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Full-Text Articles in Education
Time.....Is On Our Side?, Jerrid Kruse
Time.....Is On Our Side?, Jerrid Kruse
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
Several articles in this issue explicitly note that their approach to the activity about which they write takes extra time. They make clear there is an “easier way to do it”. Yet the authors also note how the goals they have for students are better promoted through their “slower” activity. Whenever I discuss education reform with fellow teachers, the number one constraint that consistently arises is “time”.
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Earthwatch Expedition: Taking Research Experiences To The Classroom, Katherine J. Megivern
Earthwatch Expedition: Taking Research Experiences To The Classroom, Katherine J. Megivern
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
I participated in the Live from the Field Earthwatch Expedition - Mammals of Nova Scotia, through a fellowship awarded by Wells Fargo. During this experience I participated in research to study the abundance of mammals in Nova Scotia and determine the effect of climate change on natural systems. After this experience I developed an inquiry project for my students in which they study the populations of insects. The students develop their own questions, collect data and make sense of their research. By investigating populations, students are encouraged to see the wonderful biodiversity right in their backyard! This article Promotes National …
Divide & Conquer, Lauren Hackman, Audrey Pohlmann
Divide & Conquer, Lauren Hackman, Audrey Pohlmann
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
This article presents a modified biology lab used to teach the cell cycle. Many traditional versions of the onion root tip lab are delivered in a “cookbook” format to review what students have already learned about the phases of the cell cycle. This modified version illustrates how the onion root tip lab can be much more meaningful when turned into an inquiry-based, exploratory activity to scaffold from a concrete experience to the more abstract process of cell division. This article promotes National Science Education Standards A, C, and G and Iowa Core Curriculum Standards 1, 2, and 5.
Nuts About Inquiry: Peanut Variation And Natural Selection, Lindsay M. C. Kasuga, Christine Evans
Nuts About Inquiry: Peanut Variation And Natural Selection, Lindsay M. C. Kasuga, Christine Evans
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
Despite the numerous advantages of using inquiry, many teachers do not use this method because of issues such as time constraints and increased workload. In addition, content such as evolution is particularly problematic to teach because of the perceived lack of hands-on activities and societal pressures. This inquiry activity is designed to help students understand an important component of evolution by natural selection. Through this activity students better understand natural variation within populations using peanuts. Students are encouraged to make links between population data, population diversity and evolution by using collected data to construct and interpret graphs. This article promotes …
Heavy Metal, Emerald C. Wilson, Grant M. Kellogg
Heavy Metal, Emerald C. Wilson, Grant M. Kellogg
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
We use this metal oxidation inquiry activity to encourage students to investigate the law of conservation of matter by performing combustion reactions on readily available metals such as aluminum, copper, iron, tin, and zinc. After observing mass changes, we challenge students to consider from where additional mass of products comes. This activity promotes National Science Education Content Standards A, B, and G and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, and 3.
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Learning Theories: Pillars Of Teacher Decision-Making, Jerrid Kruse
Learning Theories: Pillars Of Teacher Decision-Making, Jerrid Kruse
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
In the last issue, I articulated the argument that learning “styles” are not the most valuable way to understand learners. Yet, if learning “styles” do not sufficiently explain learning, how can we better conceptualize learning to inform our instruction?
Wow! Dna In My Food?: The Anatomy Of A Smoothie, Mike Zeller
Wow! Dna In My Food?: The Anatomy Of A Smoothie, Mike Zeller
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
While many students are able to speak at length about DNA, their fundamental understanding of the pervasiveness of DNA may still be unchanged. This activity is ideal for helping student link their classroom learning to their own daily experience and observations about DNA. Students also mentally engage by critically thinking about the physical and chemical properties of DNA. This article promotes National Science Education Standards A and C and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, 3, and 6.
Stepping Stones: How Variation Leads To Natural Selection, Anne H. Weaver, Brian Ellis
Stepping Stones: How Variation Leads To Natural Selection, Anne H. Weaver, Brian Ellis
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
This is the second of a series of articles in celebration of Charles Darwin's 200 birthday and the 150 anniversary of the publication of his seminal work On the Origin of Species. In the article below we discuss ways to introduce students to variation and develop their understanding of Natural Selection.
