Three cycles essential to life are the subjects of new science publications on the NSDL Middle School Portal . Under the series title What Goes Around Comes Around, the publications provide resources for teaching units on the Carbon, Water, and Nitrogen cycles. Along with coverage of the naturally occurring cycles, the author, Mary LeFever, stresses the human impact on the cycles, from water management to pollution to climate change. “In this way,” she notes, “students apply knowledge, analyze issues, synthesize concepts, and evaluate proposed solutions.”

A former middle school science teacher, LeFever identifies dozens of quality lesson plans and classroom activities as well as rich sources of content information for the teacher. The three publications are aligned with the National Science Education Standards.

The series appears in the Explore in Depth section of the Middle School Portal. At the web site, teachers will also find one-page publications called Quick Takes, which identify three or four “just-in-time” resources for teaching a topic or for expanding content knowledge. Teachers are invited to register for e-mail announcements of new publications.