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Editor's Note: The “Fundamental Tools” of Science

Journal Article

Editor's Note: The “Fundamental Tools” of Science

Science and Children’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue....

Elementary General Science Mathematics STEM Science and Engineering Practices

The Early Years: Taking Math Outside

Journal Article

The Early Years: Taking Math Outside

This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. This month’s issue uses children’s interest in collecting outdoor objects to develop their number sense and to build their understanding of math concepts...

Early Childhood Elementary Pre-service Teachers Preschool Environmental Science Mathematics Crosscutting Concepts Inquiry Science and Engineering Practices Teaching Strategies

How to Choose Good Phenomena

Blog Post

How to Choose Good Phenomena

When I began aligning my instruction to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), I got lost in the details. But when I realized that phenomena could be used to anchor linked disciplinary core ideas, I started to visualize the course as a whole a...

By Cindy Workosky

High School Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas NGSS Performance Expectations Phenomena Physical Science Physics Science and Engineering Practices Three-Dimensional Learning

My ‘Phenomenal’ Journey in Elementary

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 more nervous about than excited about to choosing phenomena for my science units. I felt tremendous p...

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

Digging Deeper: Modeling

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 students generate questions about the phenomenon, investigating student questions, then creating a s...

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

Introducing Crosscutting Concepts in the Elementary Grades

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) labs. One of the biggest challenges I faced was limited lab time in our elementary school. Because we ...

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

Planning Three-Dimensional Instruction

Blog Post

Planning Three-Dimensional Instruction

Knowing that content material is most engaging when students can relate to it, I always begin my year with a student survey. The questions are designed to help me design lessons to be as student-focused as possible. Knowing my students’ interests a...

By Cindy Workosky

Learning Progression Lesson Plans New Science Teachers NGSS Performance Expectations Phenomena Preservice Science Education Professional Learning old Science and Engineering Practices STEM Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Digging Deeper: Designing Solutions

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 specifically the design process that addresses the engineering component of the Next Generation Science ...

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

How I Came to Understand the Three Dimensions

Blog Post

How I Came to Understand the Three Dimensions

When I first started teaching science, I taught the facts. I taught the nine planets (before Pluto got demoted; sorry, Pluto!), the steps of mitosis, and the workings of plate tectonics, for example. I was proud that I had students who could learn th...

By Cindy Workosky

Crosscutting Concepts Disciplinary Core Ideas NGSS Preservice Science Education Professional Learning old Science and Engineering Practices

Space Exploration ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Class Pack

Space Exploration ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Using Picture-Perfect STEM Lessons: 3-5: Using Children’s Books to Inspires STEM Learning in your classroom is easier than ever! NSTA’s ClassPacks, each sufficient for a class of 28 students, are lesson-specific collections of materials—an unma...

Elementary Informal Education Earth & Space Science STEM Instructional Materials Inquiry Lesson Plans Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Interdisciplinary Labs Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Teacher Preparation

Solving the Puzzle ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Class Pack

Solving the Puzzle ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Using Picture-Perfect STEM Lessons: 3-5: Using Children’s Books to Inspires STEM Learning in your classroom is easier than ever! NSTA’s ClassPacks, each sufficient for a class of 28 students, are lesson-specific collections of materials—an unma...

Elementary Informal Education Earth & Space Science STEM Instructional Materials Inquiry Lesson Plans Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Interdisciplinary Labs Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Teacher Preparation

Hurricane ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Class Pack

Hurricane ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Using Picture-Perfect STEM Lessons: 3-5: Using Children’s Books to Inspires STEM Learning in your classroom is easier than ever! NSTA’s ClassPacks, each sufficient for a class of 28 students, are lesson-specific collections of materials—an unma...

Elementary Informal Education Middle School Earth & Space Science STEM Instructional Materials Inquiry Lesson Plans Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Interdisciplinary Labs Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Teacher Preparation

Bionic Animals ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Class Pack

Bionic Animals ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Using Picture-Perfect STEM Lessons: 3-5: Using Children’s Books to Inspires STEM Learning in your classroom is easier than ever! NSTA’s ClassPacks, each sufficient for a class of 28 students, are lesson-specific collections of materials—an unma...

Elementary Informal Education Middle School Engineering Life Science STEM Instructional Materials Inquiry Lesson Plans Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Interdisciplinary Labs Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Teacher Preparation

Spider Science ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Class Pack

Spider Science ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Using Picture-Perfect STEM Lessons: 3-5: Using Children’s Books to Inspires STEM Learning in your classroom is easier than ever! NSTA’s ClassPacks, each sufficient for a class of 28 students, are lesson-specific collections of materials—an unma...

Elementary Informal Education Middle School Life Science STEM Instructional Materials Inquiry Lesson Plans Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Interdisciplinary Labs Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Teacher Preparation

From Edison to the IPod ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Class Pack

From Edison to the IPod ClassPack: Grades 3-5

Using Picture-Perfect STEM Lessons: 3-5: Using Children’s Books to Inspires STEM Learning in your classroom is easier than ever! NSTA’s ClassPacks, each sufficient for a class of 28 students, are lesson-specific collections of materials—an unma...

Elementary Informal Education Middle School Physical Science STEM Instructional Materials Inquiry Lesson Plans Phenomena Science and Engineering Practices Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning Interdisciplinary Labs Literacy New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education Teacher Preparation Sensemaking

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