All Inquiry resources

Journal Article

This column shares exercises to challenge content knowledge. This month's issue presents a new challenge and answers The Sound of One Hand Clapping ch...

Elementary High School Middle School Physical Science Inquiry Phenomena Labs

Journal Article

Methods and Strategies: Ask the Right Question

This column provides ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching. This month’s issue shows how teachers can use literature and higher-leve...

Elementary General Science Assessment Inquiry NGSS Pedagogy Teaching Strategies Interdisciplinary Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education

Journal Article

Disequilibrium: How Heat Affects the Density of Water

This column shows how to use discrepant events to confront misconceptions. This month’s discrepant event illustrates what happens when a container f...

Middle School Earth & Space Science General Science 5E Inquiry Phenomena

Blog Post

My ‘Phenomenal’ Journey in Elementary

I am the type of educator who gets very excited about new strategies, new and innovative technology, and new activities for students. However, I was m...

By Cindy Workosky

Biology Climate Change Environmental Science General Science Inquiry Instructional Materials Learning Progression Lesson Plans Life Science New Science Teachers NGSS Phenomena Physical Science Science and Engineering Practices Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Blog Post

Using the Crosscutting Concepts to Scaffold Student Thinking

At the recent NSTA National Conference in Los Angeles, three-dimensional learning was, of course, a major topic of discussion. When those discussions ...

By Cindy Workosky

Middle School Elementary High School Chemistry Crosscutting Concepts Curriculum Engineering Equity Inquiry Literacy New Science Teachers Physical Science Physics Preservice Science Education Professional Learning old STEM Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies Technology Three-Dimensional Learning

Blog Post

Digging Deeper: Modeling

At the core of a Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) classroom is the sequence of exposing students to an interesting natural phenomenon, having ...

By Cindy Workosky

Informal Education Preschool Astronomy Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Inquiry Instructional Materials Learning Progression Lesson Plans New Science Teachers NGSS Phenomena Physical Science Physics Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

Blog Post

Introducing Crosscutting Concepts in the Elementary Grades

Four years ago, I moved from teaching middle school science to teaching grades 2–5 STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) la...

By Cindy Workosky

Early Childhood Elementary Preschool Biology Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas Multilingual Learners Equity General Science Inquiry Labs Learning Progression Lesson Plans Life Science Literacy New Science Teachers NGSS Phenomena Preservice Science Education Science and Engineering Practices Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Blog Post

Digging Deeper: Designing Solutions

This month’s Digging Deeper column for the Next Gen Navigator focuses on the practice of constructing explanations and designing solutions, and spec...

By Cindy Workosky

Elementary 5E Crosscutting Concepts Curriculum Inquiry Instructional Materials Mathematics NGSS Phenomena Physical Science Physics Science and Engineering Practices STEM Teaching Strategies Technology Three-Dimensional Learning