NSTA Learning Center Professional Development Tools

Student Reactions to Just-in-Time Teaching's Reading Assignments

3/5/3009 12:00:00 AM

This article describes how the Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) warm-up exercises were successfully adopted into a college-level physics course as a teaching tool. Students were found to be more engaged in lectures after completing the warm-up assignments. The results from anonymous student surveys showed their overwhelming appreciation for the exercises. The survey results also demonstrated that male and female students differed significantly on whether they felt the assignments were helpful in their understanding of the course material. In addition, student exam scores have improved since the warm-up exercises were adopted.

Archive: Global Climate Change Impacts in the Eastern United States, November 17, 2009

11/17/2009 12:00:00 AM

This Web Seminar took place on November 17, 2009, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Presenting was Tim Owen, from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, Frank Niepold, UCAR Climate Education Coordinator at NOAA Climate Program Office; and Peg Steffen, Education Branch Chief at NOAA. In this Seminar, Mr. Owen focused the presentation on specific climate changes, current and expected in the Eastern United States. For more information about this web seminar, its presenter(s), read what participants said about it, and to see and download its PowerPoint slides <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall09/NOAA/webseminar2.aspx" target=_Blank">go here</a>.

Archive: Anti-matter Eyes on the Gamma-ray Skies November 12, 2009

11/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

This Web Seminar took place on November 12, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Presenting was Dr. Lynn Cominsky, Chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department at Sonoma State University (SSU). Dr. Cominsky talked about the Fermi telescope and the vision of space that is pictured by gamma ray ‘eyes'. For more information about this web seminar, its presenter(s), read what participants said about it, and to see and download its PowerPoint slides <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall09/NASA/webseminar1.aspx" target=_Blank">go here</a>.

Teaching Through Trade Books: Discover Reading

11/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

We often gloss over the history of science-the women and men who have made advancements in the area of scientific discovery. These notable individuals are the backbone of our field. This month, we honor these scientists by encouraging children to read about their stories and make their own discoveries.

The Early Years: A Reason to Write

11/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

Children love seeing their work and photos of themselves at work. Make this an opportunity for an early literacy experience by creating a book about a classroom investigation. Document each step of the process with photographs and student drawings. With help, your children can add further explanation, describing their actions or thoughts in writing. Lessons on buoyancy work well as explorations to document and are part of the National Science Education Content Standards A: science as inquiry and B: physical science, properties of objects and materials.

Reinventing the Wheel

11/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

"The Wheel of Scientific Investigation and Reasoning" (Kramer 1987; Paul and Binker 1992) is a graphic representation of the scientific investigative process. The scientific process is depicted in a wheel rather than in a list because "the process of scientific inquiry can begin from any stage, and that stage may be revisited as often as the particular inquiry requires" (Robinson 2004, p. 791). For the life science unit discussed in this article, the authors used this platform to help students develop a systematic set of inquiry, analytical, and argumentation skills in science.

Methods and Strategies: Connecting Science and Literacy Through Talk

11/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

When students are motivated, engaged, and have opportunities to practice and develop discussion skills taught during literacy time, they can deepen their understanding of science concepts. Communication is an important tool for the development of scientific knowledge; group discussions such as the one portrayed in this article are critical to the development of student understanding of concepts and of the nature of scientific inquiry. They not only help students communicate, they help students become proficient in science.

Archive: Global Climate Change Impacts in the Western United States, November 5, 2009

11/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

This Web Seminar took place on November 5, 2009, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Presenting was Katharine Hayhoe, Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Texas Tech University, Frank Niepold, UCAR Climate Education Coordinator at NOAA Climate Program Office; and Peg Steffen, Education Branch Chief at NOAA. In this Seminar professor Hayhoe focused the presentation on specific climate changes, current and expected in the Western United States. For more information about this web seminar, its presenter(s), read what participants said about it, and to see and download its PowerPoint slides <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall09/NOAA/webseminar1.aspx" target=_Blank">go here</a>.

Dare to Disagree, as Scientists

11/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

As argumentation is weaved into classroom lessons, students know what to ask, how to analyze the given information before forming a conclusion, and are able to support their reasoning with solid evidence. They will hold firm to their conclusions until proven wrong. Whether it's a discussion about whether air is matter or how speed and friction are related, students will dare to disagree, in a scientific way. In this article, the author highlights the effective methods she has used to guide her students in the process of questioning, researching, and inquiry.

The Art of Argumentation

11/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

Argumentation in science involves offering and responding to claims, providing and asking for evidence or justifications, and analyzing those claims to formulate a decision (Gross 1990). The authors' experience with students, including those who are English learners, suggests that many young science students benefit from language frames to scaffold the use of academic language and vocabulary to formulate arguments and counterclaims. Language frames are partially constructed cloze statements that highlight the academic language and syntax required to communicate in argumentation. This article describes how teachers can model the use of language frames in the science classroom.

More Than One "Right" Answer

11/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

In this article, the authors present a sequence of activities from a curriculum about light for third and fourth graders that supports students in learning to disagree like scientists. This sequence of activities helps students discuss reasons for the discrepancies in their data, use the language of argumentation in classroom discourse, and get a more accurate picture of science as a way of understanding the world, rather than just a collection of right answers (Driver, Newton, and Osborne 2000).

Bringing Back Books

11/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

How can you connect, supplement, and extend students' firsthand investigations? Look toward your bookshelves for a clue. Books and other textual materials can serve the following roles in support of scientific inquiry: providing context, modeling, supporting firsthand inquiry, supporting secondhand inquiry, and delivering content. Each of these roles are described in this article, and examples that demonstrate how trade books can support students' (a) involvement in inquiry experienced, (b) grasp of science concepts, and (c) understanding of the nature of science.

Speed Kills! (Or Does It?)

11/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

Students can't ask for much more fun than skateboarding during class time. With some additional concept learning, that kind of fun can be incorporated into a debate that encourages students to practice scientific argumentation. With a debate comes the opportunity to include a social or moral dilemma and have students use argumentation techniques as well as science to justify a position. This engaging hands-on activity with a skateboard introduces the scientific knowledge that will be used for a later debate about speed limits.

Archive: Design Squad: Today's Students, Tomorrow's Engineers November 4, 2009

11/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

In this program, Natalie Hebshie, and Margot Sigur talked about Design Squad - a reality competition series on PBS where teenagers tackle engineering challenges from real word clients, and how to give kids a working understanding of physical science concepts while increasing their enthusiasm for engineering. The presenters highlighted a number of free educational resources, particularly, Design Squad's latest resource, the Design Squad Teacher's Guide that unleashes middle school kids' ingenuity and get them thinking like engineers. Ms. Hebshie and Ms. Sigur explained that the activities are linked to national science and technology standards and use low cost, readily available materials. For more information about this web seminar, its presenter(s), read what participants said about it, and to see and download its PowerPoint slides <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/WGBH/Webseminar1.aspx" target=_Blank">go here</a>.

Everyday Engineering: Time's up, turkey-Pop-up thermometers

11/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

Meat thermometers can be awkward to use in terms of placement and avoidance of bones. Because of these problems, each year 30 million Thanksgiving turkeys have a built-in thermometer that pops up when the turkey is properly cooked. Turkey timers are an example of how engineering solved a common, everyday problem. The following 5E learning cycle activity, as with all of the activities in the Everyday Engineering series, integrates this engineering concept with science content, in this case, to investigate the development of the disposable pop-up cooking thermometer.

Tech Trek: Podcasts and blogs

11/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

Millennials are the generation born from 1982-2002, and they are in your middle school classroom today. Some people have referred to them as the iGeneration and the Net Generation, due to their being weaned on technology. They have also been called Generation Y because they are born after Gen X (1961-1981). Whatever we call them, these students love using technology to learn and feel very much at home in a digital environment. Accordingly, the authors share with you in this column two technology applications that will have great appeal to your students-podcasting and blogs.

Web Seminar: Higher than a Sea-Bird's Eye View: Coral Reef Remote Sensing using Satellites, December 15, 2009

11/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

Coral reef ecosystems are already being impacted by climate change and this problem is expected to become more severe in future decades. While these remarkable systems are robust enough to create structures like the Great Barrier Reef, visible from space, they can be damaged and destroyed by even small changes in the Earth's climate. In the fourth installment of the climate change web seminars, the presenters will focus on how NOAA satellites monitor the temperature conditions that lead to coral bleaching. Major concepts include climate change, coral bleaching, cutting edge satellite technology, and ocean ecology in the context of coral ecosystems. The presenters (Dr. Mark Eakin, along with a number of NOAA colleagues) will share their science expertise, answer questions from the participants, and provide web sites and tools that students can use in the classroom. This Web Seminar is designed for educators of grades 5-12.

Solving the Mystery of Mock Mummies: Using Scientific Inquiry Skills in an Integrated Lesson

11/2/2009 12:00:00 AM

When the nature of science (NOS) is reinforced, middle school students will be able to appreciate scientific inquiry processes and communication, as outlined in the National Science Education Standards (NRC 1996). To this end, the authors developed a mummy-making and dissection activity to help sixth- and seventh-grade students learn more about anthropological research and reinforce NOS. Students become scientists who ask questions, collect data in a methodical and objective manner, make inferences, and form conclusions that are supported with evidence.

Amber: Using "Tree Tears Turned to Stone" to Teach Biology, Ecology, and More!

11/2/2009 12:00:00 AM

Amber is a fossil by itself, and can also contain plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Some of these perfectly preserved specimens give scientists a convenient window to past environments, including the biology, ecology, geology, and chemistry of Earth's past. By using an interdisciplinary approach, we can demonstrate to students a more accurate representation of the scientific community, which does not work in isolation.

Search for the Golden Moon Bear: Using Reader's Theater to Teach Science

11/2/2009 12:00:00 AM

Reader's theater is an activity in which students, while reading directly from scripts, are able to tell a story in its most entertaining form. Typically, teachers create or purchase premade scripts of stories, and students focus on reading those scripts in a fluent and expressive manner. However, in the lesson presented here, students turn the book, Search for the Golden Bear Moon: Science and Adventure in the Asian Tropics by Sy Montgomery into a reader's theater script themselves. This article describes how students act out this genetics-based story to strengthen their language skills and reinforce science concepts in the process.

Cell Towers and Songbirds

11/2/2009 12:00:00 AM

This article describes how our common addiction to cell phones was used to launch a discussion about their use, impacts on the environment, and connections to issues of civic concern. By encouraging middle school science students to adopt the perspectives of special-interest groups debating communication tower restrictions designed to protect migratory songbird populations in a role play, they were connected to language arts and social studies in a meaningful way while their attention was focused on the larger impacts of cell phone use.

Science Sampler: Global Warming Project

11/2/2009 12:00:00 AM

To address the issue of global warming locally, the author developed an inquiry-based project to examine the impact of the school's traffic situation on climate change. In this project, students collected data in the parking lot/driveway, researched greenhouse gas emissions of vehicles, and developed solutions to the traffic problem. Their solutions, if implemented, will reduce their school's carbon footprint. Completing this project made other students in the school aware of the severity of the global climate change problem.

Science Shorts: Solar Pizza Friday

11/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

In an effort to bridge the gap between science and technology and its effects on everyday life, this lesson engages students in a study of solar energy and technological design. Students make real world connections and develop their skills in scientific inquiry in the process. Read on to find out how to set up a pizza box solar cooker, and get cooking with homegrown or purchased ingredients.

