In this Text to Text, we take on the question of the compatibility of science and religion, with an excerpt from a Times Opinion piece written by Albert Einstein in 1930; a 2013 report on a conference between scientists and Buddhist monks hosted by the Dalai Lama; and a video in which the theoretical physicist Richard Feynman talks about trying to find answers to life’s big questions while living with doubt.
In early September, Science Times published a special back-to-school edition about teaching and learning in the STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and math — and we joined in by announcing a student contest for the best answers to the question, What Memorable Experiences Have You Had in Learning Science or Math?
As former teachers ourselves, we’re well aware that the most effective lessons are usually ones that involve hands-on work, so we weren’t surprised that nearly all of the 406 entries described projects that fell into that category.
Overview | What are the Nobel Prizes, why did three American biologists win this year’s award in Physiology or Medicine, and how can students understand and illustrate their findings? In this lesson, students study these scientists’ discovery of cellular transportation systems – the compartments, called vesicles, that cells use to ferry compounds from one cell to another, or to carry materials within the cell — then build models of cells, showing how these vesicles work.
This video is part of our guest lesson “Gearing Up for a Summer of Making, Connecting and Learning by Doing.”
Updated June 13, with links to all our 2012-13 collections.
This week, we’re looking back at all the lesson plans we published this school year. We’ve published a social studies, history, geography and civics collection, as well as a language arts, journalism and fine arts roundup
In addition, here is a list of all 182 Student Opinion questions we have asked this year.
Updated | May 9, 2013.
Overview | In this lesson, students learn about the Magicicada periodical cicadas, which will emerge in the Northeastern United States this year after 17 years underground. They can then choose to either participate in a “citizen science” project that involves tracking ground temperatures to watch the insects emerge, or create multimedia exhibits to help others learn about cicadas, both periodical and annual. Read more…
“Flu Attack! How a Virus Invades Your Body,” a video from NPR
Below, some ways to use The Times and other resources to teach about about the flu in general, and this flu season in particular — in classes from science and health to math, technology, English and history.
The Year in Rap, from Flocabulary.
Say farewell to a busy news year by first watching the Flocabulary video (and, perhaps, reading over the full lyrics), then taking our news quiz, which offers a Times take on the same stories.
You can fill in the blanks with your own guesses, or choose, below, from a scrambled list of words that were removed.
Then, try your hand at writing your own rhymes about 2012 via the contest we’re running with Flocabulary until Jan. 7. Or, tell us what you’ll remember most from 2012 and why.
Updated: For more ideas for teaching about 2012, with links to interesting retrospectives in The Times and around the Web, visit our Dec. 19 post.
Overview | What can you learn about science from fiction? What can you learn about the elements of fiction from stories about the work of real scientists? In this lesson, students learn about the genre of “lab lit,” then choose from a number of activities to explore an area of science through reading and writing lab lit.
Overview | Unlike some animals, we cannot regenerate diseased or missing body parts. Or can we? In this lesson, students learn about a soldier undergoing experimental treatment to help him regrow muscle missing from his leg. Then students build models to reinforce concepts surrounding cells, tissues and organs. Read more…
This week, we’re looking back at the school year and collecting the lessons we published by subject area. On Tuesday, we published our social studies, history, geography and civics collection; Thursday, look for English language arts, fine arts and journalism.
Below, you’ll find everything we did that falls into the categories of science, math, health and technology. And if you want even more lessons in these subject areas, you might take a look at our 2010 and 2011 collections as well.