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Science Activities:
Manuscript Submission
Science Activities seeks innovative manuscripts that will provide teachers and educators with the best of classroom-tested projects, experiments, and curriculum ideas. If you think that you have such a manuscript, we encourage you to submit it to the Managing Editor, Science Activities, Heldref Publications, 1319 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-1802.
1. Material should be original and grounded in real science. Ask yourself whether the content could mislead or confuse students in any way. Specify necessary classroom setup and time frames for doing the project. Sources should be adequately referenced and largely up-to-date; reference within the text where applicable.
2. Use the active voice and the first person. Address teachers, not students; our readers are educators who want to know about your personal experiences with your topic. Organize material by headings and subheadings, and use numbered or bulleted lists to provide visual interest.
3. If applicable, relate content to the National Science Education Standards, state standards, or other recognized teaching philosophies, such as inquiry-based or constructivist theories.
4. Use the metric system when referring to physical measurements. (Nonmetric units can follow in parentheses.)
5. Provide tables, diagrams, graphs, figures (artist-drawn graphics), sharp photographic images, and any other visual aids for greater article appeal. Credit sources where necessary and include release forms for all photographs of people.
Following is a suggested format for structuring your manuscript:
1. Abstract and Key words. Please supply a four–five sentence abstract, highlighting the essence of the article as well as three–five key words.
2. Introduction and Background. State your reasons for developing the activity. Give a brief background summary of the topic or questions to be investigated and why they are important. Note appropriate grade levels and applicable curriculum areas. Reassure readers if the subject matter is controversial, but do not be afraid to defend an effective learning activity. The controversy may enrich the learning process.
3. Materials. Provide a complete list of all necessary materials, including any that might not be thought of as materials, such as water, sun, or an outdoor space. Note amounts needed for individuals as well as for groups.
4. Procedure. Provide a numbered list, in paragraph form, detailing each step necessary for conducting the activity. Please note which steps should be performed by the teacher and which by the students.
5. Discussion and Findings. Discuss all safety measures. Describe any problems that you experienced while conducting the activity and, if necessary, make suggestions for improving the activity.
6. Extensions and Cross-Curricular Applications. Provide a bulleted list or a few paragraphs describing ways in which the activity could be extended or integrated with other subject areas.
7. Conclusion. Provide readers with some final remarks about the project, including suggestions on how to sustain momentum.
8. References. Cite any specific works in the body of your article and list them as references. List any other resources under the heading Student/Teacher Resources.
Submissions to Science Activities are only accepted and reviewed electronically. To submit a manuscript electronically, attach the manuscript as a Word document to an email and send to sa@heldref.org. Tables must be emailed as one separate file from the manuscript text; file in another. All accompanying photos should be a minimum of 300 dpi. Submissions should be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, formatted in Times or Times New Roman, and adhere to the style rules set forth in the Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed. 2003). Authors should not use word-processing styles, forced section or page breaks, or automatic footnotes. Use a current issue of Science Activities as a guide for styling text and references. All submissions are reviewed by two or more science education professionals before final decision. Review of manuscripts may take anywhere from one to three months. |
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