Web Seminar: From Sound Waves to Microwaves: "Listening" to the Oldest Light of the Universe with the Planck Mission December 16, 2009

10/28/2009 12:00:00 AM

Join Jatila van der Veen, Ph.D. Education and Public Outreach Coordinator for the Planck Mission, JPL/NASA Visiting Project Scientist, Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara in exploring the Cosmic Microwave Background - the oldest light we can observe - and the Planck Mission, a joint mission between NASA and the European Space Agency to map this primeval light with unprecedented detail. Learn how we use the physics of music to derive information about the early universe from the signal strength of the Cosmic Microwave Background at different frequencies.

Web Seminar: A Century of Cosmic Surprises December 8, 2009

10/28/2009 12:00:00 AM

Join Dr. James Lochner of the Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology for a historical overview with cosmic significance. Over the past century, the model we use to describe the universe has changed from static to expanding to accelerating. In this workshop we trace some of the questions scientists have asked about the universe, and describe the tools they used to answer those questions. We show how in many cases, these led to surprising, unforeseen answers which have shaped our current understanding of the nature of the universe.

Web Seminar: Applications of Nanotechnology in Cosmetics and Foods, November 24, 2009

10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Join us for this unique program, the second of four free Web Seminars featuring scientists and education specialists from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These seminars are related to the FDA Symposium that will take place at the NSTA Area Conference on Science Education in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The seminar will focus on food microbiology, food processing, food epidemiology, nutrition, and the public health impact of food safety. The presenters will share their science expertise, answer questions from the participants, and provide information regarding web sites that students can use in the classroom. This Web Seminar is designed for educators of grades 5-12. Topics could include disease, outbreaks, nutrition, personal hygiene, as well as cosmetic and food safety. An archive of this program and related PowerPoint presentation will be available at the end of the program.

Web Seminar: Introduction to FDA Food Recalls, December 9, 2009

10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Join us for this unique program, the first of four free Web Seminars featuring scientists and education specialists from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These seminars are related to the FDA Symposium that will take place at the NSTA Area Conference on Science Education in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The seminar will focus on food microbiology, food processing, food epidemiology, nutrition, and the public health impact of food safety. The presenters will share their science expertise, answer questions from the participants, and provide information regarding web sites that students can use in the classroom. This Web Seminar is designed for educators of grades 5-12. Topics could include disease, outbreaks, nutrition, personal hygiene, as well as food safety. An archive of this program and related PowerPoint presentation will be available at the end of the program.

Web Seminar Tattoos and Permanent Makeup: Marketplace and Chemistry, December 17, 2009

10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Join us for this unique program, the final of four free Web Seminars featuring scientists and education specialists from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These web seminars are related to the FDA Symposia that will take place at the NSTA Area Conference on Science Education in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This presentation will cover the regulatory status of tattoo inks and pigments in the U.S., the marketplace for tattoos and permanent makeup, and the chemistry of tattoo pigments. Some problems with tattoos and permanent makeup will be discussed. This Web Seminar is designed for educators of grades 5-12. An archive of this program and related PowerPoint presentation will be available at the end of the program.

Idea Bank: Extra! Extra! Read All About the Universe!

10/20/2009 12:00:00 AM

This year we are celebrating the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). The IYA commemorates the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first observations of the cosmos through a telescope. He never could have imagined how our view of the universe would continue to change over the years-up to the present day. To highlight this idea, the authors developed a set of curriculum support materials called Cosmic Times. These materials teach students about the process of science and help them to develop science literacy skills.

Health Wise: November 2009

10/20/2009 12:00:00 AM

Many students have recently asked about the "swine flu." How is it different than the seasonal flu, what are the symptoms, and what can we do to avoid it?

Rice

10/19/2009 12:00:00 AM

This slim nonfiction volume explains where rice comes from, how it is planted and grown, the differences between white and brown rice, rice's nutritional value, and more-all in straightforward language that kids can understand. Glossy color photos bring the narrative to life, and a glossary provides additional educational value.

Elk Habitat: A Case Study of Scientific Inquiry

10/19/2009 12:00:00 AM

A case study is an excellent way to help students think like scientists as they work to solve a dilemma. This article describes a case study of elk in Yellowstone National Park. Students read short narratives, based on scientific research data, about the puzzling question of why some elk live substantially longer than others in certain areas of Yellowstone. Each successive narrative provides more clues to solving this puzzle. Students are encouraged to model scientists' approach by asking questions, examining evidence, and designing possible research studies to find answers to the question of elk mortality.

A New Twist on "Mystery Boxes"

10/19/2009 12:00:00 AM

In the activity described in this article, students learn about observation, interpretation, and argumentation. Students are led through several stages of observation and inference about an unknown object, during which they learn the value of representations and collaboration. They are then asked to construct an argument about the identity of the object and the process of its formation.

The Sound of Crickets

10/19/2009 12:00:00 AM

With the range of conflicting ideas about issues such as climate change and global warming, it has never been more important to let our students outside-beyond the classroom door-to evaluate the validity of such claims by observing nature, collecting data, and providing evidence. The good news is that it has never been easier for students to gather and share data using the internet and programs such as Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE). This article presents one GLOBE scientist's investigation of cricket chirping and its relation to temperature-which demonstrates the importance of gathering data and interpreting evidence for ourselves.

Argument-Driven Inquiry

10/19/2009 12:00:00 AM

Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI) is an instructional model that enables science teachers to transform a traditional laboratory activity into a short integrated instructional unit. To illustrate how the ADI instructional model works, this article describes an ADI lesson developed for a 10th-grade chemistry class. This example lesson was designed to help students understand the nature of chemical reactions and develop the abilities needed to do scientific inquiry. The lesson also gives students an opportunity to improve their writing and verbal communication skills, their understanding of the writing process, and their ability to interpret evidence and reason in a scientific manner.

Grand Canyon: A Trail Through Time

10/19/2009 12:00:00 AM

The perfect complement for any lesson on weathering and erosion, Grand Canyon offers a day-in-the-life glimpse at one of the Natural Wonders of the World. Even as coyotes hunt for food along the chasm's rim, pack mules carry tourists along the harrowing ten-mile trail to the Colorado riverbed, and wildflowers grow, the slow forces of nature continue to reshape the layers of rock as they have for hundreds of millions of years. The book also includes a timeline and a graphic breakdown of the layers of rock by age.

Leo Cockroach …Toy Tester

10/19/2009 12:00:00 AM

Leo Cockroach, a dedicated but secret toy tester, knows that creating a good toy requires many hours of research, design, and testing. Unfortunately, the CEO of Waddatoy Toys doesn't appreciate his knack for recognizing the hottest toys-she's too busy trying to squash the "horrible little bug" with her high-heeled shoe! Students will undoubtedly giggle at Kevin O'Malley's playful depictions of the insect-size office worker's occupational hazards and his attempt to find more respect at the competitor's shop. They'll also recognize Leo's scientific approach to product testing and quickly identify the hallmarks of any well-defined invention.

What Did They See?

10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

What better way to launch your classroom discussion on the reflective behavior of light than with John Schindel's energetic story about four animal friends who discover "the most amazing thingamajig whatchamacallit thingamabob any of them had ever seen?" Students will be on the edge of their seats trying to guess what the elusive find might be. The reveal on the last page-a mirror-is sure to tickle budding scientists, who will be eager to see how they can manipulate light using their own mirrors. Doug Cushman's vibrant watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations add to the fun.

That Magnetic Dog

10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

Bruce Whatley plays with the meaning of magnetic to hilarious effect in this endearing story of a dog who attracts … food! On the first page, the author acknowledges the more traditional definition of magnetic (though young scientists will spot an inaccuracy in his explanation), but students will quickly recognize that Skitty's relationship with food does in some ways mimic the behavior of magnets and iron materials. And they'll love the playful images of the large, boxer-like dog and the food that just seems to fly to him.

Barn Owl

10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

In this artfully rendered nonfiction account of the barn owl's life cycle, children learn about the hunting, mating, and nesting habits of barn owls against the surprisingly soothing backdrop of Bert Kitchen's lifelike illustrations. Muted blues and warm golds offset the dignified birds as they hunt long-tailed field mice and protect their eggs. Barn owl facts, conservation information, and a short glossary enrich the story.

Rise the Moon

10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

The moon enchants even the youngest scientists, and this charming and lyrical story of moonlit antics-from a painter taking advantage of the unique glow to a pack of wolves howling at the bright orb to a mother rocking her sleeping baby-is sure to pique your students' interest in moon lessons. Eileen Spinelli's lilting verse is well complemented by Raúl Colón's gorgeous, moonlight-soaked illustrations. Watercolor paintings were scraped and scratched to give the book a dreamy quality.

Rice Is Life

10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

Rita Golden Gelman uses a poem-within-a-story technique to simultaneously highlight the natural beauty of rice growing ("In the hot and humid sawah/In the middle of the day/Dragonflies are fluttering,/Dancing as they play") and underscore the importance of rice in everyday Bali life. Artful frames separate the soft figures and rich earth tones of the poem's canvas-like paintings from the more detailed illustrations of eels, dragonflies, rice plants, kernels, and other aspects of Balinese nature that populate the margins of each spread and enhance the informational prose.

Construct-a-Catapult (e-book)

10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

Catapult into physics and technology with the heavy weaponry of the Middle Ages. Construct-a-Catapult integrates history, physics, mathematics, and technology in its challenge to high school students to design and build a working catapult system. They engage in a hands-on application of concepts such as torsion and elasticity as they learn the physics behind overcoming gravity and hurling objects through the air-SAFELY. In addition, students investigate elasticity, projectile launching, and learn about frequency distribution while working through the process of product design.

John Muir: America's Naturalist

10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

Inspire budding conservationists with the real-life story of the Sierra Club founder. Kid-friendly prose describes how John Muir marveled at and respected the natural world, how he made careful notes about plant and animal life in his journal, and how he worked to preserve the wilderness through the creation of national parks. Original quotes pepper the biography, and handsomely painted landscapes evoke the wonder and beauty that Muir experienced.

Construct-a-Boat (e-book)

10/15/2009 12:00:00 AM

Construct-a-Boat deepens students' knowledge of principles of mass, buoyancy, friction, and acceleration. Working with a simple model powered by a battery-driven fan, students get a feel for the forces involved in moving a boat through water. To improve performance, students use their understanding of physics to analyze parameters and design a faster boat. This immersion in learning-by-doing translates abstract concepts into tangible objectives and teaches students lessons in modeling and design. The other books in the series are Construct-a-Glove, Construct-a-Catapult, and Construct-a-Greenhouse.

Construct-a-Glove (e-book)

10/15/2009 12:00:00 AM

Physics and technology go hand-in-hand in this practical demonstration of thermodynamics. By testing a simple prototype of an insulated grove, students learn about homeothermic regulation and the variables that influence heat transfer. The challenge to improve upon their initial model introduces them to the design process and the relationship between form and function. Working in teams, your students will learn how to integrate their knowledge of scientific principles with properties of the materials at hand in a fitting display of technological mastery.

Archive: ExploraVision Online Resources, October 14, 2009

10/14/2009 12:00:00 AM

This Web Seminar took place on October 14, 2009, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Presenting was Brian Short from NSTA and Tony Rose a teacher at Northside Elementary in Palmyra, Pennsylvania and a National Award Runner-up. The presenters provided an overview of the ExploraVision program and instructions on how to use the website to register teams. For more information about this web seminar, its presenter(s), read what participants said about it, and to see and download its PowerPoint slides <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/ExploraVision/webseminar7.aspx" target=_Blank">go here</a>.

