Learn about Sumatra, part of Indonesia and home to one of the oldest rain forests on earth. Sumatra has so many fascinating plants and animals that it would be an excellent subject for a class Big Book on flora and fauna. Study together about the basics of the Sumatran… Continue reading
Less than a century ago, children in the United States faced real threats from malaria, hookworm, polio, rickets, smallpox, and a host of other health issues that have been largely overcome. Studying these conditions can bring 21st century students a greater appreciation of the health practices we try to convince… Continue reading
“Why are we doing math in writing class?” a student complained this morning. “Because we’re working with information, and this information happens to have numbers in it,” I explained. That’s why it makes sense to do math in health class, too, or health in math class, as the case… Continue reading
Today is Thomas Edison 164th birthday, or would be if he were alive. It’s also National Inventors Day. This is a great day to invent something. Here’s a fun lesson with minimal preparation: Ask students to talk with their neighbors for three minutes about irritating things that come up… Continue reading
Adaptation is an essential and miraculous part of the wonder of life. It can be hard to grasp, too, especially if your state mandates the teaching of adaptations before the teaching of natural selection, evolution, DNA, or reproduction. One solution is to teach the concept repeatedly in different grades,… Continue reading
The term “DNA” is likely to be familiar to students from TV crime dramas and news reports. Use that familiarity to bring some real-world science into your classroom with a study of DNA and its use in forensic science. The DNA molecule pictured above has two long strands joined… Continue reading
If you teach biology, or life science, you need to teach evolution at some point — or to decide not to and how to work around it. I live and teach in Arkansas, and I have a lot of sympathy for teachers who decide not to open themselves up… Continue reading
John Chapman, who became known as “Johnny Appleseed,” was born on September 26th, 1774. He left home at eighteen and traveled around the Midwest planting nurseries and doing good deeds. There are a number of good picture books for this American legend, including versions by favorites Steven Kellogg and Carol… Continue reading
