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My eBook “Think Like a Scientist: Understanding Weather & Climate” is now available through NSTA Press. Learn more about this and other NSTA ebooks for the K-5 classroom here.
Category Archives: NGSS
Supporting Informal Educators Navigating the Currents of NGSS
Over the past two months I have had the pleasure of supporting NSTA’s pivot to a more inclusive “National Science Teaching Association” by assuming the role of editor for the NSTA’s “Next Gen Navigator” monthly e-newsletter. The role provided … Continue reading
#NSTA 2019 Takeaways
NSTA 2019 marks my sixth national conference and the start to a 51-week countdown to NSTA’s 2020 National Conference in Boston! Plenty of personalized learning opportunities and professional networking happens at an NSTA conference, even if you can only attend … Continue reading
Posted in NGSS, Professional Development, Professional Reflections
Tagged #NSTA19, NSTA, NSTA2020
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Pathways to Personalization and Science for All Students
Science educators now familiar with the Next Generation Science Standards and the Framework for K-12 Science Education are likely aware of its emphasis on recalibrating science classrooms to be for all students. The NGSS dedicates an entire appendix to this … Continue reading
Posted in NGSS, Professional Reflections
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Coded Communications Thanks to Teacher Collaboration
Time is tight in the elementary schools to meet all the expectations of our state’s science standards. So when opportunities knocks for collaboration with teachers who have face time with students outside of their allotted science time – I answer! … Continue reading
Beyond Toothpicks and Marshmallows: Engineering Earthquake Resistant Structures
I’ve been searching high and low for an earthquake engineering design challenge that gave students more control in planning and evaluating their earthquake-resistant constructions than the common “toothpicks and marshmallows” challenge often seen in primary and middle grades. So … Continue reading
Posted in 3-5, Classroom Activities, Digital Tools, NGSS
Tagged earth science, earthquakes, engineering, waves and communication
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Facilitating a Weather & Climate Unit with my new NSTA Kids eBook
NSTA is unveiling a new “Think Like a Scientist” series of eBooks at the #NSTA17 Conference in Los Angeles for elementary age students. While NSTA has been producing eBooks for teachers and older students for some time now, these eBooks may be … Continue reading
Posted in 3-5, Digital Tools, NGSS, Professional Reflections
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A week of learning as @NGSS_tweeps
This past week I was honored with the title of “guest tweeter” for @NGSS_tweeps, a rotating account of K-12 science teachers and administrators managed by middle school teacher and NGSS implementer, Patrick Goff. So after updating the account’s avatar and personal … Continue reading
Posted in NGSS, Professional Reflections
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Using PhET Simulations to Explore the Cause and Effect Relationship between Forces and Motion
One of my goals this year is to develop a third grade forces and motion curriculum with a team of Burlington elementary teachers. While this work is only in its infancy I am optimistic then at least one of the … Continue reading
Modeling Celestial Motions and Next Generation Professional Development
The video, “Private Universe” showcasing Harvard graduates stumbling over the reasons for the seasons has thousands of views on YouTube and has been shared countless other times in science-ed classrooms. The sometimes laughable explanation are enough to make any space science educator … Continue reading
Assessing Human Impact in the Cafeteria
Hundreds of mouths stood agape as six students in white “haz-mat” suits picked through a mountainous pile of trays, plastic wrappers, tater tots and pizza sticks. Shrieks and “ewwwwwww”s carried through the gymnasium. Students and teachers collectively held their noses. … Continue reading
Musselman / Science 