Podcast: Teach Science Concepts and Inquiry with Food, December 18, 2008

10/8/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Teach Science Concepts and Inquiry with Food is the complete Web Seminar archive subtitled: <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall08/FDA/webseminarII.aspx">Biological Hazards in Food: Survival and Growth</a> from 12/18/2008. The podcast is 1 hour 13 minutes in duration. This Web Seminar focused on food microbiology, food processing, food epidemiology, the food label, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, and the public health impact of food safety. The presenter shared their science expertise, answered questions from the participants, and provided information regarding web sites that students can use in the classroom. The seminar was designed for educators of grades 5-8. Topics include careers, disease, personal hygiene, nutrition, outbreaks, and food safety. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSTSC08_Dec18">Biological Hazards in Food: Survival and Growth</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now. Since this is a large file, to view this program in a streaming form, click, <a href="https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/recording/playback/link/meeting.jnlp?suid=M.EFDC208E230FF1A7284E9EC27D386A" target="_blank">Teach Science Concepts and Inquiry with Food</a>.

Favorite Demonstration: Structure-Function Lab in a Bag

10/8/2009 12:00:00 AM

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. The activity provides a fun ice-breaker activity for the first day of class, helps introduce students to the concept of science as a process, and demonstrates one aspect of evolution: evolution by mutation and descent with modification.

Research and Teaching: Scientist - Science Educator Collaborations-Do They Improve Student's Understanding of the Nature of Science

10/8/2009 12:00:00 AM

This article describes a research study in which a biologist and his research on Antarctic seabirds became part of an integrated science course for prospective elementary teachers. Students used the scientist's database on seabird chick growth rates for an experimental design investigation while the "regular" classes had a single science educator as their instructor and did not use the database but completed an investigation of their own choosing. Understandings of the nature of science before and after the course, and between classes that experienced the scientist - science educator collaboration and those that did not, were assessed using the Nature of Scientific Knowledge Survey. An attitude scale and interviews with students who used the seabird database were also used to collect data. Interviews revealed scientific habits of mind that could not be quantified with a questionnaire as well as understandings of aspects of the nature of science that have not been discussed in prior research.

A Versatile Module to Improve Understanding of Scientific Literature Through Peer Instruction

10/7/2009 12:00:00 AM

Using primary literature in undergraduate science classes helps teach students both scientific information and process. However, students' lack of understanding of scientific techniques can hinder their understanding of the papers. This article describes a "technique module" that uses peer teaching and active learning to facilitate integration of primary scientific literature into undergraduate courses.

Bridging the Gap Between Real-World Polar Science and the Classroom

10/7/2009 12:00:00 AM

The International Polar Year-Research and Educational Opportunities in Antarctica for Minorities (IPY-ROAM) program was designed to increase minority participation in polar science by immersing participants in an academic program that included a trip to Antarctica. The IPY-ROAM program was focused on increasing public understanding of the polar regions and stimulating a new interest in polar science. This effort was coordinated by faculty from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and was implemented to positively contribute to the intense, internationally coordinated IPY scientific campaign. Through a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), a team of UTEP researchers developed a unique and life-changing opportunity for university students and high school teachers to travel to Antarctica. The goal of the program was for participating students and teachers to learn more about the polar regions and to acquire firsthand experience in field-based research and Antarctic system science.

Application of the K-W-L Teaching and Learning Method to an Introductory Physics Course

10/7/2009 12:00:00 AM

The K-W-L method of teaching is a simple method that actively engages students in their own learning. It has been used with kindergarten and elementary grades to teach other subjects. The authors have successfully used it to teach physics at the college level. In their introductory physics labs, the K-W-L method helped students think about what they know about a topic and started the students questioning their own ideas about physics. After gathering data in class, the students were ready to talk about what they learned from the laboratory information.

Archive: The NSTA Learning Center - PD Resources and Tools for Teachers, October 6, 2009

10/6/2009 12:00:00 AM

This Web Seminar took place on October 6, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Presenting was Flavio Mendez, Senior Director NSTA Learning Center. In this Seminar, Mr. Mendez described the many professional development opportunities offered in the NSTA Learning Center. For more information about this web seminar, its presenter(s), read what participants said about it, and to see and download its PowerPoint slides <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall09/NLC/webseminar.aspx" target=_Blank">go here</a>.

Vegetation Analysis

10/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Mapping the structure of the vegetation in study plots is important for several reasons. First, with all the detailed data collected, students easily can lose perspective of the bigger picture; they can get lost in the trees and not see the forest, so to speak. By doing this analysis they will develop a three-dimensional perspective of their plots. Second, vegetative mapping provides students with a resource to better understand the data collected. The maps they produce might provide clues as to why aspects of the data collected may vary from point to point. Lastly, vegetative mapping provides the teacher with a road map of the plot against which other data, such as standing board feet or environmental information, can be cross-checked to validate student fieldwork. This free selection includes the Table of Contents, Preface, and Index.

Science Sampler: The Element Walk

9/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

"The Element Walk" lesson is effective at teaching students the elements that exist in common substances encountered every day. Students walk away from the lesson with a set of general rules that help them to easily identify the elements around them. They also end up with a greater appreciation of the elemental compositions of living, once-living, and nonliving objects, and the connections among the three categories.

Science Sampler: Enhancing student understanding of physical and chemical changes

9/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

Students within the Findlay, Ohio, City School District, as well as students across the country, struggle with understanding physical and chemical changes. Therefore, in this article, the authors suggest some standards-based activities to clarify misconceptions and provide formative assessments to measure your students' progress as they determine the difference between chemical and physical changes.

Tried and True: Inquiry-based dissolving

9/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

This project highlights a dissolving unit that was part of an eighth-grade, semester-long investigation into matter. During the dissolving unit, students explored the concepts of mixture, solution, dissolving, saturation, and conservation of mass. Dissolving is an advanced concept that involves the atomic structure of matter and the nature of chemical bonds. However, dissolving is also a common experience in students' lives (e.g., when they mix sugar in lemonade). The unit allowed students to explore everyday materials in new ways, address common misconceptions, and pursue scientific discovery.

Scope on the Skies: October Skies (2009)

9/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

Our Sun is an incredible fusion machine that has been churning out energy for approximately five billion years. In another five billion years, when the internal temperature of the star begins to change, the balance between the thermal pressure pushing outward and the force of gravity pushing inward will become imbalanced, and the Sun will move on to the next stage of its life. But that is a topic for a future column. Let's turn back the clock, instead, and look at the early life of our star. Also included in this month's column is an outline of celestial events during the month of October.

Everyday Engineering: What makes a squirt gun squirt?

9/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

You may not think of engineering and squirt guns in the same sentence. However, like many examples of engineering design, the squirt gun pump mechanism is uncomplicated, yet elegant, and very inexpensive to manufacture. The design is widely used because of its simplicity and low cost. With only a few moving parts, it is able to deliver a stream of water, a spray of cleanser, or a squirt of liquid soap. In this article, the authors will examine how these simple, everyday pumps operate. In addition, a lesson is included, which follows the 5E Learning Cycle Model.

No More Leaks: A Process-Oriented Lesson Exploring the Invention and Chemistry of Disposable Diapers

9/29/2009 12:00:00 AM

High school chemistry can be intimidating to some students, so it is critical that we engage students in nonthreatening preparatory investigations during middle school. Based on the learning cycle model (Bybee and Landes 1990), this lesson invites students to investigate disposable diapers. As they explore the properties of sodium polyarcylate, a super-absorbent polymer exposed to water and simulated urine (colored salt water), students practice many inquiry skills: observation, measurement, graphing, and data analysis.

That Is Not Where That Element Goes … Ah, the Nature of Science

9/29/2009 12:00:00 AM

Learning how the periodic table has developed over time can provide an important foundation for students' future science learning, as they begin to explore the explanatory power of other models in science. In this activity, students are given the opportunity to investigate the generation of the modern periodic table, through a process of creating their own plausible periodic tables. In addition, students learn about Mendeleev's contribution and the nature of science through inquiry-based instruction.

Korean Kimchi Chemistry

9/29/2009 12:00:00 AM

Connecting science with different cultures is one way to interest students in science, to relate science to their lives, and at the same time to broaden their horizons in a variety of ways. In the lesson described here, students make kimchi, a delicious and popular Korean dish that can be used to explore many important chemistry concepts, including fermentation, chemical reactions, and acidity and alkalinity. During this activity, students use scientific techniques and methods to explore the nature of kimchi, they learn to measure the pH of a food using a variety of techniques, and they come to understand the ways that food can be preserved.

Watching the Pot to Improve Inquiry Skills

9/29/2009 12:00:00 AM

The International Boiling Point Project is an online, collaborative project for students in grades 6-12 in which they investigate the impact of four factors (room temperature, elevation, volume of water and heating device) on the boiling point of water. A detailed procedure is provided for students in order to limit the number of variables involved, so students can make valid comparisons of the data submitted by classes from around the world. An overview of the experiment is provided here with an emphasis on the data-collection and analysis aspects of the project.

Science Sampler: Chemistry in action-Triple delight

9/29/2009 12:00:00 AM

Melt away the winter blues with this series of chemistry investigations. Here the author describes how she capitalizes on students' love for snow days, bubble gum, and ice cream to reinforce what they have learned about percentage concentration of solutions and the effects of a solute on the solution. To do this, students perform three different 45-minute inquiry-based labs on these topics.

Web Seminar: Relevance of Climate Change for the Arctic Marine Biological System, December 3, 2009

9/28/2009 12:00:00 AM

The environmental conditions in the Arctic have been changing over the last decades both on land and in the ocean. Temperatures are increasing and coverage by ice and snow has decreased, specifically in summer. This web seminar will outline some of the recent findings regarding the unique properties of the Arctic marine food web and the implications of Arctic warming on its structure. Scenarios will be discussed outlining the relevance of sea ice changes, temperature increases and altered precipitation patterns. A holistic approach will be used, covering a very broad range of taxa and processes including phytoplankton, zooplankton, life at the sea floor as well as marine mammals. We will also discuss the implications of increased ship traffic, resource exploration, as well as implications of Arctic warming for the connectivity between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. Join Dr. Rolf Gradinger, polar ecologist at the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks for this presentation directed toward middle and high school teachers.

Natural Resources: For the Birds

9/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

More than ticking off a checklist (though that is fun, too), birding fosters an appreciation for nature. The following citizen science opportunities connect children to the scientific community. The websites listed here include tips on feeding and observing birds and links to bird identification resources.

Methods and Strategies: Literacy in the Learning Cycle

9/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

Trade books can be used in all phases of the learning cycle to support effective teaching and learning. Romance and Vitale (1992) found that texts and other nonfiction science books can be effective tools for teaching reading, as the science activities give learners a purpose for their reading. In this article, the authors share ways to effectively use trade books within the 5E learning cycle inquiry teaching/learning model. They also provide examples of trade books appropriate for each phase and identify ways to incorporate their use.

Science Shorts: Astronomies of Scale

9/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

Astronomical scale is a difficult concept for elementary students to grasp when they begin studying the solar system. A school yard solar system model gives students a tangible experience of astronomical distances. After determining the distances between planets and the Sun, students decode a mystery that requires them to travel from planet to planet. The physical component of this gives students a real appreciation for how "close" the inner planets are compared with the cold and distant outer ones.

Science 101: How do you ask effective questions in science class, and how do you analyze the responses?

9/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

To summarize the author's answer to this question, effective questions are those that lead, eventually, to answers that indicate the student understands what's going on beyond a terse answer that might just be memorized. In assessing the answers, it's simply a matter of ensuring that the terse answer isn't all the student knows. Often, that means you ask more questions, including how and why we know what we know. Last, avoid making assumptions about a student's understanding. Get explicit answers that indicate understanding.

Every Day Science: October 2009

9/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

This monthly feature contains facts and challenges for the science explorer.

