Science Education Articles for Teachers - Page 3
Exploring the Far Side of the Moon
The landing of the NASA rover, Curiosity, on Mars has created a media and pop culture frenzy that has refueled interest in space exploration. Not only is the rover improved in design, but it is improved in social media. You can visit the Curiosity Facebook page or follow Curiosity on Twitter. It ...
A Sweet, Summer Science Experiment
“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!”Kids and adults everywhere will want to celebrate the anniversary of the invention of ice cream. What better way to appreciate this delectable dessert than by making it at home? This is a great way to combine summer and science.
Science Standar...
Star Maps and iPads: Explore The World Above
Enjoying the stars at night can be a fun, spontaneous activity for everyone to enjoy. However, if you have time to prepare, why not make a night of it? Find a high spot where there are no trees or tall buildings to obstruct the view, and pack up your stargazing kit for a comfortable, relaxing tim...
Take the Pain Out of Science Fair Projects
As both a teacher and a parent, I have experienced the stress involved with putting together science fair projects. Teachers find it difficult because they have to clearly articulate their expectations and motivate their class to come up with unique ideas. When you have a class of thirty, discuss...
Introducing: National Transportation Week
You see it all around you – snarled lanes of traffic stopped in all directions as commuters struggle to reach their jobs; frazzled airline passengers stuck on a runway, certain to miss their connection; disgruntled urban dwellers packed onto train cars. It’s obvious: the nation has a transportati...
Nurturing Green Thumbs at School
Like people, gardens come in all shapes and sizes. Adding a school garden to your curriculum is a big undertaking, but it is one that has many positive outcomes. In addition to providing real-world applications for many scientific principles, these living laboratories engage learners at a deeper ...
Explore the World through Habitat
With April designated as World Habitat Awareness Month, the time is right to lead your learners on a journey of discovery related to this topic. In classrooms from kindergarten to high school, learners explore and evaluate how a habitat affects the behavior of an animal or human. Through research...
What's in a Brain?
On Earth, there are many natural wonders we have yet to fully explore, most of which the ordinary person will never experience. Depths of the ocean beckon, and mass networks of caves lay undiscovered. Yet, perhaps the most fascinating of all frontiers is one we engage with every day: the human br...
Activities in a Science Classroom
When I'm at home with my kids, I love to have them help me with different tasks around the house. They enjoy cooking, gardening, and even folding clothes. I don’t know if it is just me, but as a science teacher, I find myself narrating every activity and relating it back to some classroom concept...
STEM Is The Buzzword!
When teachers are lucky enough to have control over their own curriculum, or to work in an environment of collaboration, the opportunity to develop cross-curricular lesson plans should be a main focus. Students will benefit from hearing about topics from varied points of view, and will develop re...
The Symmetry of Snowflakes
Whether or not you live in a place that snows, there’s no better way to get into the winter spirit than by making your own snowflakes to hang in the classroom. Creating snowflakes with your class is a great way to discuss symmetry in math or science class as part of a winter theme. However, teach...
Exploring the Solar System
When I think about our galaxy, one of countless others in the solar system, I feel a sense of awe. Scientists agree that it formed around 4.6 billion years ago when a cloud of gas was compressed and collapsed inward under the force of gravity. When the cloud collapsed, most of its mass and energy...
The New Space Race
When the shuttle fleet was retired in 2011, it marked the end of an era in manned spaceflight. But spaceflight is definitely not passé. Over the next few years, commercial spaceflight will be the new buzzword as companies, such as Virgin Galactic, plan to take anyone who wants to right to the fri...
Using Satellite Imagery to Discuss the Science Behind Brazilian Deforestation
For several decades people concerned about the environment have had their eye on Brazil where vast areas of land are being deforested each year. Brazil loses more than 15,000 square kilometers to deforestation each year -- an area about the size of New Jersey, Northern Ireland, or twice the size ...
Visualizing Succession
When learning about the parts and interactions in an ecosystem, it is essential to understand the dynamic nature of living things. However, despite understanding how living things change, students often perceive ecosystems themselves as stable and unchanging. Because of this, learning about succe...