He reads aloud question No. 1, and he emphasizes that students must include evidence and reasoning with their answer. “So, do not just say, ‘Yes,’” he tells his students. “Yes,” one of them responds ...

Science is usually one of the more hands-on subjects in middle school: Students design research questions, draw diagrams, and conduct experiments. But the country’s 8th graders are less likely to do ...

Middle schoolers embody a messy no-man’s land: young enough to get excited by stickers and play-acting, but mature enough to crave autonomy and opportunities to improve their world. Younger ...

Tyraine Ragsdale, aka Grand Hank (left), challenges 8th grade students’ perception during an interactive science demonstration at the Allen M. Stearne middle school in Philadelphia on February 6, 2024 ...