Teaching through Trade Books: Secrets of Flight

9/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

The date was December 17, 1903. The place was a windswept beach near Kitty hawk, North Carolina. With Orville Wright at the controls and his brother Wilbur running alongside, the plane took off. This event lasted only 12 seconds, but it made history as the first successful sustained flight by a human-powered aircraft. The Wright brothers had uncovered the secrets of flight. In this month's column, students explore the history of flight and use problem-solving skills to improve the flight distances and flight times of paper gliders.

The Early Years: Safe Smelling

9/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

Using the sense of smell, animals find food or a mate and detect the presence of predators; their survival depends on this. In a discussion on using our sense of smell to keep use safe, some children may relate experiences of smelling something burning. Identifying the five senses and corresponding sense organs is part of national science content standards for science as inquiry and life science (NRC 1996). The objective of this month's lesson is to experience using our sense of smell and notice the variety in favorite smell choices.

CSI for Trees

9/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

The circles and patterns in a tree's stem tell a story, but that story can be a mystery. Interpreting the story of tree rings provides a way to heighten the natural curiosity of students and help them gain insight into the interaction of elements in the environment. It also represents a wonderful opportunity to incorporate the nature of science. In this activity, appropriate for grades 3-6, students make connections with the work of a scientist as they solve a mini-mystery using tree-ring evidence.

Today's Authors, Tomorrow's Scientists

9/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Although not all teachers can invite scientists into classrooms on a regular basis, they can invite them into their students' worlds through literature. Here the author shares how she used the nonfiction selection, Science to the Rescue (Markle 1994), as an opportunity for students to investigate socially significant problems and empower them to take an active role in their learning. The lesson that follows examines the oral and written responses of sixth graders when a constructivist approach to problem solving was supported through an engaging interactive read aloud.

Making Sense of Data

9/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Providing opportunities for students to grapple with collecting and organizing data, struggle with how to represent and communicate ideas emerging from the data, and consider the alignment of these ideas with the science content being learned is reflective of authentic inquiry and supports the development of scientific understanding. The interdisciplinary examples described in this article illustrate how students can learn powerful ways of documenting inquiry while at the same time make use of this documentation to support the development of key scientific understandings.

Deer Tracks in the City?

9/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

"Why would a deer print be in the city?" wondered a student. She had noticed the track near a grocery store that morning with her mother. She was familiar with deer and had noticed their prints on a trip to a local museum; however, she had never seen a deer in the city before this experience. As she retold the story to her classmates, her question became the inspiration for a problem-based lesson during a unit on animal habitats, weather, and human involvement in the environment. Throughout the unit, students participated in hands-on-inquiry activities that focused on scientific process skills such as making observations, inferring, and collecting data.

Problem Solving by Design

9/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

In a unique school-university partnership, methods students collaborated with fifth graders to use the engineering design process to build their problem-solving skills. By placing the problem in the context of a client having particular needs, the problem took on a real-world appeal that students found intriguing and inviting.

Wind Solvers

9/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Measuring real weather provides a nice opportunity for data collection and problem-solving when students work to create a procedure before they gather data. It is also a powerful way to get students to notice the weather. In this lesson, the data collection process is changed from a "cookbook lab" where the teachers tell the students how to collect the data into a collaborative effort to choose how to best perform data collection. This was accomplished by building on students' own experiences through questioning, journaling, and problem-solving.

Archive: Getting Your Class Started in ExploraVision, September 16, 2009

9/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

This Web Seminar took place on September 16, 2009, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Presenting was Brian Short from NSTA and Michael Lampert from West Salem High School in Oregon. The presenters gave an overview of the ExploraVision program and shared personal experiences with working with their students throughout the process. For more information about this web seminar, its presenter(s), read what participants said about it, and to see and download its PowerPoint slides <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/ExploraVision/webseminar6.aspx" target=_Blank">go here</a>.

Learning and Assessing Science Process Skills: 5th Edition

9/15/2009 12:00:00 AM

Teaching science is an awesome responsibility. The children you teach are depending on you to model good science and to teach them the skills needed to learn about our increasingly scientific and technological world. Learning and Assessing Science Process Skills is all you need to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to bring the science process skills to your students. FEATURES: - Big Science Ideas - in each chapter major science concepts, themes, and topics used for the process skills activities are identified. Big Science Ideas can be used to adapt the process skills activity for classroom use and to see how the activity connects to state and national science standards. - Alignment to State and National Standards - related science standards from states across the country are identified, along with National Science Education Standards and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards met in each chapter. - Technology Spotlight - These sections in each chapter reflect current technologies. - Web sites and Search Terms - appear in every chapter. These special boxes provide suggested words and phrases that can be used to search the Internet for additional information. - High-Stakes Testing - actual questions students were given to measure their knowledge of the related science process skill. This puts you a step ahead in planning classroom evaluation. Of course the Self-Assessment Questions and Answers, Classroom Scenarios, Ideas for Your Classroom and Models for Assessing Student Learning are still included in the fifth edition, along with the engaging and meaningful activities from which you and your students will learn so much! Learning and Assessing Science Process Skills is truly the only tool needed to competently and confidently provide exemplary science instruction.

Podcast: Sources of Reliable Climate Change

9/9/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Sources of Reliable Climate Change is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/IPY-Boston/webseminarI.aspx">Polar Science, Global Discoveries: IPY Research Update for Teachers</a>, May 1, 2008. The podcast is 10 minutes 38 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two related to the IPY Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenter focused her presentation on the following four questions: (1) Why are the polar regions important for global climate? (2) What is one (of many) important climate discoveries from past ice coring science? (3) How can teachers and students become engaged in IPY ice coring programs? (4) Where can teachers get reliable information about climate change science? The Web seminar was designed for educators of grades 5-12. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSPSG08_May01">Polar Science, Global Discoveries: IPY Research Update for Teachers</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: The Importance of Encouraging Science Interest Now

9/9/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: The Importance of Encouraging Science Interest Now is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/SRS/webseminarII.aspx">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a>, May 20, 2008. The podcast is 4 minutes 57 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the second of two developed as a follow-up to the Sally Ride Science Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenters talked about four science fields: space sciences, earth sciences, environmental sciences, and health sciences and shared strategies that teachers can use to engage their students in conversations about them. The seminar was designed for educators of grades 6-9. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSFAZ08_May20">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Warming and Cooling of the Atlantic Ocean

9/9/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Warming and Cooling of the Atlantic Ocean is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall06/oceans/webseminarI.aspx">The Ocean's Role in Weather and Climate: The Effects of the Atlantic Ocean!</a>, December 12, 2006. The podcast is 6 minutes 26 seconds in duration. In the source Web Seminar presentation, educators had the opportunity to learn about the influence of the Atlantic Ocean on regional weather and climate. As water circulates through the Atlantic Ocean, from the tropics to higher latitudes, energy is transported in the form of heat. This transported energy is equal to the amount of energy required to support the electricity consumption of the United States population for 2000 years. Not only is the Atlantic Ocean the cradle for the formation of hurricanes, storms that move from east to west over the ocean, but data also shows that the sea surface temperature changes in the Atlantic Ocean are responsible for droughts taking place in the African continent. Dr. Delworth described how scientists are using computer models to forecast future weather patterns, like the possible number of hurricanes and drought conditions. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSORWC06_Dec12">The Ocean's Role in Weather and Climate: The Effects of the Atlantic Ocean!</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

EcoTipping Points

9/9/2009 12:00:00 AM

Contrary to what we often hear and teach, there is good news to be found on the environmental front. Environmental success stories show us not only that sustainability is possible, but also how people have made it happen. We can make these stories and their lessons accessible to students with help from the EcoTipping Points Project, which has collected environmental success stories from around the world.

"New Science" and Societal Issues

9/9/2009 12:00:00 AM

As a "new science," nanotechnology has brought many nanoscale-based applications to the forefront of society. This article describes one such application-a nanosensor that can precisely detect a variety of chemical stimuli in the environment-and presents the science behind it as an interdisciplinary science topic. This article also provides scenarios that can be used in the classroom to discuss the unique ethical concerns associated with nanosensors.

Addressing Misconceptions

9/9/2009 12:00:00 AM

The law of conservation of mass can be counterintuitive for most students because they often think the mass of a substance is related to its physical state. As a result, students may hold a number of alternative conceptions related to this concept, including, for example, the believe that gas has no mass, that solids have greater mass than fluids, or that matter (like salt) is destroyed when it dissolves (Driver et al. 1994). Given these issues, the authors developed a lesson that can be used by teachers to help students understand the law of conservation of mass and use it to make sense of new observations.

Idea Bank: Earth Systems in Silence

9/9/2009 12:00:00 AM

The "Earth Systems in Silence" activity is designed to help high school students make personal connections to the people and the science involved in natural disasters. It is used as a culminating project in a semester-long required course, open to 10th through 12th graders. It pulls together science concepts and social issues, illustrating the "why" of what is learned in the classroom throughout the semester.

Using Issues-Based Science in the Classroom

9/8/2009 12:00:00 AM

Every day we are confronted with issues of varying degrees of complexity and importance. Which bags are better for the environment-paper, plastic, or neither? What precautions should be taken to reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus? Are there risks involved in eating genetically modified fruits and vegetables? What impact will the use of alternative sources of energy have on global climate change? Questions such as these present unique opportunities to incorporate personal, societal, and global issues into the science curriculum. This article provides some helpful resources for planning and using this type of instruction in the classroom.

Hurricane Katrina: A Teachable Moment

9/8/2009 12:00:00 AM

This article presents suggestions for integrating the phenomenon of hurricanes into the teaching of high school fluid mechanics. Students come to understand core science concepts in the context of their impact upon both the environment and human populations. Suggestions for using information about hurricanes, particularly Hurricane Katrina, in a physics class are provided, as are examples of ways to modify standard physics problems.

Socratic Seminars in Science Class

9/8/2009 12:00:00 AM

Discussions are important classroom tools-and those that focus on science in society have the potential to interest and engage students. However, a conversation can quickly veer out of control if expectations are not clearly set by the teacher and if the discussion is not structured appropriately. This article describes the use of Socratic Seminars, which provide a constructive format for discussion and help facilitate a spirit of shared inquiry among students as they discover meaning in a given text.

Podcast: Reading Strategies

9/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Reading Strategies is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall05/PPS/webseminarI.aspx">Picture-Perfect Science: From Idea to Invention!</a>, December 14, 2005. The podcast is 4 minutes 28 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminars was the first of two on the topic of Picture-Perfect Science Lessons. The session was presented by Karen Ansberry and Emily Morgan, co-authors of the popular NSTA Press publication Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children's Books to Guide Inquiry.

Podcast: Polar Science and World Peace

9/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Polar Science and World Peace is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/IPY-Boston/webseminarII.aspx">Polar Science, Global Discoveries: IPY Research Update for Teachers</a>, May 22, 2008. The podcast is 21 minutes 45 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the second of two related to the IPY Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenter focused her presentation on the following four questions: (1) Is polar science relevant to world peace? (2) How is the atmosphere involved in current climate change? (3) How do we know about ancient atmospheres? (4) What are some discoveries from the International Polar Year so far? (5) How can teachers become involved in IPY? The seminar was designed for educators of grades 5-12. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSPSG08_May22">Polar Science, Global Discoveries: IPY Research Update for Teachers</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center library.

Podcast: Investigating Outbreaks

9/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Investigating Outbreaks is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/stlouis07/nutrition/webseminarI.aspx">Outbreak Investigations!</a>, April 26, 2007. The podcast is 8 minutes 48 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two on the topic of Food Safety and Nutrition. The presenter was Dr. Patrick McCarthy, Epidemiologist from the Office of Food Defense, Communication, and Emergency Response, at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. In the seminar, Dr. McCarthy talked about outbreak investigations. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSFSN07_Apr26">Outbreak Investigations!</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center library.

