K12Science

I was recently reading the March/April 2022 issue of "Science & Children" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the Editor's Note column, written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn.  She wrote an article entitled, "Water In Our World." Water is critical whether we are floating in canoes, learning about waterfowl habitats, saving a local swamp, or building weathe...

I was recently reading the March/April 2022 issue of "Science Scope" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, the National Science Teaching Association in collaboration with the Children's Book Council, selected the best STEM books for 2022.   In this podcast, we look at the nine middle school STEM books that were featured: A Shot in the Arm: Big Ideas that Chang...

I was recently reading the March/April 2022 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, "The Land Loss Lookout Project."  Land Loss Lookout is a citizen science project from Healthy Gulf and Northeastern University designed to monitor land loss in...

I was recently reading the March/April 2022 issue of "Science Scope" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section, "Interdisciplinary Ideas," written by Katie Coppens.  She wrote an article entitled, "Creating Confidence and Community Through Nature Journals."  Nature journals are a great tool for teaching students how to think about and express sc...

I was recently reading the March/April 2022 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, "Implicit Bias Has No Room in the Classroom."  The tendency for stereotype-confirming thoughts to pass spontaneously through our minds is what psychol...

I was recently reading the January/February 2022 issue of "The Science Teacher" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section, "Focus on Physics," written by Paul G. Hewitt.  He wrote an article entitled, "A Personal Journey to Classroom Success."  There are some central rules to heed, in order to be, an appreciated and effective science teacher: 1....

I was recently reading the January/February 2022 issue of "Science & Children" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section, "Formative Assessment Probes," written by Page Keeley.  She wrote an article entitled, "Uncovering Students' Ideas About Using Designs From Nature."  Scientists seek to understand the natural world, while engineers solve prob...

I was recently reading the January/February 2022 issue of "Science & Children" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section, "Editor's Note," written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn.  She wrote an article entitled, "Design Thinking."  Design Thinking is a solution-based technique used to solve problems.    The basics of Design Thinking are: Empathize - c...

I was recently reading the January/February 2022 issue of "Science Scope" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the article listing the "2022 Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students."  In this podcast, we look at eight "Outstanding Science Trade Books" recommended for middle school students in grades 6 - 8: "Beavers: Radical Rodents and Ecosystem En...

I was recently reading the January/February 2022 issue of "Science Scope" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the article listing the "2022 Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students."  In this podcast, we look at 13 "Outstanding Science Trade Books" recommended for students in grades 3-5: "The Body Book" Illustrated by Hannah Alice "Pooper Snooper"...

I was recently reading the January/February 2022 issue of "Science Scope" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the article listing the "2022 Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students."  In this podcast, we look at six "Outstanding Science Trade Books" recommended for K-2 students: "The Secret Life of the Sloth" by Laurence Pringle "If Bees Disappear...

I was recently reading the January/February 2022 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.  Jill wrote an article entitled "The Woodpecker Cavity Cam Project." The Woodpecker Cavity Cam Project study site is based at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in Eastern Minnesota....

I was recently reading the January/February 2022 issue of "Science Scope" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the "Editor's Desk" written by Patty McGinnis.   She wrote an article entitled "Science Teaching Challenges." The pandemic has been extremely challenging in ways that could never have been anticipated.  How do teachers keep emotionally healthy...

I was recently reading the October 20, 2021 NSTA Blog, hosted by the National Science Teaching Association.  This blog was entitled, "Creating a Culture of Science Safety: 7 Teacher Tips for This Fall (and Beyond)," written by Mike Marvel. The seven tips that follow will help ensure safe lab practices year-round while helping educators establish a science culture rooted in safety: 1.  Discuss risk...

I was recently reading the December 9, 2021 NSTA Blog, hosted by the National Science Teaching Association.  This blog was entitled, "A Call to Action for Science Education," written by Dr. Heidi Schweingruber, Director for Board on Science Education at National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Recognizing the urgency of elevating the importance of science education, the Carnegie C...

I was recently reading the November/December 2021 issue of "The Science Teacher" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section, "Career of the Month" which featured an article on Radiochemistry.  It was written by Luba Vangelova.  Radiochemists study radiation from an atomic and molecular perspective and find ways to harness the power of radioactive...

I was recently reading the November/December 2021 issue of "The Science Teacher" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read an article entitled "Picture This! The Versatility of Graphic Novels in Science Class" written by Rachelle Haroldson.   The popularity of graphic novels in not surprising.  They are colorful and engaging, marrying text to images, with d...

I was recently reading the November/December 2021 issue of "Science & Children" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read an article entitled "Why Do Certain Terms in the Language of Science Cause So Much Confusion?" written by Matt Bobrowski.   Language in the science classroom includes both technical/scientific terms and non-scientific words.  Some proble...

I was recently reading the November/December 2021 issue of "Science & Children" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read an article entitled "Touch, Talk, Text" written by Sarah J. Carrier, Jill F. Grifenhagen, and Danielle Scharen.  They wrote an article entitled "Touch, Talk, Text." Traditional approaches to science instruction often include reading scie...

I was recently reading the November/December 2021 issue of "Science & Children" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section "Editor's Note" written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn.  Elizabeth wrote an article entitled "The Language of Science." The language of science is much more than just knowing technical or content-specific words or phrases.  Unders...

I was recently reading the November/December 2021 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.  Jill wrote an article entitled "Taking the Pulse of Our Planet with Nature's Notebook." Nature's Notebook, a project of the USA National Phenology Network, invites participants to help sc...

I was recently reading the November/December 2021 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 Patti McGinnis.  Patti wrote an article entitled "The Importance of Professional Development." Professional Development is best conducted via opportunities to learn in the workplace through Prof...

I was recently reading the September/October 2021 issue of "The Science Teacher" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section "Career of the Month" written by Luba Vangelova.  Luba wrote an article entitled "Soil Scientist." Soil scientists study the soil, for the purpose of understanding it in its natural state, or in its capacity to serve human pu...

I was recently reading the September/October 2021 issue of "Science & Children" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section "Science 101" written by Matt Bobrowsky.  Matt wrote an article entitled "What is Energy?" Energy is one of those scientific terms that is commonly used outside of science and outside of the classroom with a variety of colloq...

I was recently reading the September/October 2021 issue of "Science & Children" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section "Editor's Note" written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn.  Elizabeth wrote an article entitled "Three-Dimensional Teaching and Learning." One of the most important starting points when implementing three-dimensional teaching and lea...