In middle school science classes, data-collection technology is a great tool for promoting hands-on learning. This school year, Jeff Branchaud and his students are using an additional tool: a 55-gallon classroom aquarium.  Branchaud, who tea...

One of the fundamental concepts in biology is photosynthesis, the process by which plants use carbon dioxide, light, and water to make their own food. Sunlight contains a broad spectrum of wavelengths, both visible and invisible—but plants use onl...

When you think about tools for teaching chemistry, potato chips, grape Kool-Aid®, and Gatorade® might not be the first things that come to mind. However, these items can be integral to food chemistry experiments—which are a great way to engage h...

All students benefit when they can apply physics principles and concepts by building something. Having that real-world connection can help make physics easier to understand. As an added bonus, it can also increase student engagement.  During...

Over the 30 years that Joel Rudderow has been teaching agricultural science, the agricultural industry has changed a great deal. With advances in everything from machinery to irrigation, the work that farmers do today looks a lot different from what...

If you’ve been teaching human physiology for a long time, it’s likely that you have had to use traditional electrocardiogram (EKG) sensors, which often involve an assortment of switches and knobs that require manual adjustment. It’s also li...

Let me begin with a confession: I majored in chemical engineering, not physics. In addition, when I was in college, calculus-based physics and electrical fundamentals courses were used to weed out would-be engineering majors.  Unsurprisingly...

Hispanic workers represent just 8 percent of the STEM workforce, according to the Pew Research Center. The Latino STEM Alliance (LSA) seeks to increase that number. To achieve its goal, the Boston-based nonprofit—which was founded by three Lati...

Looking for an innovative way to teach your students about Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution? Comparative physiology experiments are a great approach to explore this central concept in biology. In honor of Darwin Day on February 12, our biol...

Whether you teach college chemistry, high school biology, or middle school science, a pH sensor is a great tool to help your students explore the fundamental scientific concept of pH. But what is the best way to store a pH sensor? How do you cali...