Tag Archives: elementary

Flatten the Classroom with the iGo Microscope

By Martin Horejsi | Published: May 3, 2013

Although many handheld technologies of Star Trek seem antiquated, or perhaps even steam punkish in todays world, there are still a few pieces of Treknata that we dream of. But that list just got one item shorter with the iGo wireless microscope. While not quite a Medical Tricorder, the iGo does capture the essence of [...]

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The history of our planet

By Mary Bigelow | Published: April 18, 2013

One of the themes in several articles and blogs I’ve read makes the case that the study of earth science should not stop at the end of middle school! Illustrating this, the final version of the Next Generation Science Standards were released last week, and the NSTA journals continue a discussion with The NGSS and [...]

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It’s Electric!

By Mary Bigelow | Published: March 24, 2013

When I was little, I had an “electric” map of the U.S. There were two wired probes, and the object of the game was to use them to connect the name of the state capital from a list in the margin with a state on the map. (This was long before computer games!) If the [...]

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Arranging a science classroom

By Mary Bigelow | Published: March 22, 2013

I’m student teaching now at an elementary school, and I want to emphasize science. In the classrooms I observe, I see many different layouts and arrangements, but what is the best way to organize a classroom? When I get my own classroom, where do I start? —Alexander,  Albuquerque, New Mexico I’ve been in dozens of [...]

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A Little Perspective Goes a Long Way

By Carole Hayward | Published: March 13, 2013

Elementary teachers can experience a sense of isolation when their schedules don’t allow a lot of interaction with their colleagues. I remember those days well. That’s why I was excited to see the new book, Perspectives: Research & Tips to Support Science Education, K–6. A compendium of the popular column from Science & Children, Perspectives offers teachers research and [...]

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Reading With NSTA Kids: New Series of Children’s Picture Books

By Carole Hayward | Published: February 25, 2013

When my children were very young, we really enjoyed our weekly trek to the public library for story time and checking out books. We would stagger out balancing stacks of what we called “fact books”. You name the subject, we checked out trade books on it: electricity, dinosaurs, elevators, animals of the Amazon. I was [...]

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Early childhood/Life science

By Mary Bigelow | Published: February 16, 2013

In my volunteer work at a nature center, I get to see young children as they explore the natural world. They seem to have an intense interest in the animals and plants around them. This issue has several ideas to capitalize on this interest with relevant activities and investigations. What do living things do for [...]

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Focus on the new standards

By Mary Bigelow | Published: January 23, 2013

Interested in what using the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) could look like in a classroom? The editor has a summary of significant components outlined in the Framework for K-12 Science Education, which is a guide for the development of the standards. The featured articles in this issue each start with an overview of how [...]

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Identifying rocks

By Mary Bigelow | Published: December 28, 2012

I attended an event where we cleaned out the science warehouse for our school system. I got a lot of great stuff for my elementary science classes, including a box of rock and mineral samples that have little stickers with letters or numbers. I’m sure at some point there was a key that told what [...]

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Build it!

By Mary Bigelow | Published: December 17, 2012

When I was a child, one of my favorite toys was a set of wooden blocks, in a variety of shapes and sizes. We would play for hours, sometimes building models of structures and other times experimenting with designs and patterns. We also had Lincoln Logs and Tinkertoys, and we realized that different materials could [...]

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