K12Science

The purpose of K12Science is to share ideas about science teaching for grades K-12 and beyond. K12Science is hosted by David Bydlowski, science educator in Michigan

Why Learn Outdoors? 06/04/2026

Why Learn Outdoors? I was recently reading the March - April 2026, issue of Science and Children, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read an article written by Mary Starr, Jordan Sherry-Wagner, Carrie Tzou, Megan Bang, Shirin Vossoughi, and Anna Lees. They wrote an article entitled “Place Matters.” Outdoor learning is not simply a change in instructional setting, but a shift in relationships among children, educators, families, and the socio-ecological systems they inhabit. Outdoor learning, when historicized and relationally grounded, becomes a practice of responsibility, connection, and future-making. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/41538065

Stop Cheating in an AI World 05/28/2026

Stop Cheating in an AI World I was recently reading the March - April 2026, issue of Science Scope, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue I read an article written by Patty McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled “AI in the Classroom.” The rate of cheating in science classrooms has not changed after the availability of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools. The sudden alarm to do something about a problem that we have been complacent about for decades highlights some fundamental misconceptions about both why cheating happens and the role that technology plays (or doesn’t) in enabling it. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/41452755

Stop Competing for Attention 05/07/2026

Stop Competing for Attention I was recently reading the April 22, 2026, NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Tara Graham. She wrote an article entitled “Stop Competing for Attention. Start Using It.” Ask any middle school science teacher what their biggest classroom challenge is right now, and there’s a good chance that attention ranks near the top of the list. This isn’t a new problem, but it is an accelerating one. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/41206550

Mercury Hazards 04/15/2026

Mercury Hazards I was recently reading the April 10, 2026, NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Ken Roy. He wrote an article entitled “Mercury Spills in the Science Instructional Space: Hazards, Risks, and Safety Actions.” Use of mercury in high school and middle school science classrooms and laboratory instructional spaces has well-known safety and health hazards and risks. Bottomline is don’t take any chances with safety and health-even to learn important science. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/40892765

Artemis II 04/08/2026

Artemis II I was recently reading the April 2, 2026, NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Christine Anne Royce. She wrote an article entitled “A New Dawn on the Lunar Horizon: #WeAreGoing.” On April 1, 2026, the Space Launch System engines ignited, lift off occurred, and Artemis II headed to the moon. It carried the first four humans to venture into the deep-space proving ground in over a half century. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/40776910

Citizen Science Month 04/01/2026

Citizen Science Month I was recently reading the April 1, 2026 NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Jill Nugent. She wrote an article entitled “Spark Curiosity This Spring.” Citizen science refers to public participation in science. Opportunities for students to participate in authentic science practices can deepen their understanding of the world. One way to provide such opportunities is by incorporating citizen science experiences in the classroom and schoolyard during Citizen Science Month, this April. For more information about Citizen science, visit the following websites: /episode/index/show/k12science/id/40701165

AI Gems 03/26/2026

AI Gems I was recently reading the March 17, 2026 NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Christine Anne Royce and Valerie Bennett. They wrote an article entitled “Discovering AI Gems.” AI Gems are custom versions of Google Gemini that act as specialized AI assistants. Gems can serve as “thought partners” that remember your specific instructional frameworks, grade levels, and pedagogical goals so you don’t have to retype them every time. You can find examples of Gems at: /episode/index/show/k12science/id/40633865

Advice for New Science Teachers 03/10/2026

Advice for New Science Teachers I was recently reading the November 24, 2025 NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read an article written by Jason Strohl. He wrote an article entitled “Embrace the Chaos: Advice for New Science Teachers.” Jason interviewed Madeline Grygiel, a science instructional support teacher for the Richmond (Virginia) Public Schools. The article shares four keys to successful science teaching: 1. Redefine what science looks like 2. Connect lessons to the real world 3. Collaborate with fellow educators and professional organizations 4. Remember your “Why” /episode/index/show/k12science/id/40385365

What if AI Gets it Wrong? 03/04/2026

What if AI Gets it Wrong? K12Science Podcast: What if AI Gets it Wrong? I was recently reading the February 18, 2026 NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this blog I read the section, “From Chalkboards to AI” written by Valerie Bennett and Christine Anne Royce. They wrote an article entitled “What if AI Gets it Wrong? Teaching Students to Detect Errors and Misleading Models.” When teachers intentionally surface AI errors, students learn that: Authority does not equal accuracy. Confidence is not evidence. Scientific knowledge is always provisional. It may be best to integrate AI literacy with disciplinary practices rather than teaching is as a standalone skill. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/40315805

Misconceptions About Data Science 02/25/2026

Misconceptions About Data Science I was recently reading the January - February 2026 issue of “Science and Children,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section, “Science 101” written by Matt Bobrowsky. He wrote an article entitled “What is Data, and Is Data Science Really Science?” In the article, Matt addresses three misconceptions about data science: 1. Data refers only to numbers. 2. Data tells the whole story. 3. It’s computers, not people, who do data science. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/40229935

