The author, principal at North Point High School of Science, Technology and Industry in Charles County, Maryland, describes how the school merges traditional academic classes with cutting-edge career and technical education courses to prepare students for the real world. Realizing that its traditional "vo-tech" model was undersubscribed…

This project was a response to the changes in the Washington State math assessments for high school students. The creation of an exit exam for Washington State high school students and the expectation that they pass it to graduate has placed tremendous pressure on high schools that struggled with low passing rates on the Washington State math…

What bird species live in your area? Which migrate and which stay year-round? How do bird populations change over time? Citizen science provides the essential tools to address these questions and more. With ever-growing databases such as Project FeederWatch and eBird, students can connect with people around the world as they make observations,…

When a federal court in 2005 rejected an attempt by the Dover, Pennsylvania, school board to introduce intelligent design as an alternative to evolution to explain the development of life on Earth, it sparked a renaissance in involvement among scientists in K-12 science instruction. Now, some of those teaching programs, studies, and research…

To assist student understanding of heat transfer through woody stems, we developed an instructional package that included an Excel-based, one-dimensional simulation model and a companion instructional worksheet. Guiding undergraduate botany students to applying principles of thermodynamics to plants in nature is fraught with two main obstacles:…

Create a light and sound show to entertain friends. Design an improved safety device for a car. Develop a 2-3 minute voice-over for a sports clip explaining the physics involved in the sport. Modify the design of a roller coaster to meet the needs of a specific group of riders. Design an appliance package for a family limited by the power and…

This article describes how a teacher integrates science observations into the writing center. At the observation station, students explore new items with a science theme and use their notes and questions for class writings every day. Students are exposed to a variety of different topics and motivated to write in different styles all while…

This paper analyzes the educational impact of the OpenOrbiter Small Spacecraft Development Initiative, a CubeSat development program underway at the University of North Dakota. OpenOrbiter includes traditional STEM activities (e.g., spacecraft engineering, software development); it also incorporates students from non-STEM disciplines not generally…

Though many national and international science organizations stress the importance of integrating scientific inquiry into classroom instruction, this is often difficult for teachers. Moreover, assessing and scaffolding inquiry skills for students can be even more of a challenge. This paper investigated the student performances in an inquiry-based,…

Today's scientist is faced with complex problems that require interdisciplinary solutions. Consequently, tertiary science educators have had to develop and deliver interdisciplinary science courses to equip students with the skills required to solve the evolving real-world challenges of today and tomorrow. There are few reported studies of the…

This paper presents research on middle school students working on large science projects in the Knowledge Integration Environment. The objective was to develop an exemplary program of metacognitive prompts to encourage principled knowledge integration by students working on large science projects. The research indicates that metacognitive…

Today's curricula must incorporate activities that help students make science concepts and skills their own. Many suggest that teachers should allow students to relate classroom lessons to their own lives, explore a wide variety of applications and connections to other knowledge and experience, and consolidate the learning in ways they will…

Today and in the future, critical toolmaking advances will need to be made in the area of circuit design, construction, and implementation. Traditional school curriculum has sidestepped the area of tool design, especially at the elementary level. This publication addresses a calling for a new curriculum direction, based not only on the study of…

Scientists need to measure and communicate, to handle information, and model ideas. In essence, they need to process information. Young scientists have the same needs. Computers have become a tremendously important addition to the processing of information through database use, graphing and modeling and also in the collection of information…

This book is provided as a helpful tool in ensuring a successful and satisfying elementary school science fair. The book clarifies the roles of teachers, parents, and students and provides information about types of projects, practical tips, and possible topics for research. Included are short bibliographies, sample forms (which are teacher…