Podcast: Phoenix mission

9/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Phoenix mission is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/JPL2/webseminar13.aspx">Mars Exploration Rovers: Where Are They Now?</a>, June 5, 2008. The podcast is 7 minutes 43 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was developed in collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Arizona State University's (ASU) Mars Education Program. The presenter was Dr. Steve Ruff, Faculty Research Associate in the School of Earth and Space Exploration's Mars Space Flight Facility at ASU. Dr. Ruff gave an update on the Mars Exploration Rovers and the Phoenix Lander missions. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSERW08_Jun05">Mars Exploration Rovers: Where Are They Now?</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center library.

Podcast: Careers in Earth Sciences

9/2/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Careers in Earth Sciences is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/SRS/webseminarII.aspx">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a>, May 20, 2008. The podcast is 9 minutes 52 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the second of two developed as a follow-up to the Sally Ride Science Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenters talked about four science fields: space sciences, earth sciences, environmental sciences, and health sciences and shared strategies that teachers can use to engage their students in conversations about them. The seminar was designed for educators of grades 6-9. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSFAZ08_May20">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Careers in Heath Sciences

9/2/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Careers in Heath Sciences is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/SRS/webseminarII.aspx">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a>, May 20, 2008. The podcast is 9 minutes 15 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the second of two developed as a follow-up to the Sally Ride Science Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenters talked about four science fields: space sciences, earth sciences, environmental sciences, and health sciences and shared strategies that teachers can use to engage their students in conversations about them. The seminar was designed for educators of grades 6-9. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSFAZ08_May20">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Careers in Environmental Sciences

9/2/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Careers in Environmental Sciences is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/SRS/webseminarII.aspx">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a>, May 20, 2008. The podcast is 12 minutes 42 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the second of two developed as a follow-up to the Sally Ride Science Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenters talked about four science fields: space sciences, earth sciences, environmental sciences, and health sciences and shared strategies that teachers can use to engage their students in conversations about them. The seminar was designed for educators of grades 6-9. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSFAZ08_May20">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Importance of Encouraging Science Interest Now

9/2/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Importance of Encouraging Science Interest Now is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/SRS/webseminarII.aspx">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a>, May 20, 2008. The podcast is 4 minutes 57 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the second of two developed as a follow-up to the Sally Ride Science Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenters talked about four science fields: space sciences, earth sciences, environmental sciences, and health sciences and shared strategies that teachers can use to engage their students in conversations about them. The seminar was designed for educators of grades 6-9. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSFAZ08_May20">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Exploring Occupational Interests

9/2/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Exploring Occupational Interests is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/SRS/webseminarI.aspx">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a>, April 30, 2008. The podcast is 8 minutes 23 seconds in duration. The source Web Weminar was the first of two developed as a follow-up to the Sally Ride Science Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenters shared strategies that teachers can use to engage their students in conversations about science careers. The seminar was designed for educators of grades 6-9. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSFAZ08_Apr30">From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students' Interests in Science Careers</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Benchmark Hunting

9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Benchmark Hunting is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/stlouis07/GPS/webseminarII.aspx">GPS and Geodesy for Dummies: Do You Know Where You Are?</a>, May 29, 2007. The podcast is 20 minutes 18 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the second of two on the topic of GPS and Geodesy. The presenter was Casey Brennan, Program Analyst with NOAA's National Geodetic Survey in the Communications and Outreach branch. Mr. Brennan talked about geocaching and benchmark hunting, and shared ideas for using these in the classroom. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSGPS07_May29">GPS and Geodesy for Dummies: Do You Know Where You Are?</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Atlantic Ocean Circulation

9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Atlantic Ocean Circulation is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall06/oceans/webseminarI.aspx">Ocean's Role in Weather and Climate</a>, December 12, 2006. The podcast is 14 minutes 8 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two about the Ocean's Role in Weather and Climate. The presenter was Dr. Tom Delworth, leader of NOAA's Climate Dynamics and Prediction Group at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, NJ. The seminar focused on the influence of the Atlantic Ocean on climate, from Atlantic hurricanes to African drought. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSORWC06_Dec12">Ocean's Role in Weather and Climate</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Earth and Mars Similar Features

9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Earth and Mars Similar Features is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/JPL2/webseminar10.aspx">Using Earth to Explore Mars</a>, April 3, 2008. The podcast is 7 miniutes 25 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was developed in collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Arizona State University's (ASU) Mars Education Program. The presenters were Dr. Joshua Bandfield, Research Specialist at the Mars Spaceflight Facility at Arizona State University and Brian Grigsby, Director of the ASU Mars Education and Outreach Program at Arizona State University. Dr. Bandfield used images to compare Earth with Mars, highlighting the similarities of the two planets and Mr. Grigsby provided an update of current and future NASA's missions to Mars. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSUEE08_Apr3">Using Earth to Explore Mars</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Effects of Ocean Acidifcation on Coral Reefs

9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Effects of Ocean Acidifcation on Coral Reefs is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NewOrleans09/NOAA/webseminarI.aspx">The Heat is On!: Climate Change and Coral Reef Ecosystems</a>, April 2, 2009. The podcast is 6 minutes 6 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two scheduled as a follow-up to the The Heat is On! Climate Change an Coral Reef Ecosystems Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans, LA. In this program Dr. Gledhill talked about ocean acidification, the basic carbon dioxide chemistry cycle of the oceans, and the changes coral reef ecosystems are experiencing due to anthropogenic increases in carbon dioxide. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSCCC09_Apr02">The Heat is On!: Climate Change and Coral Reef Ecosystems</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Take-Home Physics: 65 High-Impact, Low-Cost Labs (e-Book)

8/26/2009 12:00:00 AM

Take-Home Physics is an excellent resource for high school physics teachers who want to devote more classroom time to complex concepts while challenging their students with hands-on homework assignments. This volume presents 65 take-home physics labs that use ordinary household items or other inexpensive materials to tackle motion and kinematics; forces and energy; waves, sound, and light; and electricity and magnetism. The result: Students learn background knowledge, reinforce basic process skills, practice discovery, and bridge classroom learning with real-world application-all while getting excited about homework. Teachers can also integrate science and literacy by requiring the use of lab notebooks with formal write-ups. Materials lists and safety notes, as well as both student activity pages and teacher notes are included.

Tried and True: Looking for Questions

8/25/2009 12:00:00 AM

During the first day of school, eighth-grade students often receive hour after hour of specific rules and classroom procedures. However, the author takes a different approach in science class. Here she describes an activity that is designed to engage students in generating questions. The objective of this lesson is for students to learn that a scientific investigation begins with a question and that questions can come from many places.

Embracing Learner's Ideas About Diffusion and Osmosis: A Coupled-Inquiry Approach

8/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

Learning about osmosis and diffusion is often a challenging task for middle school students. Here the authors present a lesson that was converted from a "cookbook" lab (McLaughlin and Thompson 2007) into a more inquiry-oriented lab that uses inquiry teaching strategies and hands-on investigations to teach middle-grade students about osmosis and diffusion.

Science Sampler: How do we know what we know? A look at schemas

8/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

A schema is like a file folder in the mind, a knowledge structure that holds all of a learner's experiences with a given topic. Schemas are thought to be organized, hierarchical representations of information that can help an individual to adapt to new experiences and to learn new information (Anderson and Pearson 1984). Teaching students to use schemas as they reflect upon how they acquire and connect knowledge will help them to become better thinkers and learners. This article describes how to utilize schemas as a powerful tool for students to understand their own thinking and take charge of their own learning.

Science Sampler: Getting into the habit of persistence

8/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

Habits of mind are the behaviors commonly exhibited by successful people when the solution to a problem is not immediately evident (Costa and Kallick 1992). In a science classroom, persistent students stop and think about a problem they encounter before running up to ask the teacher or raising their hand. Instead of asking the teacher what to do, they might describe the steps they've tried and then request guidance. In this article, the author shares some methods and activities to help her students to persist over the course of the school year.

Science Sampler: Helping students write scientific explanations

8/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

Constructing explanations is an important scientific practice that brings meaning to all that scientists do. But just because it's important to scientists doesn't mean it's going to be important to students. However, getting students to engage in meaningful conversations to make sense of data by applying science ideas is an essential goal for middle school science (AAAS 2008; NRC 1996). This article describes an instructional framework to assist students in developing scientific explanations. It consists of three components: claim, evidence, and reasoning.

Teacher's Toolkit: Promoting and supporting scientific argumentation in the classroom-The evaluate-alternatives instructional model

8/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

This article describes an instructional model that science teachers can use to promote and support student engagement in scientific argumentation. This model is called the evaluate-alternatives instructional model and it is grounded in current research on argumentation in science education (e.g., Berland and Reiser 2009; McNeill and Krajcik 2006; Osborne, Erduran, and Simon 2004; Sampson and Clark 2009; Sandoval and Reiser 2004). To illustrate how this model works inside the classroom, a lesson that was developed for an eighth-grade integrated science course is described. This lesson was designed to help students understand the transfer of energy and develop the abilities to do scientific inquiry.

The Early Years: Planting Before Winter

8/21/2009 12:00:00 AM

Planting flower bulbs is a wonderful activity for many reasons: learning about the life cycle of a plant bulb teaches children about seasonal changes and the environmental needs of plants, and children can observe and measure plant growth over time and see the results of their work in the spring. Conversation about where to plant can build awareness of how the outdoor space is used by other people and animals, where the Sun shines on the ground, where the rain falls, and draws attention to soil as a resource. It is also an inexpensive way to have a beautiful garden the children will be proud of and relates to National Science Education Standard C, Life Science.

Teaching Students to Create Undiscovered Ideas

8/21/2009 12:00:00 AM

Science curricula often guide us to teach students just the facts, but our students need to be prepared for life in the 21st century. Since technology is developing rapidly, we do not know what new technologies, resources, and information our students will be working with when they complete school. If we want our students to be truly prepared for life in the 21st century, we need to prepare them to approach the world with creative scientific skills. This article discusses the importance of creative thinking in science and includes activities that can be structured to support the development of your students' creative scientific skills both in and out of the classroom.

Going Bananas Over Fruit: Using Habits of Mind to Foster Nutritional Literacy

8/21/2009 12:00:00 AM

Science literacy for all students is an education goal in the United States, as well as in many other parts of the world. Habits of mind are the skills and attitudes that students need to develop in order to understand science as a way of thinking. In this standards-based era, habits of mind can be readily incorporated to teach multiple content areas, in the natural sciences as well as in integrated settings. The authors' purpose in designing this unit was to develop habits of mind in middle school learners. Throughout this unit, habits of mind standards are stressed as a way to increase science literacy, specifically, nutritional literacy, in middle school learners.

Using Web Logs in the Science Classroom

8/21/2009 12:00:00 AM

As educators we must ask ourselves if we are meeting the needs of today's students. The science world is adapting to our ever-changing society; are the methodology and philosophy of our educational system keeping up? In this article, you'll learn why web logs (also called blogs) are an important Web 2.0 tool in your science classroom and how they can be created and used to increase science literacy by engaging students in writing, problem solving, and collaboration. These tools will effectively prepare students to work in today's social, interactive, online world.

What Grows There?

8/20/2009 12:00:00 AM

Even though students see plants all around them, they tend to ignore them. Animal studies usually get all the "press." As a naturalist, children's book author, and coordinator for an educational science website for teachers, the author knows from personal experience that observing and charting plant growth can be as intriguing as observing animals. Here she shares a simple but thought-provoking activity that teachers can use with fifth- and sixth-grades students: plant research plots. As students monitor the plant growth in one-meter plots over a period of six weeks, they practice science-process skills while learning about plant life cycles and how plants compete with each other.