Data and Discovery from the Sea 02/18/2026

Data and Discovery from the Sea I was recently reading the January - February 2026 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 “Data and Discovery from the Sea to the Science Classroom.” Students can follow in the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin’s study of ocean currents, by participating in the citizen science “Global Ocean Surface Ecosystem Alliance Project (GO-SEA).” You can learn more about the project at: /episode/index/show/k12science/id/40155850

Data Science Education Part 3 02/10/2026

Data Science Education Part 3 I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of “The Science Teacher”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read a featured article written Matthias Fisher, Cody Pritchard, Zhen Xu, and Joshua Rosenberg. They wrote an article entitled, “Finding Your Way into Data Science Education as a Science Teacher.” This is the third podcast in a series of three podcasts on the topics of Data, Data Science, and Data Science Education. In this article, the authors aimed to support science teachers without backgrounds in data science. by addressing three major challenges: 1. The lack of training to teach data science. 2. The difficulty of designing relevant and engaging data science lessons. 3. The challenge of teaching data science with limited technological resources. In this podcast I address challenge #3 - the challenge of teaching data science with limited technological resources. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/40054445

Data Science Education, Part 2 02/05/2026

Data Science Education, Part 2 I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of “The Science Teacher”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read a featured article written Matthias Fisher, Cody Pritchard, Zhen Xu, and Joshua Rosenberg. They wrote an article entitled, “Finding Your Way into Data Science Education as a Science Teacher.” This is the second podcast in a series of three podcasts on the topics of Data, Data Science, and Data Science Education. In this article, the authors aimed to support science teachers without backgrounds in data science. by addressing three major challenges: 1. The lack of training to teach data science. 2. The difficulty of designing relevant and engaging data science lessons. 3. The challenge of teaching data science with limited technological resources. In this podcast I address challenge #2 - the difficulty of designing relevant and engaging data science lessons. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/40007845

Data Science Education, Part 1 01/29/2026

Data Science Education, Part 1 I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of “The Science Teacher”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read a featured article written Matthias Fisher, Cody Pritchard, Zhen Xu, and Joshua Rosenberg. They wrote an article entitled, “Finding Your Way into Data Science Education as a Science Teacher.” This is the first podcast of three podcasts on the topics of Data, Data Science, and Data Science Education. In this article, the authors aimed to support science teachers without backgrounds in data science. by addressing three major challenges: 1. The lack of training to teach data science. 2. The difficulty of designing relevant and engaging data science lessons. 3. The challenge of teaching data science with limited technological resources. In this podcast I address challenge #1. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/39917110

Museum Educator 01/13/2026

Museum Educator I was recently reading the November-December 2025 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. She wrote an article entitled, “Museum-Based Educator Tammy Cook-Endres.” Museum-based science educators encourage curiosity and hands-on learning about science. Depending on their areas of expertise, they may work with children, adults, or people of all ages. The field of museum education is most suitable for people who have some teaching experience, enjoy working with people, and can inspire a love of science. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/39720525

A Better Approach to Science Fairs 01/08/2026

A Better Approach to Science Fairs I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of “Science and Children”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section, “Science 101” written by Matt Bobrowsky. He wrote an article entitled, “Q: How Can I Make Science Investigations More Creative?” Many teachers do not like science fairs, but there are many ways to have a science festival that avoids most of the issues that impact students, teachers, and families. A science fair can be redesignedj to be less stressful and more genuinely educational by shifting the focus from competition to learning. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/39661230

Life Beyond Earth 12/19/2025

Life Beyond Earth I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of “Science Scope”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section, “Scope on the Skies” written by Bob Riddle. He wrote an article entitled, “Is Anyone Home?” We have always been curious about life beyond Earth, but we still do not have a definitive answer about that life beyond Earth. In a “big picture” sense, what we learn because of our curiosity, our intelligence, and certainly our technology offers us a chance to shape our future and, as educators, to increase our student’s curiosity and appreciation for the magnitude of the universe and the possibilities of life beyond Earth. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/39477250

Microbiomes 12/10/2025

Microbiomes I was recently reading the November-December 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, “Meet the Microbiome.” The human microbiome refers to the microorganisms that live on and in the human body. Colony B is a citizen science project that invites learners to engage in science and contribute to what is known about the human microbiome. Colony B was designed by researchers at McGill University, and it involves sorting and analyzing microbiome data that were gathered as part of the American Gut Project. To learn more about this citizen science project, visit their website at: /episode/index/show/k12science/id/39361860

Why We Persist 12/04/2025

Why We Persist I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of “The Science Teacher”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section, “Editor’s Corner written by Brooke A. Whitworth. She wrote an article entitled, “The Enduring Impact of Science Education: Why We Persist.” Despite the challenges of teaching, science teaching is not just important work, but essential work. Our students, our communities, and our future need dedicated science educators now more than ever. That is why we continue to teach and why we persist. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/39280010

