Menu

NSTA Publications

Browse Journal Issues

NSTA Connections (online extensions)
Journal Cover

The Science Teacher

January 2017
Vol. 84 No. 1

Today’s students are dazzlingly fluent digital natives. They text, blog, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. They use search engines; they ask their smartphones for answers to questions that, in a different era, might have required a trip to the library. But a recent study of middle school, high school, and college students found that many students—over 80% in some cases—couldn’t tell the difference between an advertisement and a news story, distinguish between a real and fake news source, identify bias in a tweet, or determine if a website could be trusted. It is imperative that students learn to think critically and engage in argument based on reliable evidence. What better place for them to learn this than in science class? This issue offers tips and techniques for engaging students in reading critically—including classic science books such as those on this month’s cover—and writing clearly.

Long-Form Science

By: Dillon Crockett

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

Teaching with extended texts.
Teaching with extended texts.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: Free
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

Short-Form Science

By: Beth Murphy, Melissa Hedwall, Andrew Dirks, and Elizabeth Stretch

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

A “close reading” unit on the history of the atom.
A “close reading” unit on the history of the atom.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: $0.99
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

Read Like a Scientist

By: Kirsten K.N. Mawyer and Heather J. Johnson

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

Scientists read, and so should your students.
Scientists read, and so should your students.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: $0.99
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

Text Savvy

By: Jacquelyn Guilford, Annette Bustamante, Kelly Mackura, Susan Hirsch, Edward Lyon, and Kelly Estrada

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

Planning rich reading experiences that support language development and science learning.
Planning rich reading experiences that support language development and science learning.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: $0.99
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

Editor's Corner: Digital Literacy—Is It Real?

By: Steve Metz

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

The Science Teacher’s editor shares thoughts on the current issue.
The Science Teacher’s editor shares thoughts on the current issue.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: Free
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

Science 2.0: Help Students Become Innovative Designers

By: Ben Smith and Jared Mader

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

This column shares web tools that support learning. The past three columns have described how teachers can implement the first three Empowered Learner Standards established by the International Society for Technology in Education. This month, the authors...  [view full summary]
This column shares web tools that support learning. The past three columns have described how teachers can implement the first three Empowered Learner Standards established by the International Society for Technology in Education. This month, the authors focus on classroom strategies to support the fourth standard: Innovative Designer.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: $0.99
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

The Green Room: The Top Five Environmental Stories of 2016

By: Amanda Beckrich

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

This column focuses on making your teaching more environmentally friendly. In this month’s issue the author presents 2016's top environmental stories plus some of the best websites for environmental news.
This column focuses on making your teaching more environmentally friendly. In this month’s issue the author presents 2016's top environmental stories plus some of the best websites for environmental news.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: $0.99
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

Focus on Physics: When What You See Is What You Hear

By: Paul G. Hewitt

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

This column helps teachers build an understanding of physical principles. This issue discusses the law of reflection.
This column helps teachers build an understanding of physical principles. This issue discusses the law of reflection.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: $0.99
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

Health Wise: Why Teens Need the HPV Vaccine

By: Michael E. Bratsis

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

This Q&A style column provides up-to-date information on current health topics—helping students (and teachers) make healthy choices. This month’s issue discusses the need for students to receive the HPV vaccine.
This Q&A style column provides up-to-date information on current health topics—helping students (and teachers) make healthy choices. This month’s issue discusses the need for students to receive the HPV vaccine.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: Free
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

Idea Bank: Keep Current With a Journal Club

By: Janice Airhart

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. Students select science articles to read and report on during a monthly Journal Club. Students look forward to the activity each month. When students are given the...  [view full summary]
The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. Students select science articles to read and report on during a monthly Journal Club. Students look forward to the activity each month. When students are given the opportunity to find articles of interest to them, they are more likely to be excited about science.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: $0.99
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

Career of the Month: Television Writer

By: Luba Vangelova

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

This column shares interviews with professionals using science in the workplace. This month’s issue describes Katherine Lingenfelter's career path to becoming a television writer.
This column shares interviews with professionals using science in the workplace. This month’s issue describes Katherine Lingenfelter's career path to becoming a television writer.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: $0.99
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

Right to the Source: Why Scientists Write

By: Cheryl Lederle

The Science Teacher, Jan 17

Exploring science and history with the Library of Congress. This month's issue discusses a letter written by Alexander Graham Bell.
Exploring science and history with the Library of Congress. This month's issue discusses a letter written by Alexander Graham Bell.
[hide full abstract]

Nonmember Price: $0.99
Member Price: Free

Grade Level: High School

Blick's Pick: Touching the sky

TV towers need to be tall to increase the range of their signals (though now, most folks in the US probably get their television signals through a wire coming into their homes). There must be a light at the top so that pilots recognize that the tower is there and can avoid it. That's also the reason for the red and white paint scheme. Shot with a drone, this video gives an impression of what it is like to climb to the top of a TV tower to change the light bulb. Wow. YouTube link | Archive