Growing Seeds and Scientists

8/20/2009 12:00:00 AM

How do young children develop their ideas about science and scientists' work in their first year of school? How do we teach them to believe they are real scientists? In this article, the authors-a university science educator, a kindergarten teacher, and a Penn State University teaching intern-share their inquiry into these questions in a kindergarten classroom during an exciting, six-week unit on seeds.

Science Shorts: Gourd-ous Decomposition

8/20/2009 12:00:00 AM

While pumpkins are an iconic symbol in the classroom that represent fall, harvest time, and Halloween, they are also an ideal subject for teaching elementary students the fundamentals of scientific inquiry and plant decomposition. In a second-grade classroom in New York, the mold, mush, and blackening flesh of a decomposing pumpkin creatively demonstrated decomposition for the Halloween hungry, jack-o-lantern obsessed children. Here the authors describe lessons that were developed as part of a unit on the life cycle of plants.

Every Day Science: September 2009

8/20/2009 12:00:00 AM

This monthly feature contains facts and challenges for the science explorer.

Teaching through Trade Books: A Habitat Is a Home

8/20/2009 12:00:00 AM

We all have our own habitats, and this month students spend time thinking about what other organisms need to survive, what types of habitats they live in, and how to set up a habitat for a classroom animal.

Thirsty Plants in Arid Places

8/19/2009 12:00:00 AM

In order to demonstrate how plants remove water from the soil and release it to the atmosphere, students compared open- and closed-growing systems using drought-tolerant and higher water requirement plants. Then, students designed a drought-tolerant garden demonstrating what they had learned. Through this experience, students not only learned about evaporation and transpiration in a concrete way, but they also learned about their own local ecosystem and factors affecting it.

Becoming Wildlife Investigators

8/19/2009 12:00:00 AM

Students love learning outdoors, but how do you ensure they are absorbing the science and gaining skills as they do so? The authors found a way-a fourth-grade classroom teacher, a gifted/science resource teacher, and a group of fourth graders-embarked on a yearlong study of birds and the plants they depend on. They used their school yard as the backdrop and incorporated community resources into numerous hands-on experiences that transformed students into eager wildlife investigators and stewards of their local environment. Here they share their inspiring story.

Forest or Field?

8/19/2009 12:00:00 AM

An open field-with its wildflowers, grasses, and vole tunnels-became an instant classroom. Students' senses were awakened there, and upon entering a nearby forest, they immediately detected a difference: less light and cooler air. "Why are there no grasses in the forest? Why aren't there ferns in the field?" These and other questions emerged as fifth-grade students collected and compared data from both a field and forest at a local Audubon Society wildlife refuge.

The Gift of the Tree

8/19/2009 12:00:00 AM

A piece of children's literature can be a powerful tool for teaching and learning science; however, it takes more than reading about a topic to qualify as "doing science." Inspired by the book, The Gift of the Tree, the author developed an in-depth interdisciplinary lesson for her sixth-grade students without diluting the science. Through this lesson, students read and experience the concepts in the story in two ways-through a macro lens to see how these plants and animals are interconnected, and through a micro lens to learn specific hands-on science skills, such as making inexpensive nonglass slides, looking through the microscope, and observing and recording parts of the tree and other plants.

Teaching With Crystal Structures

8/17/2009 12:00:00 AM

Classifying a particle requires an understanding of the type of bonding that exists within and among the particles, which requires an understanding of atomic structure and electron configurations, which requires an understanding of the elements of periodic properties, and so on. Rather than getting tangled up in all of these concepts at the start of the year, the author has found it quicker and simpler to use three-dimensional (3-D), computerized visualizations of crystal structures to teach the classification of particles. This article describes how to use these visualizations in a chemistry lesson and how other teachers can incorporate them into their practice as well.

Idea Bank: Wiffle Ball Physics

8/17/2009 12:00:00 AM

Projectile motion, a cornerstone topic of introductory physics, is usually a student's first exposure to the problem-solving techniques used in this subject. Often, this is an inactive learning experience-students work with pencil and paper to read and solve projectile motion problems (e.g., diagrams and descriptions of balls being hit, kicked, and launched). In the activity described in this Idea Bank, however, students create their own problems by applying their abstract knowledge of projectile motion to something familiar: a Wiffle ball. This activity-which can be done in one 45-minute class period-aligns with National Science Education Standards for force and motion (NRC 1996).

Web Seminar: Thinking Like a Scientist: Teaching and Learning with Current Science Issues, January 12, 2010

8/17/2009 12:00:00 AM

Can issue-based activities make science come alive? Can the process of science work in concert with the context of science through issues? In the first part of the webinar, you will explore how to use ActionBioscience.org to incorporate issues into your teaching and extend its resources to activities that illustrate 'thinking like a scientist.' In part two, our discussion will examine how to use historical cases to illustrate their application to lessons on current issues. In the final hands-on component, participants will learn how to teach students to evaluate web resources using the 5Ws strategy and discuss ways to use this and other strategies for thinking critically about online resources. Join Oksana Hlodan, Editor-in-chief of ActionBioscience.org, a free access, bilingual (English/Spanish) education resource of the American Institute of Biological Sciences, who along with a guest classroom teacher, will guide this reflection on teaching and learning with issues and facilitate the interactive components. Worksheets and resource lists will be provided. This webinar is designed for high school and undergraduate educators of introductory science courses.

Shrinking Our Footprints

8/14/2009 12:00:00 AM

In this unit, each student calculates his or her own ecological footprint as the basis for becoming more environmentally friendly. Over two weeks, students analyze their own lifestyles and use their understanding of environmental chemistry to synthesize, implement, and disseminate plans to reduce their footprints. Ultimately, by writing newspaper articles that are shared with the community, students apply what they have learned to raise public awareness about sustainability. This article describes the environmental chemistry unit and provides suggestions for implementation based on the authors' experience in the high school chemistry classroom.

What Happens to Cemetery Headstones?

8/14/2009 12:00:00 AM

A group of high school students and chaperones boarded a bus for historic Oakland Cemetery located in downtown Atlanta. Students explored the site and made observations of the gravestones, many of which were old and run-down. Upon leaving the cemetery, students-based on their interests-developed various chemistry investigations aimed at answering the same driving question: "What is causing the deterioration of Oakland Cemetery headstones?" To engage students in the concept of acids and bases, the project-based chemistry lesson described in this article incorporates the 5E learning cycle and "funds of knowledge."

Investigating Membranes

8/14/2009 12:00:00 AM

While not organic in nature, quick-"growing" artificial membranes can be a profound visual aid when teaching students about cellular processes and the chemical nature of membranes. Students are often intrigued when they see biological and chemical concepts come to life before their eyes. In this article, the authors share their approach to growing artificial membranes in the classroom, discuss their similarities to and differences from cellular membranes, and explain the related processes and principles they demonstrate for students.

The Science Behind Nanosunscreens

8/14/2009 12:00:00 AM

In this article, the authors provide a brief overview of the emerging field of nanoscience and why it is an important area of education. They next explain the science behind the new nanoparticulate sunscreens, describe the different elements of the unit, and reflect on some of the opportunities and challenges of teaching nanoscience at the high school level.

Podcast: The NSTA Learning Center: SciGuides

8/13/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: The NSTA Learning Center: SciGuides is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall08/NLC/webseminar.aspx">The NSTA Learning Center: Free Classroom Resources and PD Tools - All in One Place</a>, September 16, 2008. The podcast is 4 minutes 31 seconds in duration. In the source Web Seminar, the presenter, Al Byers, gave an overview of the NSTA Learning Center, focusing on how to navigate through the web site and best practices on finding resources. The site has over 2,900 resources available. Byers described some of the featured products, including Science Objects, SciPacks, SciGuides, Journal Articles, and e-Book chapters. He also spent some time talking about how to use the professional development tools available, such as "My Library" and "My PD Plan & Portfolio" and how these can benefit science educators. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSNLC08_Sep16">The NSTA Learning Center: Free Classroom Resources and PD Tools - All in One Place</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: The NSTA Learning Center: SciPacks

8/13/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: The NSTA Learning Center: SciPacks is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall08/NLC/webseminar.aspx">The NSTA Learning Center: Free Classroom Resources and PD Tools - All in One Place</a>, September 16, 2008. The podcast is 11 minutes 10 seconds in duration. In the source Web Seminar, the presenter, Al Byers, gave an overview of the NSTA Learning Center, focusing on how to navigate through the web site and best practices on finding resources. The site has over 2,900 resources available. Byers described some of the featured products, including Science Objects, SciPacks, SciGuides, Journal Articles, and e-Book chapters. He also spent some time talking about how to use the professional development tools available, such as "My Library" and "My PD Plan & Portfolio" and how these can benefit science educators. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSNLC08_Sep16">The NSTA Learning Center: Free Classroom Resources and PD Tools - All in One Place</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: The NSTA Learning Center: Tools

8/13/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: The NSTA Learning Center: Tools is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall08/NLC/webseminar.aspx">The NSTA Learning Center: Free Classroom Resources and PD Tools - All in One Place</a>, September 16, 2008. The podcast is 9 minutes 14 seconds in duration. In the source Web Seminar, the presenter, Al Byers, gave an overview of the NSTA Learning Center, focusing on how to navigate through the web site and best practices on finding resources. The site has over 2,900 resources available. Byers described some of the featured products, including Science Objects, SciPacks, SciGuides, Journal Articles, and e-Book chapters. He also spent some time talking about how to use the professional development tools available, such as "My Library" and "My PD Plan & Portfolio" and how these can benefit science educators. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSNLC08_Sep16">The NSTA Learning Center: Free Classroom Resources and PD Tools - All in One Place</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Maximize your NSTA Conference Experience: Exhibit Hall

8/13/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Maximize your NSTA Conference Experience: Exhibit Hall is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NewOrleans09/How_to_maximize/webseminar.aspx">How to Maximize your NSTA Conference Experience</a>, March 3, 2009. The podcast is 8 minutes 17 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was presented by Ken Rosenbaum, NSTA Chapter Relations Consultant and Howard Wahlberg Assistant Executive Director of Membership. Mr. Rosenbaum and Mr. Wahlberg talked about the offerings at the NSTA National Conference, what to expect, and how to prepare to make the most out of this opportunity. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSHTM09_Mar3">How to Maximize your NSTA Conference Experience</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Favorite Demonstration: Demonstrating Emergent Properties in Dynamic Systems

8/13/2009 12:00:00 AM

This demonstration was developed for an introduction to a soil science class to show how emergent properties are an essential behavior endemic to dynamic systems; explanations for their existence are not dependent on external forces. Emergent properties are new structures or behaviors exhibited by a system in response to external changes in its environment (Corning 2002). This demonstration would be suitable for other Earth-system sciences, biology, and general systems and chaos theory.

Taking Science Online: Evaluating Presence and Immersion Through a Laboratory Experience in a Virtual Learning Environment for Entomology Students

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

A 3-D virtual field trip was integrated into an online college entomology course and developed as a trial for the possible incorporation of future virtual environments to supplement online higher education laboratories. This article provides an explanation of the rationale behind creating the virtual experience, the Bug Farm; the method and rationale for assessing virtual presence within this virtual environment; the results from those measures; and discussion on how similar technologies may be applied to enhance additional online and traditional science courses.

Developing Patterns for Learning in Science Through Reflection

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

The process of the development of critical thinking and knowledge application requires more than rote memorization and the ability to get correct answers on lab reports or on a multiple-choice test. Purposeful, guided reflection may be an opportunity for you to gain insight into what your students are thinking and learning about science content. This article describes some effective strategies that are aligned with the National Science Education Standards (NSES) to develop patterns for learning in science through reflection.

