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 nonfiction article, written for students in grades 4-5, explores the life of the arctic wolf. Modified versions are available for students in younger grades.

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 grade four through grade five 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 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 discusses the controversies surrounding North Pole exploration that began in the early 1900s and continue to be debated today.

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.

This article provides an overview of ePals, a database that connects K12 teachers and classrooms around the world for pen pals and collaborative projects.