Perspective

Journal Article | February 2017

Confront students’ misconceptions about the Earth–Sun system with this collection of activities.

Teacher’s Toolkit: Building a vision of effective science instruction—How an observation guide supports dialogue

Journal Article | November 2009

To help establish common language, to shape a common vision for a science program, guide individual and group reflection on instruction, and support partner teachers in eliciting the involvement of their colleagues, the…

Tried and True: Thinking spatially—taking observation, classification, and communication skills to a higher level of reasoning

Journal Article | January 2009

When students classify, they embark on observing and identifying the properties of the object, and then they categorize, sort, group, organize, arrange, or grade objects into smaller and similar clusters or divisions.…