Science Education Articles for Teachers

Have you ever wondered why the shower curtain is sucked inward when you turn on the water? Or marveled as a jumbo jet defies gravity at liftoff?  The answer to both of these phenomena is air pressure. Although it is all around us and affects us every day, air pressure is tricky to teach. It is a...

A favorite summertime adventure for many families is a trip to the amusement park. Whether you like carousels or roller coasters, there seems to be something for every level of thrill-seeker. Amusement parks are also a great way to study physics in the classroom. When potential energy is converte...

Talking about zoos and aquariums can bring up a mixture of feelings. There are those who love going to a zoo or an aquarium to see their favorite animals, but there are also others who loathe these types of institutions. Even when you are working with younger children, you can discuss the issues ...

A Bird came down the Walk – He did not know I saw – He bit an Angle Worm in halves And ate the fellow, raw. - From Emily Dickinson’s, “A Bird Came Down the Walk” It has been said that humans are the most adaptable species on Earth. We can live in all climates, eat nearly anything, and use techno...

Are you searching for ways to help your students make the connection between an object's shape and its purpose? Try this engaging, inquiry-based lesson, where participants get up close with animal skulls to discover how teeth shape determines their function. Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores ...

Are you scared of teaching the periodic table? How do you face down those fears? Do you know of some clever, memorable ways to teach the periodic table to your class? As teachers, we all know that this particular topic will resurface throughout every student's academic career, and it really isn't...

With budget cuts being a reality that affects all aspects of the educational system, field trips might seem like a luxury. However, they really don’t have to be expensive. Take your class on a walking tour, or plan a virtual field trip in which you expose your class to a new experience without le...

A couple years back, at the National Afterschool Association convention, Bill Nye was the keynote speaker. Even though it was nearly two decades ago when Bill Nye the Science Guy first appeared on PBS, he packed a giant ballroom full of fans like they were packed into a can of sardines. In my boo...

Do you remember procrastinating until the last minute to write a paper in college? Do you recall the sinking feeling you got in your stomach when you realized there were still huge gaps in your understanding of the material you thought you knew well? For most of us, it is harder to hide our defic...

Even if they don’t have a family pet themselves, all students can relate to the enjoyment of having a cat, dog, bird, iguana, or rabbit of their own. In books and movies, the relationship between children and their animals is immortalized. Who didn’t fall in love with the dog in Because of Winn D...

Science is exciting! But sitting in a stuffy classroom with their noses in a textbook is certainly not going to help your students experience the exhilaration of science. Get your class up and moving, while teaching them science and showing them that actions really do speak louder than words! Thi...

My mother, who started school during World War II, has the most beautiful handwriting. Her loops and swirls are as classical as a fancy computer font. Like many children of that era, she remembers playing with buttons, kneading bread dough, and cutting paper dolls from scraps of wrapping paper wh...

As most parents and teachers of young children know, there is no better way to engage in hands-on learning than to embark on outdoor explorations and discover living things. Poky pine cones, smooth acorns, and spiky rose bushes are great springboards for little ones’ natural curiosity, and the be...

Integrating children’s literature into the science curriculum certainly isn’t a new trend. However, the variety, availability, and quality of trade books have increased dramatically which makes it easier than ever. Many science teachers use literature to engage students and maximize time since li...

When the Soviet Union put a satellite into space in 1957, the United States reacted by creating NASA in 1958. President John F. Kennedy later gave the agency the mission of putting a man on the moon before the close of the 1960s. To engage this generation in the original mission of NASA, try thes...