Incorporating Authentic Scientific Research in an Introductory General-Education Course for Nonmajors

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

Nonscience majors enrolling in introductory science courses may not have a chance to conduct authentic scientific research and therefore may develop a distorted view of science. This article describes how authentic research activities were incorporated in an introductory geoscience course. Pairs of students investigated research questions related to volcanoes using online earthquake data and ArcMap 9.x software, and then presented their results in a public session. Such activities can be effectively used in a variety of science courses.

Case Study: The Mystery of the Blue Death-A Case Study in Epidemiology and the History of Science

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

This case study introduces students to John Snow, considered to be one of the founders of both epidemiology and anesthesiology, and a remarkable figure in the history of science. Although historical case studies are often less popular with students than contemporary issues (Herreid 1998), a number of aspects of this case make it attractive to students. First, students find the "detective stories" about important medical discoveries to be inherently appealing. Second, the questions and methods that Snow used to demonstrate the causes of cholera outbreaks are the basis for those used in contemporary epidemiological investigations. Third, although the case study is built around a historical event, there are contemporary cholera outbreaks with some parallels to those studied by Snow (e.g., WHO 2008).

Podcast: Exploring Bioethics Introduction

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Exploring Bioethics Introduction is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NewOrleans09/NIH/webseminarI.aspx">NIH: Exploring Bioethics I</a>, March 26, 2009. The podcast is 7 minutes 38 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar is the first of two scheduled as a follow-up to the NIH: Exploring Bioethics - A New Model for Classroom Instruction Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans, LA. In the program, Liz Crane presented specific examples of the NIH and EDC developed curriculum for teaching bioethics in the high school classroom. Participants responded to a variety of prompts used with students and discussed the pedagogy for using the curriculum with their students. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSEBA09_Mar26">NIH: Exploring Bioethics I</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Global Mean Temperature Increasing

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Global Mean Temperature Increasing is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/stlouis07/IPYair/webseminarI.aspx">Polar Climates: How are They Changing?</a>, May 15, 2007. The podcast is 11 minutes 13 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two on the topic of Polar Climates, How Are They Changing? The presenter was Dr. Doug Williams, Carolina Trustee Professor of Marine and Geological Sciences at the University of South Carolina and Scientist-in-Residence at the Edventure Children's Museum. Dr. Doug talked about the climate changes taking place in the Arctic and Antarctic and how these changes are affecting the polar regions. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSPCH07_May15">Polar Climates: How are They Changing?</a>, May 15, 2007 to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Discoveries from Ice Coring Science

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Discoveries from Ice Coring Science is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/IPY-Boston/webseminar.aspx">Polar Science Global Discoveries IPY Research Update for Teachers I</a>, May 1, 2008. The podcast is 14 minutes 1 second in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two related to the IPY Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenter focused her presentation on the following four questions: (1) Why are the polar regions important for global climate? (2) What is one (of many) important climate discoveries from past ice coring science? (3) How can teachers and students become engaged in IPY ice coring programs? (4) Where can teachers get reliable information about climate change science? The Web seminar was designed for educators of grades 5-12. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSPSG08_May01">Polar Science Global Discoveries IPY Research Update for Teachers I</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Cosmetic Safety History in U.S.

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Cosmetic Safety History in U.S. is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/FDA/webseminarII.aspx">Food and Cosmetics</a>, May 6, 2008. The podcast is 11 minutes 24 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the second of two related to the FDA Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenter focused on three questions: (1) How has the safety of cosmetics been viewed historically in the United States? (2) How is cosmetic safety regulated now? (3) What are some of the cosmetic safety issues FDA has tackled? The Web seminar was designed for educators of grades 5-8. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSTSC08_May06">Food and Cosmetics</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Impacts to Coral Reefs: Animal Influences

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Impacts to Coral Reefs: Animal Influences is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/Corals/webseminarI.aspx">NOAA: Coral Reef Ecosystems I</a>, April 10, 2008. The podcast is 12 minutes 32 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two related to the NOAA Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenter talked about how watersheds, animals, industry, environmental stress, and human recreation (diving, sailing, and boating) are impacting the health of coral reefs. Drinnen also shared ideas of specific things we can do to help improve the health of coral reefs. The Web seminar was designed for educators of grades 5-12. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSCES08_Apr10">NOAA: Coral Reef Ecosystems I</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Impacts to Coral Reefs: Land Based Pollution

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Impacts to Coral Reefs: Land Based Pollution is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/Corals/webseminarI.aspx">NOAA: Coral Reef Ecosystems I</a>, April 10, 2008. The podcast is 10 minutes 43 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two related to the NOAA Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenter talked about how watersheds, animals, industry, environmental stress, and human recreation (diving, sailing, and boating) are impacting the health of coral reefs. Drinnen also shared ideas of specific things we can do to help improve the health of coral reefs. The Web seminar was designed for educators of grades 5-12. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSCES08_Apr10">NOAA: Coral Reef Ecosystems I</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Coral Reef Teaching Resources

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Coral Reef Teaching Resources is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/Corals/webseminarII.aspx">NOAA: Coral Reef Ecosystems II</a>, May 8, 2008. The podcast is 11 minutes 34 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the second of two related to the NOAA Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Chaston talked about coral biology, the value of coral reefs, land-based pollution impacts, and management actions. She also shared information about teaching resources available on the Internet. The Web seminar was designed for educators of grades 5-12. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSCES08_May08">NOAA: Coral Reef Ecosystems II</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Management of Coral Reefs

8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Management of Coral Reefs is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/Corals/webseminarII.aspx">NOAA: Coral Reef Ecosystems II</a>, May 8, 2008. The podcast is 4 minutes 53 seconds in duration. This source Web Seminar was the second of two related to the NOAA Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Chaston talked about coral biology, the value of coral reefs, land-based pollution impacts, and management actions. She also shared information about teaching resources available on the Internet. The Web seminar was designed for educators of grades 5-12. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSCES08_May08">NOAA: Coral Reef Ecosystems II</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Molecular Genetics: Proteins and Genes

8/10/2009 12:00:00 AM

In this chapter, the authors focus conceptually on the connection between genotype and phenotype, specifically the role of genes and proteins in that connection. They also consider the importance of proteins to the work of cells and the impact of proteins on the structures and functions of organisms. In terms of the Instructional Planning Framework, their focus is on sense making and demonstrating understanding.

Interdependence: Environmental Systems and Human Impact

8/10/2009 12:00:00 AM

This chapter covers the entire Instructional Planning Framework process, including both the predictive and responsive phases. Each aspect of the framework you learned about in a stepwise manner in Chapters 3-6 is reviewed again and seen as an entire process. The content focus is on a local ecosystem. It explores the interactions of system components, fluctuations in populations, inputs and outputs, and so forth. Connections are drawn to broader systems, pointing to global impact.

Evolution: Natural Selection

8/7/2009 12:00:00 AM

Evolutionary biology reconstructs how life on Earth has changed and proposes mechanisms that account for how those changes might occur (Passmore and Steward 2000). The authors' focus in this chapter is on the latter area, and they look specifically at natural selection as an explanatory model of evolution. In addition, the responsive phase of the Instructional Planning Framework, particularly "eliciting and confronting preconceptions" and "sense making." But first, beginning on page 146, they briefly review the predictive phase and its application to this lesson on natural selection.

Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Identification

8/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

Everyone is familiar with terrestrial insects such as dragonflies, houseflies, mosquitoes, and beetles, but many of us are unaware that several insects live in the water during their larval stages. These insects are part of a larger group of organisms called aquatic macroinvertebrates, which also includes crustaceans, worms, and mollusks. They are called macroinvertebrates because they can be seen with the naked eye and lack vertebrae. The objective of this investigation is to identify common macroinvertebrates that live in streams and wetlands.

Factors That Affect Eutrophication

8/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

In this investigation, the effects of excess nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) on algae will be examined. An excess of these nutrients can lead to eutrophication in ponds and lakes. Eutrophic lakes typically are shallow, have mucky bottoms, and have warmer temperatures. These types of conditions lower the amount of oxygen available to aquatic organisms and sometimes can lead to fish kills. Usually eutrophic lakes are most noted for their algal blooms, which decrease the commercial and aesthetic value of the lake.

Groundwater Contamination

8/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

This investigation consists of two parts, in which students first model the effects of groundwater contamination and then track the flow of the contamination. However, Part I does not have to be done in order to do Part II. This Teacher Information section presents general information relevant to both parts of the investigation, followed by information specific to each part. There is a separate Student Handout for each part plus a question sheet (at the end of the chapter) covering both parts.

Flood Frequency Analysis for a River

8/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

In many watersheds, the frequency of flooding has greatly increased in the past 20 years, mainly due to changes in the hydrology as a result of farming and urbanization. Human habitation of floodplains causes floods to be perceived as destructive, but the actual destructiveness of a flood depends on what human interference there has been in the watershed and what humans have put in the floodplain area. The objective of this investigation is to predict the recurrence intervals and percent chance of various flows for a river.

Comparison of Phosphate Levels in Stream Sediments

8/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

Phosphorus is an important nutrient to all life. Unfortunately, when phosphate reaches the soil it is not all used up by the plants. If excess phosphate enters the waterways in the watershed, it can cause increased plant growth in lakes and streams and lead to the eutrophication of lakes. The objective of this investigation is to analyze phosphate levels in stream sediments by land use area.

Measuring Plant Allelopathy

8/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

In this investigation, students will select, identify, and test a common plant for allelopathy by extracting the plant's natural chemicals and measuring the effect on the germination of lettuce seeds. They will analyze the data statistically to determine if the germination of seeds exposed to plant extract differs significantly from the germination of seeds in the control condition. The objective is to compare the allelopathic effects of native and non-native plants on the germination of seeds.

Stream Channel Morphology

8/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

When humans change the natural topography, certain effects are likely to be seen in a watershed. The transportation of water and sediment increases when streams are straightened and, with the increased flow rate of water, erosion also increases. All of these factors increase turbidity and can have a negative effect on the waterways and most lakes. A degraded visual appearance will be the most noticeable effect, but animal and plant life will also begin to change as streams are changed. In this investigation, the objective is to compare how channel morphology affects the flow of water and the transportation of sediment.

Calculating Stream Discharge

8/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

Streamflow, or discharge, is defined by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as the volume of water flowing past a fixed point in a fixed unit of time. The discharge of a stream can be affected by many things, including topography and channel morphology. However, rainfall and land use have the greatest effect on stream discharge. Being able to calculate stream discharge is important because this information is needed to make flood frequency predictions. The objective of this investigation is to measure the discharge of a stream.

Modeling Glacial Features With Sand

8/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

In this investigation, students make a model of the different erosional features of valley and continental glaciers out of sand and determine their impact on topography and hydrology.

Wetland Delineation

8/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

Learning how to delineate a wetland using official criteria can be an enlightening experience for students and teachers. The objective of this investigation is for students to delineate the boundaries of an area in a watershed and categorize it as a wetland or not a wetland by examining the vegetation, soil, and hydrology (the same parameters that government agencies use to delineate wetlands).

Glacial Features of a Watershed

8/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

The objective of this investigation is for students to learn how glaciers shaped a watershed.

Reflection: Next Steps, New Questions

7/31/2009 12:00:00 AM

Written reflection is essential to promote student's explorations of their own thinking and learning processes, but is often omitted if science notebooks are used primarily as logs for procedures and observations of their learning activities. Reflection not only brings closure, but also allows for interpretation and critical review of the evidence, as is done by scientists.

