This week I was reminded of the power of Concept Cartoons as a tool for uncovering student (and sometimes adult) misconceptions in science. If you have not seen this excellent resource, I highly recommend visiting their site and viewing some samples. The cartoons show students talking about everyday situations that contain a scientific concept. Students pick the student they agree with and explain their answer. Click HERE if you are interested in ordering a copy.

Applications for Science Teachers: Concept Cartoons can be used as formative assessment tools for checking student understanding before, during, or following science instruction. The cartoons are an effective way for students to confront their misconceptions in an engaging format. The book also contains information about common student misconceptions in given science concepts.