This formative assessment item is used to uncover student ideas about solar radiation. Students will decide what they believe the sun provides to Earth. It is aligned to National Science Education Standards. Resources are provided to give additional information, as well as instructional suggestions.

This article provides an overview of research-based resources for engaging girls in math and science available from the Doing What Works web site, a site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

This site provides an overview of research-based resources for teaching English Language Learners available from the Doing What Works web site, a site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

This article provides links to interactive web sites and lesson plans for teaching about paleontology, dinosaurs, and archaeology in the elementary classroom.

This formative assessment item uncovers student understanding of weather and seasons. It uncovers student ideas about differences in seasons depending on whether a person lives in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, or along the Equator. The probe follows along with National Science Education Standards. Resources are available to assist teachers in background information as well as lesson ideas dealing with the seasons of the world.

This formative assessment item uncovers students' prior knowledge about the distribution of penguin species throughout the world. Teacher resources are given, including information about the content, instructional strategies as well as alignment to The National Science Education Standards. Additional resources include information, pictures, and lesson ideas involving penguin facts.

This article points out that there is no one official definition for the Arctic. Then the author identifies definitions ranging from geography to climate to culture and more. Maps and other visuals illustrate the definitions. The author suggests that defining the Arctic can be an example for K-Grade 5 students of the nature and challenges of classification systems. The article appears in the free, online magazine Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears.

This article provides a lesson plan that teaches elementary students to write poems about home using sensory language and imagery. Examples of student work are provided.

This formative assessment item discusses common misconceptions about volcano location around the world. Resources include background and content information as well as alignment to the National Science Education Standards. The probe could easily be modified to be used with a study of earthquakes instead of volcanoes. Teachers can access other resources including facts about volcanoes and lesson ideas.

This informational text introduces students to the life cycle and life of the arctic wolf. The pack life is described including caring for young, hunting and how they deal with the summers of no darkness and winters of no sunlight. The text is written at a kindergarten through grade one reading level. This version is a full-color PDF that can be printed, cut and folded to form a book. Each book contains color photographs and illustrations.

This informational text introduces students to the life cycle and life of the arctic wolf. The pack life is described including caring for young, hunting and how they deal with the summers of no darkness and winters of no sunlight. The text is written at a kindergarten through grade one reading level. This is a PDF containing the informational text and a glossary.

This article provides ideas for integrating art into a science unit on mammals and discusses how such integration can enhance student engagement and understanding.

This article provides ideas and resources for writing science-themed poetry in the elementary classroom. NCTE/IRA Standards alignments are included for each lesson.