The Importance of Water
K12Science
I was recently reading the March - April 2025 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, “Water: Earth’s Most Vital Resource.” Oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and groundwater are all part of a dynamic system that not only shapes Earth’s physical landscape, but also supports all forms of life.
info_outline
Aurorasaurus
K12Science
K12Science Podcast: Aurorasaurus I was recently reading the January - February 2025 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, “Illuminating the Northern Lights with Aurorasaurus.” Aurorasaurus invites participants from around the world to contribute to aurora research by reporting sightings and observing real-time data. Auroras are stunning natural light displays that occur near our planet’s poles. ...
info_outline
Sensemaking
K12Science
I was recently reading the January - February 2025 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, “Helping Students Make Sense.” Creating a classroom in which the emphasis shifts the learner role from “learning about” to “figuring out” requires students to engage in the collaborative task of sensemaking. The type of classroom discussion is critical to sensemaking. STEM Teaching Tools, at: can help...
info_outline
Why We Remember
K12Science
I was recently reading the December 9, 2024 issue of “Smithsonian” magazine. In this issue, I read an article entitles, “The Ten Best Science Books of 2024,” written by Joe Spring, Riley Black, Shi En Kim, Dan Falk, Christian Elliott, and Benjamin Cassidy. The book review that I enjoyed the most was “Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory’s Power to Hold On to What Matters,” written by Charan Ranganath. Ranganath draws on 25 years of experience studying the mechanisms of human memory to explain how remarkable it is that we remember anything at all.
info_outline
Ecosystems
K12Science
I was recently reading the November/December 2024 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. He wrote an article entitled, “Q: What’s a Good Way of Explaining Ecosystems?” An ecosystem is like a big neighborhood where plants, animals, and even tiny things like bugs and mushrooms all love together.
info_outline
Buoyancy Misconceptions
K12Science
I was recently reading the November/December 2024 issue of “Science and Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Early Years” column, written by Alissa A. Lange. She wrote an article entitled, “Deconstructing Common Misconceptions in Early Science.” Misconceptions are common in science—even into adulthood. Instead of feeling guilty when we discover our misconceptions, what if we, as adults, turn this feeling into curiosity? What if we help our students to do the same?
info_outline
Expanding Science Knowledge
K12Science
I was recently reading the November/December 2024 issue of “Science and Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Guest Editorial” column, written by Emily Adah Miller and Ayca Fackler. They wrote an article entitled, “Expanding Science Knowledge Through Expansive Science Teaching.” To prepare students for future scientific endeavor and to be scientifically literate world citizens, teachers must challenge the status quo, pushing the limits of science education by using local place to contextualize and increase...
info_outline
Expansive Science Teaching
K12Science
I was recently reading the November/December 2024 issue of “Science and 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, “Expansive Science Teaching Practices.” Expansive learning theory, rooted in activity theory, provides a framework for how learners create new knowledge and practices for novel situations.
info_outline
Gemologist
K12Science
info_outline
Gemologist
K12Science
info_outlineI was recently reading the January - February 2025 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, “Helping Students Make Sense.”
Creating a classroom in which the emphasis shifts the learner role from “learning about” to “figuring out” requires students to engage in the collaborative task of sensemaking. The type of classroom discussion is critical to sensemaking. STEM Teaching Tools, at:
https://stemteachingtools.org/tools
can help you plan for student discussions.