K12Science

I was recently reading the September/October 2026 issue of "Science Scope" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read the section "Citizen Science" written by Jill Nugent.  She wrote an article entitled "Nitrate Watch: Exploring Connections from the Creek to the Classroom." Through the Nitrate Watch citizen science project, students test water sources and meas...

I was recently reading the September/October 2026 issue of "Science Scope" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read the section "From the Editor's Desk" written by Patty McGinnis.  She wrote an article entitled "The Crucial Role of Physical Science in the Middle School Classroom." Physical science in middle school is usually an introductory survey course tha...

I was recently reading the July/August 2026 issue of "The Science Teacher" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read the section "Fact-or-Faux" written by Jonathan Osborne.  He wrote an article entitled "AI - Friend or Foe?." Can AI help in detecting misinformation? Can it sort fact from faux? Here is a three-step process to help: 1. Get it In — Put the claim...

I was recently reading the July/August 2026 issue of "Science and Children" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read the section "Teaching Teachers" written by Lin Xiang, Kristin Cook, Caitlin Ousley, Stephanie Harmon, and Corinne Lardy.  They wrote an article entitled "Using a Tool to Demystify the Complexity of Choosing Anchoring Phenomena." The Next Gener...

I was recently reading the July/August 2026 issue of "Science Scope" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read the section "Citizen Science" written by Jill Nugent.  She wrote an article entitled "Backyard Biodiversity: Bring Science to Life with Bugs in Our Backyard." As educators we look for ways to make science relevant, hands-on, and engaging for our stud...

I was recently reading the July/August 2026 issue of "Science Scope" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read an article written by Patty McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled "HQIM in Practice." Over the last decade, U.S. researchers have linked high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and positive student learning outcomes. Examples include: Open SciE...

I was recently reading the May/June, 2026 issue of "The Science Teacher," a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read an article written by Gregory MacDougall. He wrote an article entitled "Taking Students Outside: A Framework for Making Science Real." Gregory shared a four-part framework for outdoor science instruction: 1. Explore the school grounds with purpo...

I was recently reading the May-June, 2026 issue of "Science and Children" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the Science 101 column written by Matt Bobrowsky. It was entitled "Q: How Can I Build Science Literacy for Lifelong Learning (Using Thermal Insulation)?" We can build science literacy by teaching students that science is a process of asking que...

I was recently reading the May-June, 2026 issue of "Science Scope" a publication from the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the Leadership Matters column written by Amy Bekins. It was entitled "The Unintentional Consequences of High Stakes Testing on Middle School Science." Some ways that leaders can build science efficacy and increase achievement for all contents is to:...

I was recently reading the May-June, 2026 issue of "Science Scope" a publication from the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read a guest editorial, written by Christine Hirst Bernhardt. It was entitled "Making a Place for Earth and Space." Christine is the President-Elect of the National Earth Science Teachers Association. She is a former Earth and space science teacher, her...

I was recently reading the May 20, 2026, blog from the National Science Teaching Association. The blog was entitled, "Teaching Students to Think in Science: Where Curiosity Meets Cognitive Strategy" written by Kristen Barnes. Science instruction leans heavily on synchronous learning, individual work, note-taking and getting the 'right answer." However, the true goal of science education isn't comp...

I was recently reading the March - April 2026, issue of The Science Teacher, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read an article written by Douglas Allchin. He wrote an article entitled "When Experts Disagree." Respect the consensus of the relevant scientific experts. That's the benchmark for reliable science in informing public policy or personal decision-m...

I was recently reading the March - April 2026, issue of Science and Children, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read an article written by Mary Starr, Jordan Sherry-Wagner, Carrie Tzou, Megan Bang, Shirin Vossoughi, and Anna Lees. They wrote an article entitled "Place Matters." Outdoor learning is not simply a change in instructional setting, but a shift i...

I was recently reading the March - April 2026, issue of Science Scope, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read an article written by Patty McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled "AI in the Classroom." The rate of cheating in science classrooms has not changed after the availability of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools. The sudden alarm to do something...

I was recently reading the April 22, 2026, NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Tara Graham. She wrote an article entitled "Stop Competing for Attention. Start Using It." Ask any middle school science teacher what their biggest classroom challenge is right now, and there's a good chance that attention ranks near the top of...

I was recently reading the April 10, 2026, NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Ken Roy. He wrote an article entitled "Mercury Spills in the Science Instructional Space: Hazards, Risks, and Safety Actions." Use of mercury in high school and middle school science classrooms and laboratory instructional spaces has well-known...

I was recently reading the April 2, 2026, NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Christine Anne Royce. She wrote an article entitled "A New Dawn on the Lunar Horizon: #WeAreGoing." On April 1, 2026, the Space Launch System engines ignited, lift off occurred, and Artemis II headed to the moon. It carried the first four humans...

I was recently reading the April 1, 2026 NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Jill Nugent. She wrote an article entitled "Spark Curiosity This Spring." Citizen science refers to public participation in science. Opportunities for students to participate in authentic science practices can deepen their understanding of the wo...

I was recently reading the March 17, 2026 NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Christine Anne Royce and Valerie Bennett. They wrote an article entitled "Discovering AI Gems." AI Gems are custom versions of Google Gemini that act as specialized AI assistants. Gems can serve as "thought partners" that remember your specific...

I was recently reading the November 24, 2025 NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Jason Strohl. He wrote an article entitled "Embrace the Chaos: Advice for New Science Teachers." Jason interviewed Madeline Grygiel, a science instructional support teacher for the Richmond (Virginia) Public Schools.  The article shares four...

K12Science Podcast: What if AI Gets it Wrong? I was recently reading the February 18, 2026 NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read the section, "From Chalkboards to AI" written by Valerie Bennett and Christine Anne Royce. They wrote an article entitled "What if AI Gets it Wrong? Teaching Students to Detect Errors and Misleading Models." When teach...

I was recently reading the January - February  2026 issue of "Science and Children," a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section, "Science 101" written by Matt Bobrowsky. He wrote an article entitled "What is Data, and Is Data Science Really Science?" In the article, Matt addresses three misconceptions about data science: 1. Data refers only to num...

I was recently reading the January - February  2026 issue of "Science Scope", a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section, "Citizen Science" written by Jill Nugent. She wrote an article entitled "Data and Discovery from the Sea to the Science Classroom." Students can follow in the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin's study of ocean currents, by partic...

I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of "The Science Teacher", a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read a featured article written Matthias Fisher, Cody Pritchard, Zhen Xu, and Joshua Rosenberg. They wrote an article entitled, "Finding Your Way into Data Science Education as a Science Teacher." This is the third podcast in a series of thr...

I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of "The Science Teacher", a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read a featured article written Matthias Fisher, Cody Pritchard, Zhen Xu, and Joshua Rosenberg. They wrote an article entitled, "Finding Your Way into Data Science Education as a Science Teacher." This is the second podcast in a series of th...