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Learning science and math is normally thought of as committing to memory facts and procedures. Because of this we tend to perceive the best way to teach is through rote memorization of ideas, theories, and models. As a consequence, students experience little opportunity to develop a real understanding of what they are expected learn. Our challenge is to craft strategies which allow student interactivity within lessons. Student involvement beyond memorization is an essential building block for learning science and math.

"Preparing the students of today to become productive citizens of the future requires our educational system to promote life-long learners who are able to work together to solve realistic problems and develop a basic understanding of the natural and humanly modified world around them. Information presented in a familiar and mind-engaging context leads to greater understanding and retention, as compared to memorization of facts in isolation. Research indicates that retention is greatest when students are actively engaged, put their knowledge into immediate practice, and become "teachers" of other students. Children's Engineering activities directly address these issues."

Welcome to LIVESTRONG at School™! Created by Scholastic and the LIVESTRONG Foundation, the LIVESTRONG at School program uses national standards-based lessons to teach your students about the realities of cancer. While it is a difficult subject to talk about with kids, the LIVESTRONG Foundation believes that it is important for students to understand what cancer is and how it can be treated. In addition, this program informs your students about ways that they can make a difference and help those with cancer. The lessons and printable worksheets below make it easy for you to share this valuable information with your class.

"The importance of offering a broad curriculum within the school system cannot be over-stated, allowing students to explore a range of topics that spark their interest, and potentially inspire them to follow a career path that can have a positive impact on their lives, society and the environment. STEM activities (built around Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) offer a broad range of opportunities, opening up the potential of enquiry based learning that is relevant to the world we live in. Many education systems globally place a great emphasis on a STEM curriculum for all students, no matter of age, race, gender or ability, but what STEM based activities work best in your setting, helping students see the world differently, and potentially inspiring to enter STEM careers of the future?"

In contrast to the technology teachers use in a classroom for their professional use, what is the technology (or digital) footprint of your students?

"Here's how to build a straw rocket from paper, sticky notes, and tape using just a pencil and scissors. The sticky notes allow students to easily change the tail fins to see what works best. Fifth grade students constructed straw rockets like this during engineering week talks at elementary schools. "

Blog post of links to several good periodic tables. Useful for chemistry students and for middle school students doing research on elements. Some interactive. Some with videos.

The Health and Science Pipeline Initiative (HASPI) is a collaborative network of K-16 educators, industry representatives, and community organizations that are actively engaged in the common effort to improve students' ultimate success in healthcare professions. HASPI preparation is intended for students of all academic levels and backgrounds.

"Police and other emergency services were called to the school on Narellan Road, Moss Vale, about 1pm (AEST) on Tuesday. Eleven students and a teacher suffered minor injuries after a glass flask containing sodium hydroxide exploded in the science lab."

Student resources from the Society for Science & the Public

Smart Science® online hands-on labs provide outstanding science education. Inexpensive and efficient STEM education. Built-in scientific inquiry facilitating student discovery of science. Online hands-on real experiments, not simulations. Online lab reports, easy to write and grade. Archive of lab reports obtained with a simple mouse click. Retention of lab reports and all student work for 5 years. Differentiated reading levels

Both of these interactive charts could be useful in starting lessons about energy and natural resource consumption. Have students use both interactives to see how they compare to others. Then ask students to identify opportunities for reducing consumption.

Ed Walsh, Science Advisor for Cornwall Learning, has taken eight of the case studies from the book and turned them into lessons aimed at GCSE level students. The lessons are designed to engage and excite students and encourage them to think for themselves. Pupils in secondary schools are in many cases very capable of understanding the 'Bad Science' approach and making good use of it themselves. Their grasp of scientific concepts and their enquiring minds mean that Bad Science is good for school science.

From HHMI. A lesson that requires students to work through a series of questions pertaining to the genetics of sickle cell disease and its relationship to malaria. These questions will probe students' understanding of Mendelian genetics, probability, pedigree analysis, and chi-square statistics.

"In his new book, Professor Keith Taber reassures practicing and training science teachers, as he explores a range of issues faced by secondary school educators and discusses strategies for teaching the nature of scientific knowledge, making practical work effective and challenging young scientists. Throughout the academic prose, Professor Taber reflects on the nature of scientific knowledge in science education encouraging creating narratives, challenging misconceptions, and exploring principles of constructive teaching. The book continues with exploring specific challenges, such as teaching electrical circuits to lower secondary school students, along with a chapter dedicated to supporting gifted students who excel at the subjects."

"A programme that brings live fish into classrooms to teach the fundamentals of biology not only helps students learn, but improves their attitudes about science, a new study finds. The study of nearly 20,000 K-12 students, who raised zebrafish from embryos over the course of a week, found that kids at all grade levels showed significant learning gains. They also responded more positively to statements such as "I know what it's like to be a scientist." The results, to be published by the journal PLOS Biology, suggest that an immersive experience with a living creature can be a particularly successful strategy to engage young people in science, technology, engineering and maths."

This is a fabulous video site where students from MIT teach science for Primary and Secondary children. View videos on a range of topics including engineering, biology, physics, astronomy and more. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Science

MIT students partner with K12 educators to produce science experiments and videos

national competitions in math, science, technology list for students

"Engage your students with open-ended science investigations and technology projects through the CREST program."

"No matter how you are reading this story, you can thank science. Whether it is the transmission of data over the internet or just the pixels on the screen, a combination of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is delivering it. The problem is that in Australia, the number of students taking science and mathematics subjects is dwindling - and has been for decades."