Join-
Blog Post |
I want to use more essay-type questions on my unit assessments, but with 150 students I feel swamped trying to grade all of the papers and provide feedback. Any suggestions for making this a good learning process?…
-
Sink? Float? Try it with pumpkins
Blog Post |
For an activity to explore buoyancy—what materials and which objects sink or float in water—I gave each child in a small group an object to hold. Then I explained that we were going to think about the objects and say…
-
Earth materials, features, and processes
Blog Post |
Which branch of science seems to attract lifelong learners? You can make a strong case for the life or physical sciences, but my vote would go to the earth sciences! We spend time stargazing at night, watching the…
-
Yes, a science teachers' conference IS the place for early childhood teachers
Blog Post |
I’m looking forward to the NSTA Regional Conference in Portland, Oregon, in November, a cornucopia of a conference so full of interesting presentations that each of my time slots is double (sometimes triple)…
-
Blog Post |
Little children love to ask questions such as Why? How come? But it seems that in school, it’s the teacher who asks most of the questions. This issue provides some suggestions and examples for helping students to apply…
-
Blog Post |
Do you have any suggestions for a brand-new science department chairperson? —Derek, Chillicothe, Ohio First of all, congratulations on assuming a leadership role in your school! This is a wonderful…
-
Research in science classrooms
Blog Post |
Wow — students doing real research! This adds a different dimension to the “labs” that students do. There is certainly a time and place for replication or follow-the-directions activities (for example, to learn how to…
-
Observing, Learning about, Appreciating, and (Maybe) Holding Small Animals Such As Insects
Blog Post |
In the fall we may begin to see more spiders in our houses and schools. Why is that? Are they moving indoors as the weather cools? The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture dispels this myth with some spider facts…
-
Blog Post |
I’ve been asked to chair a committee to look into using science “kits” for our elementary classes. We’re interested in this, but where do we start? —Mariana, Manchester, New Hampshire…
-
Understanding and using symbols
Blog Post |
It was Monday morning and a sharp corner on a large immovable object (left by another group sharing the space used by the preschool…sound familiar?) unexpectedly turned into a chance to assess the understanding of…
-
Blog Post |
It’s interesting in this issue to see how teachers can incorporate inquiry learning into topics such as Bernoulli’s Principle, bridge design, photosynthesis, a beach clean-up program, rocks, paper airplanes, maple seeds…
-
Blog Post |
As a preschool teacher I try to be aware of how my work might introduce or reinforce misconceptions in my students’ understanding of concepts. In the Perspectives column in the September issue of Science and Children,…
-
Blog Post |
At our inservice last month, we learned several strategies for writing in science classes. But when I tried one in my classroom, it went over like a lead balloon. What was I doing wrong? —Rosalind, Denver,…
-
Blog Post |
The big fish died. The constant silent presence of the plecostomus—now hiding in the cave, now sucking algae off the aquarium wall—is gone. Donated by a parent who has moved on to high school PTSA duties, the odd fish…
-
Blog Post |
Who hasn’t looked into the night sky and wondered about the stars and the universe? But upper elementary and middle school may be the last chance for many students to study or be exposed to concepts in astronomy. Earth…
35554 Results