Join
Read Science Scope, NSTA's award-winning, peer-reviewed practitioner journal for middle level and junior high school science teachers, sign up for new article alerts, and more!
Get Full Access With an NSTA Membership
Science Scope
Featured Issue
Earth Science Experiences
May/June 2026
Volume 49, Issue 3
NGSS has elevated Earth Science through integration across disciplines, but integration is not enough. Quality science education must include robust and intentional Earth Science elements to prepare a future workforce—and citizenry—capable of navigating complex local and global challenges. This special issue celebrates the educators who are creating such spaces: classrooms where Earth Science is not an afterthought, but an experience which invites every student into the work of making sense of their world.
Open Access Articles:
- Modeling Large-Scale Weather with Rotating Tank Experiments
- Climate Bingo: An Immersive, Interactive Introduction to Climate Science
- An Onramp to Data Science in the Science Classroom
- Moving Learners from Data Skills to Data Inquiry with Messy Data
- More Than a Sprinkle: Elevating Multiple Perspectives in a Unit Exploring Coasts and Coastal Change in Hawai'i
Latest Issues
Archives
Recent Issues
Journal
Journal
Journal
Journal
Journal
Journal
Journal
Journal
Journal
Science Scope—July/August 2023
Volume 46, Number 6 Eclipses Across America Two wonderful teachable celestial events will occur during this school year in North America, allowing plenty of time to plan. A solar eclipse “double-header” occurs on Saturday, October 14, 202...
Journal
Volume 46, Number 5 May/June 2023 Exploring Real-World Problems Engaging middle school students in the exploration of real-world problems, particularly those that require engineering, can not only garner student engagement, but also put st...
Journal
Science Scope—March/April 2023
Volume 46, Number 4March/April 2023Earth and Human ActivityThis issue of Science Scope includes articles that address the impact of humans on the Earth, overconsumption of natural resources, and how natural events—such as volcanoes—shape the deci...
Journal
Science Scope—January/February 2023
Volume 46, Number 3 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics A healthy ecosystem can be defined as one that “has the ability to maintain its structure and function over time in the face of external stress.” Managing ecosystems in...
Journal
Science Scope—November/December 2022
November/December 2022 Volume 46, Number 2 Three-Dimensional Learning The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) call for three-dimensional learning, or the intentional integration of disciplinary core ideas (DCIs), crosscutting co...
Journal
Science Scope—July/August 2022
Volume 45, Number 6 Energy is a cross-disciplinary subject that extends far beyond the natural sciences into the social sciences....
Journal
May/June 2022 Volume 45, Number 5 Consciously implementing practices that foster an equitable classroom takes time and energy, but the payoff is great. To learn more about equitable practices, pursue the articles cited in this editorial ...
Journal
Science Scope—March/April 2022
March/April 2022 Volume 45, Number 4 This issue of Science Scope focuses on implicit bias in the science classroom. No matter how good we are at teaching to the standards, central to the success of our lessons is classroom community....
Middle School Equity Inquiry Multicultural Social Justice Teaching Strategies
Journal
Science Scope—January/February 2022
Volume 45, Number 3 Science Teaching Challenges How does one keep emotionally healthy, given the tremendous stress that teachers are under? Engaging in stress-reducing strategies such as yoga, exercise, and meditation can be beneficial, as ca...
Journal
Science Scope—November/December 2021
Volume 45, Number 2 November/December 2021 The Importance of Professional Development Nearly all teachers participate in professional development (PD), much of which is mandated by individual states and school districts....
Journal
Science Scope—September/October 2021
Volume 45, Number 1 September/October 2021 What can you do to promote creative thinking in your classroom? Consider a project-based learning approach and involve your students in competitions, science fairs, and engineering tasks. Connect the...
Journal
Science Scope—July/August 2021
Volume 44, Number 6 Visual Literacy A staple of 21st-century skills, visual literacy is addressed in several Common Core State Standards, but the skills associated with visual literacy are also essential to the sciences. Today’s students ha...
Journal
Science Scope—March/April 2021
Volume 44, Number 4 Science Beyond the Classroom Much of what our students know about science is a result of interactions outside the classroom. Whether it is visiting a museum, a zoo, or a nature center, there are numerous venues that blend ...
Journal
Science Scope—January/February 2021
Volume 44, Number 3 There are a multitude of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies that can be employed to make learning accessible for all. This issue of Science Scope features a sample of strategies, including immersion into real-worl...
Journal
Science Scope—November/December 2020
Volume 44, Number 2 Using Literature in the Science Classroom ...
Journal
Science Scope—July/August 2020
Volume 43, No. 9 Waves and Their Applications Digital Edition ...
Journal
Volume 43, Number 8 Fieldwork and Outdoor Lessons ...
Journal
Volume 43, Number 5 Over the past decade, the proliferation of superhero movies has exploded. Although the heroes fight crime and uphold the law, few abide by the laws of physics. To tap into students’ interests, students were presented with...
Journal
Science Scope—November/December 2019
Using technology to transform lessons into meaningful learning experiences means focusing on learning goals rather than the technology tool. Step outside of your comfort zone as you integrate technology into your classroom with the articles found in ...
Journal
By nature, adolescents often desire to make a difference in the world, but aren’t always afforded the opportunity. Provide students with actionable steps to improve the health of our planet with the articles found in this issue of Science Scope....
Journal
Tried and True Teaching Ideas addresses classic demonstrations and experiments that have been proven to work time and time again in your classroom. We share new twists on familiar activities and provide the science community with fresh ideas for the...
Journal
The road to classroom implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards can be fraught with challenges. The articles found in this issue of Science Scope will help you engage students in all three dimensions of the NGSS: science and engineering...
Journal
If you ask students where their food comes from, they will most likely answer, “the grocery store.” Raise student awareness of the agricultural industry and our food supply chain with the articles found in this issue of Science Scope....
Journal
Biological evolution is a concept students must understand to achieve science literacy. Learn how you can strengthen students’ understanding of this concept with the articles found in in this issue of Science Scope....
Journal
A performance task is an excellent assessment vehicle because it allows students to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, and proficiency through a product or performance. Learn how to create your own performance tasks, and other assessment veh...
Journal
The crosscutting concept of Stability and Change helps students understand dynamic systems such as the Earth’s climate. Explore how large systems are affected by change with the articles found in in this issue of Science Scope....
Journal
Not everyone lives in close proximity to an ocean, but everyone on the planet is affected by these massive bodies of water. Learn how changes in our oceans are affecting biodiversity, sea levels, and the climate with the articles found in this issue...