This article describes a unit in which students investigate total solar eclipses, such as the one coming August 21, from several perspectives. It incorporates mathematical thinking and aligns with the "Next Generation Science Standard." This article refers to physical, virtual, and mathematical modeling. Various models and perspectives…

Because Laura Lukes used to be a geologist, when she started teaching science, she wanted to incorporate field experiences in her classroom. But, like many teachers, she faced obstacles: insufficient budgets, testing requirements, a lack of chaperones and transportation, and the safety concerns that come with fieldwork. As a result, a real field…

Today's students are inundated with information--via social-networking websites, personal blogs, collaborative wikis, online-only publications, and so on--that ranges from biased personal opinions to peer-reviewed scientific papers. Some sources describe science events accurately; others don't. Students should understand how this media coverage…

Classifying a particle requires an understanding of the type of bonding that exists within and among the particles, which requires an understanding of atomic structure and electron configurations, which requires an understanding of the elements of periodic properties, and so on. Rather than getting tangled up in all of these concepts at the start…

In 1609, Galileo Galilei turned his telescope to the night sky and began a series of observations of the cosmos. These observations, together with the work of Johannes Kepler and other scientists of the time, revolutionized our understanding of the universe and the process by which we do science. The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed…

Discusses an activity in which computers with color monitors can be used to demonstrate light blending with relative ease. (MKR)

Advocates allowing students to create their own animated simulations as a better way of teaching scientific processes. (YDS)

Describes a teaching method using computer probeware to enhance students' laboratory experiences. Discusses the role of computer probeware in the science classroom, how probeware affects learning, and how it affects efficiency. (KHR)

Presents five interactive, computer-based activities that mimic scientific tests used by sport researchers to help companies design high-performance athletic shoes, including impact tests, flexion tests, friction tests, video analysis, and computer modeling. Provides a platform for teachers to build connections between chemistry (polymer science),…

Describes a project where students publish their work on the World Wide Web. Enables students to share their work with other students and researchers around the world and to receive feedback from new sources. Discusses cyberscience, implementing web lab reports, and assessment strategies. (JRH)

Presents activities using thermocouples to investigate the temperatures at which candles burn and popcorn pops. (MKR)

Presents an effective way to start a technological revolution in schools by beginning with a single exciting project that incorporates new technologies and then letting interest in the project prompt others to action. (JRH)

Describes a project where students download seismological data from the Internet and use the data to plot earthquakes on a world map. Combines elements of geography, mathematics, and science. (JRH)

Describes the use of weather satellites in providing an exciting, cohesive framework for students learning Earth and space science and in providing a hands-on approach to technology in the classroom. Discusses the history of weather satellites and classroom satellite tracking. (JRH)

Advocates using computer imaging technology to assist students in doing projects in which determining density is important. Students can study quantitative comparisons of masses, lengths, and widths using computer software. Includes figures displaying computer images of shells, yeast cultures, and the Aral Sea. (SAH)