English Language Development and the Science-Literacy Connection

7/31/2009 12:00:00 AM

The strategies described in this chapter are designed to meet the needs of English Language Learners in the context of Standards-based science content attainment. This context will address the different levels of language acquisition directly related to the language needs of these students in order for teachers to better understand and meet the needs of their diverse student population.

Additional Strategies for Increasing the Use of Academic Content Language in the Writing of English Language Learners

7/31/2009 12:00:00 AM

This chapter describes additional strategies classroom teachers need to consider with English Language Learners to help them develop scientific content vocabulary. Several of these strategies are not unique to science, but are drawn from language arts and are also excellent English Language Development practices. Some of these strategies include classification, sorting and classifying, Venn Diagrams, word charts, and cloze techniques. The increase in the use of the scientific language in students' writing and classroom discussion will increase their conceptual understanding.

Assessing Student Progress

7/31/2009 12:00:00 AM

Teachers are in the best position to use assessment to improve classroom practice, plan instruction, develop competency in students to reflect on their own teaching practices (NRC 1996). However, assessment practices in science in the elementary classroom have most often been relegated to end-of-unit tests provided by commercial textbooks. Student science notebooks, then, play an important role in the triad of what should be taught (standards), what is actually taught (classroom instruction) and what content students learn. In this context, the student science notebook is the means by which students communicate their understanding.

Prediction

7/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

Students must be guided to state not only what they think will happen, but also a reason or explanation for what will happen based upon their prior knowledge. Therefore, the predictions students write should activate prior knowledge, relate to their focus questions, be conditional statements, and provide an explanation or reason. This chapter provides some effective strategies that will help students hone this essential science process skill.

Planning

7/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

Learning how to plan a science investigation is an important component of learning how to do investigative science. The plan will guide the students to find evidence to respond to their focus question or problem that needs to be solved. This chapter describes some common elements classroom teachers can use to assist their students in creating a plan.

Observations, Data, Charts, Graphs, Drawings, and Illustrations

7/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

Observations, drawings, tables, charts, and graphs are essential elements that students must record in their science notebooks in order to make meaning from their investigations. These elements form the evidence of the investigation. This evidence will later form the basis for making and supporting claims about the patterns and relationships that they have observed during the investigation.

Claims and Evidence

7/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

Engaging students in explanation can change their image of science, enhance their understanding of the nature of science, and foster conceptual understanding. Scientific explanations help frame the goal of inquiry as understanding natural phenomenon, and articulating and convincing others of that understanding. This chapter discusses some tools that will greatly assist students in developing the skill necessary to write evidence-based explanations regarding their evidence or observations, and not simply what they did during the investigation.

Drawing Conclusions

7/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

Drawing conclusions involves comparing initial ideas with new evidence and then deciding whether the ideas fit or need to be changed. It is the key to the investigation, where mental and practical activity comes together. This is how scientists approach investigative science and so this chapter describes how classroom teachers can guide their students to do the same.

Podcast: Basic Greenhouse Physics

7/29/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Basic Greenhouse Physics is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NewOrleans09/SRS/webseminarI.aspx">SRS, NOAA, USFS: Earth Then, Earth Now: Our Changing Climate I</a>, March 31, 2009. The podcast is 7 minutes 36 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two scheduled as a follow-up to the Earth Then, Earth Now: Our Changing Climate Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans, LA. In the program, Dr. Winton talked about greenhouse gases, the Earth's carbon cycle, and global climate models. He showed a variety of graphs generated from current research to illustrate the human influence on Earth's current climate pattern. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSETE09_Mar31">SRS, NOAA, USFS: Earth Then, Earth Now: Our Changing Climate I</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: Climate Models and What They Tell Us

7/29/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: Climate Models and What They Tell Us is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NewOrleans09/SRS/webseminarI.aspx">SRS, NOAA, USFS: Earth Then, Earth Now: Our Changing Climate I</a>, March 31, 2009. The podcast is 10 minutes 50 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two scheduled as a follow-up to the Earth Then, Earth Now: Our Changing Climate Symposium that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans, LA. In the program, Dr. Winton talked about greenhouse gases, the Earth's carbon cycle, and global climate models. He showed a variety of graphs generated from current research to illustrate the human influence on Earth's current climate pattern. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSETE09_Mar31">SRS, NOAA, USFS: Earth Then, Earth Now: Our Changing Climate I</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Question, Problem, Purpose

7/29/2009 12:00:00 AM

Questions and question-formulating strategies are central to science. In many ways the formulation of a question forms the basis for high-quality instruction in science. Effective questioning has a strong connection to cognitive theory. The sentence starters and writing prompts in this chapter have proven to be an effective strategy for teachers in getting students writing investigable questions.

Podcast: 21st Century Explorer Project Overview

7/29/2009 12:00:00 AM

The Podcast: 21st Century Explorer Project Overview is a segment of the Web Seminar <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/NASA-Explorers/webseminarI.aspx">21st Century Explorer - Today's Knowledge for Tomorrow's Explorer</a>, April 24, 2008. The podcast is 5 minutes 28 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two related to the NASA Symposium: 21st Century Explorer - Today's Knowledge for Tomorrow's Explorer that took place at the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston, Massachusetts. The presenters talked about food for spaceflight, past and present. They also did an overview of the 21st Century Explorer Educational Package of the same title. The Web seminar was designed for educators of grades 3-5. Click, <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9/WSCET08_Apr24">21st Century Explorer - Today's Knowledge for Tomorrow's Explorer</a> to place the web seminar archive in your Learning Center Library now.

Podcast: 21st Century Explorer Project Overview

7/29/2009 12:00:00 AM

Investigating Perception and Illusion

7/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

For a motivating and baffling experience, try this investigation of perceptual illusions and their causes. It allows students to observe, analyze, and compare a variety of optical illusions, and also to create their own optical illusions with pencil, paint, and paper. Their results will lead them to make conclusions about visual perception and to generalize about broader aspects of sensory perception. In the process, students will discover that shapes play a major role in illusions and that it can be difficult for one individual to simultaneously maintain two different perspectives.

7/7/2009 12:00:00 AM

Focus on frequent, accurate feedback with this newly expanded guide to understanding assessment. Field-tested and classroom ready, it's designed to help you reinforce productive learning habits while gauging your lessons' effectiveness. The book opens with an up-to-date discussion of assessment theory, research, and uses. Then comes a wealth of sample assessment activities (nearly 50 in all, including 15 new ones) in biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth science. You'll like the activities' flexibility. Some are short tasks that zero in on a few specific process skills; others are investigations involving a variety of skills you can cover in one or two class periods; and still others are extended, in-depth investigations that take several weeks to complete. Keyed to the National Science Education Standards, the activities include reproducible task sheets and scoring rubrics. All are ideal for helping your students reflect on their own learning during science lab.

Podcast: Properties of the Nanoscale NanoScience

7/6/2009 12:00:00 AM

ThePodcast: Properties of the Nanoscale NanoScience is a segment of the <a href="http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall07/NSTA_Press/webseminarI.aspx">Nanoscale Science: Activities for Grades 6-12: Tiny Science: Big Ideas</a> that took place on December 18, 2007. The podcast is 11 minutes 31 seconds in duration. The source Web Seminar was the first of two related to the NanoScale Science Symposium that took place at the NSTA Area Conference on Science Education in Birmingham, Alabama. The program focused on the NSTA Press book and its activities which are organized around five themes: scale, tools and techniques, unique properties and behaviors, nanotechnology applications, and societal implications

NSTA Learning Center Professional Development Tools

Student Reactions to Just-in-Time Teaching's Reading Assignments

Archive: Global Climate Change Impacts in the Eastern United States, November 17, 2009

Archive: Anti-matter Eyes on the Gamma-ray Skies November 12, 2009

Teaching Through Trade Books: Discover Reading

The Early Years: A Reason to Write

Reinventing the Wheel

Methods and Strategies: Connecting Science and Literacy Through Talk

Archive: Global Climate Change Impacts in the Western United States, November 5, 2009

Dare to Disagree, as Scientists

The Art of Argumentation

More Than One "Right" Answer

Bringing Back Books

Speed Kills! (Or Does It?)

Archive: Design Squad: Today's Students, Tomorrow's Engineers November 4, 2009

Everyday Engineering: Time's up, turkey-Pop-up thermometers

Tech Trek: Podcasts and blogs

Web Seminar: Higher than a Sea-Bird's Eye View: Coral Reef Remote Sensing using Satellites, December 15, 2009

Solving the Mystery of Mock Mummies: Using Scientific Inquiry Skills in an Integrated Lesson

Amber: Using "Tree Tears Turned to Stone" to Teach Biology, Ecology, and More!

Search for the Golden Moon Bear: Using Reader's Theater to Teach Science

Cell Towers and Songbirds

Science Sampler: Global Warming Project

Science Shorts: Solar Pizza Friday

Web Seminar: From Sound Waves to Microwaves: "Listening" to the Oldest Light of the Universe with the Planck Mission December 16, 2009

Web Seminar: A Century of Cosmic Surprises December 8, 2009

Web Seminar: Applications of Nanotechnology in Cosmetics and Foods, November 24, 2009

Web Seminar: Introduction to FDA Food Recalls, December 9, 2009

Web Seminar Tattoos and Permanent Makeup: Marketplace and Chemistry, December 17, 2009

Idea Bank: Extra! Extra! Read All About the Universe!

Health Wise: November 2009

Rice

Elk Habitat: A Case Study of Scientific Inquiry

A New Twist on "Mystery Boxes"

The Sound of Crickets

Argument-Driven Inquiry

Grand Canyon: A Trail Through Time

Leo Cockroach …Toy Tester

What Did They See?

That Magnetic Dog

Barn Owl

Rise the Moon

Rice Is Life

Construct-a-Catapult (e-book)

John Muir: America's Naturalist

Construct-a-Boat (e-book)

Construct-a-Glove (e-book)

Archive: ExploraVision Online Resources, October 14, 2009

Podcast: Teach Science Concepts and Inquiry with Food, December 18, 2008

Favorite Demonstration: Structure-Function Lab in a Bag

Research and Teaching: Scientist - Science Educator Collaborations-Do They Improve Student's Understanding of the Nature of Science

A Versatile Module to Improve Understanding of Scientific Literature Through Peer Instruction

Bridging the Gap Between Real-World Polar Science and the Classroom

Application of the K-W-L Teaching and Learning Method to an Introductory Physics Course

Archive: The NSTA Learning Center - PD Resources and Tools for Teachers, October 6, 2009

Vegetation Analysis

Science Sampler: The Element Walk

Science Sampler: Enhancing student understanding of physical and chemical changes

Tried and True: Inquiry-based dissolving

Scope on the Skies: October Skies (2009)

Everyday Engineering: What makes a squirt gun squirt?

No More Leaks: A Process-Oriented Lesson Exploring the Invention and Chemistry of Disposable Diapers

That Is Not Where That Element Goes … Ah, the Nature of Science

Korean Kimchi Chemistry

Watching the Pot to Improve Inquiry Skills

Science Sampler: Chemistry in action-Triple delight

Web Seminar: Relevance of Climate Change for the Arctic Marine Biological System, December 3, 2009

Natural Resources: For the Birds

Methods and Strategies: Literacy in the Learning Cycle

Science Shorts: Astronomies of Scale

Science 101: How do you ask effective questions in science class, and how do you analyze the responses?

Every Day Science: October 2009

Teaching through Trade Books: Secrets of Flight

The Early Years: Safe Smelling

<em>CSI</em> for Trees

Today's Authors, Tomorrow's Scientists

Making Sense of Data

Deer Tracks in the City?

Problem Solving by Design

Wind Solvers