Water is an essential resource for all living things. How we live on our watershed can impact water quantity and quality. It is important to recognize how humans alter watershed dynamics, but students often find it challenging to visualize watershed processes and understand how decisions that they make as individuals and together as a community…

When students design and build their own versions of instruments, they appreciate them more--and are more likely to appreciate how experimentation plays a critical role in explaining the world around them (NRC 1999). In this activity, students learn how science is done by becoming active participants. They use free lenses to build simple…

Storytelling is an age-old and powerful means of communication that can be used as an effective teaching strategy in the science classroom. This article describes the authors' experiences implementing the Storyline Approach, an inquiry-based teaching method first introduced by Kieran Egan (1986), in the context of teaching the concept of air…

This investigation was part of a multi-lesson unit that gave students direct experience using increasingly sophisticated tools to make more detailed observations and measurements of light. Through these lessons, students experienced a key aspect of the nature of science (McComas 2004), namely how scientists constantly refine and modify theories as…

Presents an activity that tests the absorbency of different brands of paper towels. Suggests making this activity into an open-ended inquiry type of activity. Includes sample questions to guide students, topics for class discussion, and sample methods of using the absorbency activity. (KHR)

Presents a strategy for teaching anatomy to middle school students. Recommends teaching about an organism's niche and ability to make connections between structure and function rather than using standard anatomy lessons. (YDS)

Presents a science activity on collecting micrometeorites from rainwater using magnets. Includes procedural information. (YDS)

Defines inquiry and inquiry-based instruction. Indicates the importance of inquiry in science education. (YDS)

Introduces an inquiry-based lab design in which students try to find evidence on a particular problem. Investigates the effects of decreases in the pH level on the environment. Includes students' hypotheses and research results. (YDS)

Presents strategies to use rainsticks with middle grade students. Teaches scientific inquiry using a rainstick activity that challenges students to explore posing, probing, and persuasion and represents the National Science Standards. Allows for the integration of different disciplines. Provides instructions on how to make a rainstick. (YDS)

Presents a science activity on modeling a bridge to teach about the forces of tension versus compression. The activity is designed for middle school students. (YDS)

Explains how a karst is formed in the U.S. and introduces an activity in which students explore the fragile environment of a karst and study the interactions between human population and the earth system. (YDS)

Provides an outline of a rubric for assessing instructional materials of inquiry-based activities. Discusses the strength of this rubric and how to apply it. (KHR)

Describes Newton's Apple, the PBS family science show that explores how biology, chemistry, physics, and other sciences are integral parts of everyday life and includes demonstrations, activities, and inquiry-based discussions that encourage students to discover science for themselves. Presents highlights of the show for the year and contact…

Presents activities that use the Fibonacci sequence of numbers in nature. (YDS)