Although the "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS) have three dimensions, the crosscutting concepts are often the forgotten dimension. One reason teachers may not emphasize the crosscutting concepts might be because they are broad, domain-general constructs that can be difficult to conceptualize in a meaningful way. Yet, when taught…

Many children enjoy collecting items such as seashells, state quarters, and trading cards. Asking students to think about the ways in which similar items differ, how objects can be grouped by a common characteristic, and how groups can be subsets of a larger category leads to an understanding of fundamental mathematics and science concepts: sets,…

Collections and classification activities are the topic of this article. Ways to structure an outdoor collecting venture are discussed. Once the materials have been collected, there are suggestions for introducing young children to the task of classifying their rocks, leaves, shells, and other collected items. (MA)

Offers an approach for teaching a unit on classification that combines various software programs with traditional science teaching methods. Provides procedural directives for the activities and explains the objectives of each exercise. (ML)

Poster and group activities help students understand the concept of wetlands. Activities involve students in classifying, defining, and depicting wetlands. (MDH)