My middle schoolers were full of energy! This month’s Science Scope has many suggestions for channeling their enthusiasm into studying energy transformations. What’s really relevant is that most of the activities require simple materials and can be completed within a few class periods, while still focusing on higher-order thinking and science/engineering practices. Middle-schoolers love a [...]
Passing along some information – From Elizabeth Deakin: Heading into its 10th year, eCYBERMISSION is a free, web-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics competition for students in grades 6-9. Your students can compete against other students in their grades for state, regional, and national awards. Teams consisting of 3-4 students and a team advisor would [...]
Some bits and pieces gleaned from listserves, blogs, and tweets– Professional development 10 Amazing Free Online Computer Science Classes from Stanford University. Each class is open to the public and is taught by a Stanford professor. Non-Stanford students do not get academic credit, but certificates are awarded as a document of participation. Wouldn’t it be [...]
As I read this issue, I really identified with What Students Really Think About Doing Research, but in a slightly different context. I was affiliated with a professional development workshop a few summers ago, and as the culminating event, teachers were expected to conduct a research project and present it to the group. The teachers [...]
For me, the most interesting part of TV’s Antiques Roadshow is not how much the objects are worth but the stories behind the objects. The owners ask questions and tell the appraisers what they know about the objects—where they came from, how long they’ve owned them, and often a bit of family history and personal [...]
There’s been a lot of activity in the social media sites about the relevance of professional development. Some of the best PD I had came from working informally with special education teachers. I had students with special needs in my classes and my colleagues helped me come to the same conclusions as the SS Editor: [...]
I wish I had more than 24 hours in a day. There are so many new resources online, and even the tried and true ones are continually being updated. It would be easy to do an entire earth science course using NOAA resources. I recently rediscovered NOAA’s Environmental Visualization Library. The maps and graphics could [...]
Will we ever get to the point where we can sit back and say “Our students have these skills. We’re set until the 22nd century?” A great benefit for NSTA members is electronic access to all of the journals. After you read the print version that is part of your membership, you can read the [...]
The topic of motion and forces would be in my Top 10 list of topics in which students benefit from hands-on investigations, simulations, and videos. Students of any age (K–12 and even college) enjoy rolling, sliding, dropping, and flying things. It’s one thing to focus on mathematical formulas in physics (as my college physics courses [...]
I must say that I really enjoyed this issue. Helping students see the connections and relationships between science and other subjects and interests is a wonderful part of being a teacher. Illustrations, diagrams, field sketches, photographs, videography, and performances are relevant ways for students to explore connections between science and art and authentic opportunities to [...]