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That’S Not My Style: Myths About Learning And Teaching, Jerrid Kruse
That’S Not My Style: Myths About Learning And Teaching, Jerrid Kruse
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
The notion of “Learning styles” seems to be very popular these days in education. The idea that we all learn differently is intuitively appealing with the varied personalities, successes, and struggles of our students. However, the notion that each person learns differently is likely a myth (Olson, 2006; Feldon, 2005; Willingham, 2005). Students don't possess different learning styles; rather every student has unique prior knowledge, experiences, and developmental levels.
Heating Up The Classroom: Exploring Relationships Between Temperature And Thermal Energy, Shannon Mclaughlin, Mahima Bajpai
Heating Up The Classroom: Exploring Relationships Between Temperature And Thermal Energy, Shannon Mclaughlin, Mahima Bajpai
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
Thermal energy, internal energy, temperature, and heat are words that carry very specific meanings. However, common usage and the lack of consistent usage from texts and teachers can interfere with students' abilities to develop a strong conceptual foundation of thermal energy (Westphal, 2003). Stiles (2006) suggests that using experiences to investigate relationships is an integral part of moving students from simple knowledge to deep understanding. Understanding, higher-order thinking skills, the ability to work and think collaboratively, effective communication skills, and the ability to make informed decisions are all important goals teachers should support through their instruction. Smith (1996), Freedman (1997), …
Why Charlie Darwin Matters More Than Ever: Introducing Students To Evolution And The Nature Of Science, Brian Ellis, Anne H. Weaver
Why Charlie Darwin Matters More Than Ever: Introducing Students To Evolution And The Nature Of Science, Brian Ellis, Anne H. Weaver
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
In celebration of Charles Darwin's 200 Birthday and the 150 anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, On the Origin of Species, this is the first in a series of articles that highlight Darwin's relevance for teachers today and provide lesson plans to bring his work into your classroom. We begin with an introduction to Charles Darwin's life and work through storytelling, a first person monologue as a way to introduce students to several key concepts including the nature of science and a basic understanding of what lead Darwin to the concept of evolution.
Kicking The Tires Of Natural Selection: The Carriage Still Runs After 150 Years
Kicking The Tires Of Natural Selection: The Carriage Still Runs After 150 Years
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
Science is both tentative and durable. This is its great strength: as we discover new evidence, or find new ways to interpret existing evidence, scientific ideas can be modified, offering us a more complete and reliable picture of the universe. Helping your students understand this aspect of science not only reduces their resistance to learning about evolution, but also encourages deeper understanding about how science works.
Simple Machines: Promoting Student Application And Reflection, Sarah Borzo
Simple Machines: Promoting Student Application And Reflection, Sarah Borzo
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
Simple machines are a common elementary grades science topic. This article describes how I frame my simple machines unit using a problem and have students reflect on their initial designs as we learn about each machine. The students then apply their learning by preparing proposals for how they might use simple machines to aid in the building of a pyramid. This article promotes National Science Education Standards A, B, and E and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, 3, and 5.
Weaving The Web Of Inquiry: An Activity Introducing Students To Marine Food Webs, Jena Kline, Ryan Dickinson
Weaving The Web Of Inquiry: An Activity Introducing Students To Marine Food Webs, Jena Kline, Ryan Dickinson
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
This activity engages students in a biological investigation focusing on marine life. Students receive pictures of several marine organisms, make observations, and propose a possible food web which includes each of the organisms. Students also explain to the class their rationale behind the construction of their food web. This activity promotes increased familiarity with food webs, ecosystems, and energy flow. While this activity focuses on marine life, the activities and strategies could be used with most any ecosystem of interest. This activity promotes National Science Education Standards A, C, F and G, and Iowa Teaching Standards 2, 3, 4, and …
Investigating Solutions Through Inquiry, Dana Frits, Chris Siguenza
Investigating Solutions Through Inquiry, Dana Frits, Chris Siguenza
Iowa Science Teachers Journal
In this article we discuss how many activities have valuable ideas, but important modifications must be made to make the activity more effective and mentally engaging. This article discusses the modification of a “cookbook” solubility lab into an inquiry activity, which increases student decisions and the promotion of higher-order thinking skills. We also address the critical role of the teacher in making the lesson effective. This article promotes National Science Education Standards A, B and G and Iowa Teaching Standards 2, 3, 4, and 6.