Crucial Collaboration: Teaching and Learning with Phenomena

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In the constantly evolving educational landscape, the traditional model of instruction is transforming into a dynamic, collaborative, and hands-on experience for both teachers and students. The integration of phenomena-based learning has taken science instruction by storm and is the new expectation for the modern classroom. We’ve discussed this approach in several recent posts that emphasize … read more »


Time-Saving Lesson Planning Strategies for Teaching with Phenomena

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One of the most time-consuming parts of teaching is lesson planning. It’s often a barrier to trying new instructional strategies, even when we’re confident they’ll be a game-changer in the classroom. If you’re considering integrating phenomena into your science lessons to engage your students and encourage them to think critically about the world around them, … read more »


7 Ways to Unleash Curiosity with Phenomena

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In a recent post, we discussed how phenomena can transform teaching and learning by serving as a catalyst that sparks curiosity and student engagement. This idea translates across all grade levels and subjects because it presents students with real-world situations and questions that ignite imaginations and inspire inquiry-based learning.  To effectively integrate phenomena into your … read more »


What is so Phenomenal about Phenomena?

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“A Scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician; he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him as though they were fairy tales.” – Marie Curie The introduction of the NGSS Science Standards placed an emphasis on the use of phenomena in the classroom. But what exactly is a phenomenon, and … read more »


Empowering Future Generations: Celebrating Families & Climate Action

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The best gift we can give to our children is a greener future. We don’t need to give them anything special. Bhuwan Thapaliya The future of our planet rests in the hands of the next generation. As educators, we have a unique opportunity to shape young minds and inspire them to become champions of environmental … read more »


Celebrate Citizen Science Month

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Every month, the TeachersFirst Classroom Planning Calendar highlights events and observances, some of which help raise awareness of meaningful causes. A few highlights for April are Earth Day, National Poetry Month, and Financial Literacy Month. We can’t forget the shenanigans and tricks on April 1, but there’s no foolin’ that April is also Citizen Science Month, a … read more »


Let’s Celebrate Water Quality Month!

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Each August, we celebrate Water Quality Month, dedicated to preserving and maximizing freshwater resources worldwide. The genesis of this observation began after the passage of two critical acts in 1972 and 1974 – the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. However, there is no need to observe a designated observation to realize … read more »


5 Out-of-This-World Resources From NASA

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Space Exploration Day is celebrated annually on July 20. It commemorates the first landing of the Eagle lunar module on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility. NASA’s contributions to exploring our world continue toward discovering new and exciting places in our universe. We often talk about using primary sources in classrooms to promote student understanding of content—and what … read more »


Let’s Talk About: Great Outdoors Month

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June is Great Outdoors Month, a time to celebrate our local, state, national parks, and waterways. As we straddle the line between pandemic and endemic COVID-19, we need to balance safety for those still vulnerable and learning to live with COVID19 as an endemic disease. In 2020 we discussed staying close to home with your … read more »


We Have Liftoff! Using Better Lesson to Teach About Space and the Moon

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Did you know that dust busters, wireless headsets, and invisible braces link back to inventions initially intended for use in space? This interesting USA Today article shares more everyday innovations created for space use. July 20 is Space Exploration Day and Moon Day, which coincides with the annual commemoration of the first moon landing in 1969, Apollo … read more »