One author shares the unique opportunity to be immersed in the science of "sound at work" through participation in NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Teacher at Sea Program. A third- through fifth-grade learning outcome within the Nature of Science section of the "Next Generation Science Standards"…

Cell water relationships are important topics to be included in cell biology courses. Differences exist in the control of water relationships in plant cells relative to control in animal cells. One important reason for these differences is that turgor pressure is a consideration in plant cells. Diffusion and osmosis are the underlying factors…

Modifies the "What's in a Bag?" activity to effectively and engagingly demonstrate the nature of science. Describes each step of the activity and lists necessary materials. Shows students that, like scientists, their scientific models change as more data are gathered and incorporated into what is already known. (NB)

Evaporative cooling systems are commonly used in controlled environment plant and animal production. These cooling systems operate based on well defined psychrometric principles. However, students often experience considerable difficulty in learning these principles when they are taught in an abstract, verbal manner. This article describes an…

This curriculum guide introduces students to the process of scientific research. Through the process of science research, middle school students practice techniques to randomize sampling, control for unwanted effects, and standardize methods so that they can be replicated. Data analysis is taught from a statistical perspective providing students…

The teacher's guide of "Assessing Toxic Risk" aims to help students conduct scientific research on relevant environmental topics. Using the research protocols in this book, students learn to carry out experiments known as bioassays. In this way, the toxicity of substances is evaluated by measuring its effect on living things. The text is…