Curated OER
Probability: the Study of Chance
Students experiment to determine if a game is fair, collect data, interpret data, display data, and state and apply the rule for probability. Students use a simple game for this experiment.
University of California
Q Files: Misconceptions About Science
Many students have misconceptions about what science is and how it works. This module explains and corrects some of the most common misconceptions that students are likely having trouble with.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Science Education Center: Natural Selection: Common Misconceptions
This video explores the misconceptions that students hold about natural selection. Go inside your student's heads to see what they are thinking during a lesson on evolution. Follow these suggestions for addressing these common...
NASA
Nasa: Image Science Center: Ask the Space Scientist
A NASA scientist, Dr. Sten Odenwald, answers many students' questions. Topics include planets, galaxies, black holes, the origin of the universe, and common misconceptions about space.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Science in Focus Energy: What Is Energy?
A video workshop looking at the concept of energy. Discussions include energy as it is used in everyday language to the complex scientific meaning of energy. Presents common student misconceptions, history, and the importance of energy...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Science in Focus: Energy: Energy in Food
A video workshop examining how the Sun provides energy for all living things beginning with the process of photosynthesis. Presents current scientific thinking about energy transfer through the food chain as well as ways to deal with...
University of Georgia
University of Georgia: What Science Isn't
This series of notes from a geology professor explores and explains several misconceptions about the nature of science. Sections are titled: A Historical Perspective; Science Isn't Art; Science is not Technology; Science isn't Truth and...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Science Education Center: Chemical Reactions in Action
This video is a professional development resource that explores student misconceptions about atoms, molecules, and chemical reactions. It also gives some pedagogical approaches for approaching these subjects. [10:12]
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Science Education Center:tis the Season for a Reason
A professional development video exploring students misconception over the reason for Earth's season. This video addresses a way to help students understand how Earth's orbit contributes to the seasons. [11:56]
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Science Education Center: Conceptual Change: How New Ideas Take Root
Develop a more nuanced understanding of how student ideas are formed both in and outside of the classroom. By understanding the student's misconceptions on scientific ideas, you can better structure your lesson to be more effective. This...
University of California
Uc Museum of Paleontology: Misconceptions About Science
This page addresses the several topics students may have misconceptions about in science. Page addresses topics such as the limits of science to misinterpretations of the scientific process in a FAQ type of responses.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: The Science of Hiv/aids: Hiv/aids in the United States
When HIV/AIDS first emerged in North America, people were frightened by it and this led to the spread of false information about this disease. Students will learn to separate the facts from the fiction, and will create presentations on...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Science Education Center: Make It Rain
How do you show students that the water cycle is more than just the traditional model of the ocean, clouds, and mountains and actually a part of their daily lives? This video will show multiple models of different part of the water cycle...
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Berkeley Lab: Misconceptions About Nuclear Science
This site sets the record straight on some common misconceptions about Nuclear Science.
NASA
Nasa: Heliophysics: New Science of the Sun Solar System Connection
This site from NASA lists common and uncommon misconceptions about Sun-Earth Science. Site also provides links to activities and lesson plans as well as background reading.
National Institutes of Health
Understanding Alcohol: Information About Alcohol
Includes several sections, with charts and facts with information on alcohol use, alcoholism, youth drinking, and misconceptions and myths about alcohol and drinking. Though a "Teacher's guide," this website is suitable for students...
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Aaas: Project 2061: Topic: Human Body Systems
[Free Registration/Login Required] Create a science test that checks for student understanding in science, for common misconceptions, as well as for correct ideas. This is a list of key ideas related to Human Body Systems. For each key...
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Aaas: Project 2061: Topic: Evolution and Natural Selection
[Free Registration/Login Required] Create a science test that checks for student understanding in science, for common misconceptions, as well as for correct ideas. This is a list of key ideas related to Evolution and Natural Selection....
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Definition of Physics
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This lesson defines physics and addresses some misconceptions about studying physics. Students will begin to understand the basics of physics and how it relates to...
Other
Ohio Public Library Information Center: What's That Snake?
The Ohio Public Library information network provides an extensive tool allowing users to search for snakes by name as well as by narrowing down characteristics until you've located a particular type. Myths, facts, and misconceptions are...
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: Dinosaurs and Cave People
Site uncovers the truth behind some common dinosaur myths.
Other
Science Hobbyist: Capacitors Do Not Store Charge
A page which clarifies many static electricity misconceptions, including how a capacitor charges.
Indiana University
Ensi: Introduction to Evolution Lesson Plan
This unit plan presented by the Evolution and the Nature of Science Institutes is one way to introduce evolution. The authors have created a Pre-test about what evolution is/is not to address misconceptions. There are handouts and...
University of California
Ucmp: Dinosaurs, Movies, & Reality
A very good review of how "movie science" can present an inaccurate or incomplete picture of actual scientific knowledge and methods.