Creativity 11/25/2025

Creativity I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of “Science and 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, “Making Space for Creativity.” Now more than ever, the ability to think creatively has become most essential. Creative thinking through a discerning lens pushes students to think abstractly, consider diverse perspectives, and embrace unconventional approaches. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/39169770

Life Science 11/20/2025

Life Science I was recently reading the November-December 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 Patti McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled, “Life Science Matters.” Middle school is the age when students develop awareness of their place in the world; as such, it is the perfect age to challenge them to consider how human actions impact our planet. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/39110970

Seven Tips for Science Instruction 11/11/2025

Seven Tips for Science Instruction K12Science Podcast: Seven Tips for Science Instruction I was recently reading the November 6, 2025, NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. I read the blog entry “Seven Essential Tips for Modern Science Instruction” written by Jason Strohl. The Seven Essential Tips are: 1. Focus on Science and Engineering Practices Over Content Delivery 2. Connect Science to Real-World Problems in Students’ Communities 3. Embrace Crosscutting Concepts and Interdisciplinary Connections 4. Be Intentional About Technology Integration 5. Develop a Systematic Approach to Evaluating Instructional Materials 6. Prioritize Student Curiosity and Wonder 7. Scaffold Support for Science Learners /episode/index/show/k12science/id/39001385

Gravity 11/06/2025

Gravity I was recently reading the September-October 2025 issue of “Science and Children’” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section, “Science 101” written by Matt Bobrowsky. He wrote an article entitled, “Q: Is There Gravity in Space? Is There Gravity on the Moon?” Gravity is a fundamental force that attracts two masses toward each other. The Moon, having mass, exerts a gravitational force. This force is sufficient to keep objects anchored to its surface and to influence tides in the Earth’s oceans. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/38938780

Stream Ecology 10/16/2025

Stream Ecology I was recently reading the September-October 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, “Study Stream Ecology This Season!” The Leaf Pack Network citizen science project was developed by the Stroud Water Research Center, a global leader in freshwater ecosystem research, education, and restoration. To learn more about the project and how to get your students involved, visit their website at: /episode/index/show/k12science/id/38608750

Middle School Picture-Books 09/24/2025

Middle School Picture-Books I was recently reading the September-October 2025 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, “Enhancing Understanding Through Science-Themed Picture Books.” Embedding a high-interest, science-themed picture book into a unit enhances students’ ability to learn vocabulary and visualize scientific concepts. The approachable style and ability to convey information visually makes picture books an engaging learning tool for students of all ages. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/38346385

Engineering in Middle School 09/17/2025

Engineering in Middle School I was recently reading the September-October 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, “Engineering in the Middle School Science Classroom” If you are looking for engineering ideas for your classroom, you can peruse sites such as: or both of which contain a searchable database of Next Generation Science Standards aligned activities. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/38257855

Assessment in the Age of AI 09/10/2025

Assessment in the Age of AI I was recently reading the NSTA Blog, dated July 15, 2025, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the blog entry “Rethinking Science Assessment in the Age of AI,” written by Christine Anne Royce and Valerie Bennett. Recent questions about how students are using AI in their classes have included questions focusing on how much of students’ work is their own and how much is generated by AI. How do we ensure that assessment still reflects what students know, understand, and can do? /episode/index/show/k12science/id/38169605

Lady Edison 09/03/2025

Lady Edison I was recently reading the July-August 2025 issue of “The Science Teacher”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section, “Right to Source” written by Jessica Fries-Gaither. She wrote an article entitled, “Exploring Everyday Inventions with “Lady Edison”.” Beulah Louse Henry (1887-1973) was a self-taught inventor, earning 49 patents and creating over 100 inventions over a 50 year period, including a vacuum ice-cream freezer, a bobbinless sewing machine, and an umbrella with color-coordinated snap-on covers. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/38075525

Rollercoaster Engineer 08/21/2025

Rollercoaster Engineer I was recently reading the July-August 2025 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. She wrote an article entitled, “Rollercoaster Engineer Greg Lewis.” Rollercoaster engineers design and maintain amusement park rides. The largest parks have staff engineers; the rest contract out such work to companies that specialize in this field. Greg Lewis works for Skyline Attractions, based in Orlando, Florida. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/37913400

Parent Newsletters 08/13/2025

Parent Newsletters I was recently reading the July-August 2025 issue of “The Science Teacher”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section, “Idea Bank” written by Alexander Eden. He wrote an article entitled, “The Power of Newsletters: Welcoming Parents into the Biology Classroom Community.” When leveraged correctly, engaging parents and families can have a positive impact on students and the classroom. It is critical to maintain a line of communication with families that is not solely based on when student concerns arise. One method of maintaining consistent communication with families involves the construction of a parent newsletter. /episode/index/show/k12science/id/37804535

K12Science

TOPICS