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Taylor & Francis

Prepare your manuscript for The Science Teacher.

Review the checklist, choose your article type, and turn your draft into a cleaner submission package.

Checked 2026-08-02
Check readiness freePrepare this manuscript

Article types

Review
Commentary
Letter
Lectio
Editorial
Clinical Trial
Protocol
Systematic Review

Readiness requirements

Review the key details below, or download the complete checklist with every stored source-backed requirement.

Abstract length

  • Provide an author-written abstract of no more than 200 words.
  • Use a unstructured abstract.
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  • Should contain an unstructured abstract of 200 words.
  • Your abstract should focus on what your research is about, what methods have been used, and what you found out.
  • The instructions for authors for each journal will give specific guidelines on what’s required here, including whether it should be a structured abstract or graphical abstract, and any word limits.
  • Should be written with the following elements in the following order: separate title page with any acknowledgments and/or declaration of interest statement; abstract; keywords; information for callout box, introduction, main body, differentiation and assessment, conclusion; references; table(s) with caption(s) (on individual pages); figures; figure captions (as a list).

Keywords

  • Should contain any number of keywords.

Reference style

  • Articlo formats your supplied references to the journal's stored style and checks that citations match the reference list; source validity is not verified.
  • Cite only the most germane references (try to limit your references to no more than 10).
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  • References and resources lists should be limited to current, readily available items.
  • Statements should be validated by reference to research.
  • Readers should be able to interpret the table without reference to the text.
  • If you reply yes, you will be required to provide the DOI, pre-registered DOI, hyperlink, or other persistent identifier associated with the data set(s).
  • The DAS should include the hyperlink, DOI or other persistent identifier associated with the data set(s), or information on how the data can be requested from the authors.
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: Confirmation the authors take full responsibility for the integrity of the whole content, including accuracy of references.
  • Manuscripts that describe a classroom activity should also provide the following: support for claims made in the manuscript, including research citations and personal anecdotal evidence.

Figure and table rules

  • Keep every figure and table numbered, captioned, and cited in the manuscript. Keep figures embedded; Articlo also extracts numbered source files for the package.
  • Group figures at the end of the manuscript.
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  • Group tables at the end of the manuscript.
  • Figures should be high quality (1200 dpi for line art, 600 dpi for grayscale and 300 dpi for colour, at the correct size).
  • Tables and figures Show clearly in your article text where the tables and figures should appear, for example, by writing [Table 1 near here].
  • Figures should be saved separately from the text.
  • Tables should present new information rather than duplicating what is in the text.
  • It’s very important that you have been given permission to use any tables or figures you are reproducing from another source before you submit.
  • Figures should be supplied in one of our preferred file formats: PS, JPEG, TIFF, or Microsoft Word (DOC or DOCX) files are acceptable for figures that have been drawn in Word.
  • Manuscripts that describe a classroom activity should also provide the following: a description of the phenomena being explored and the sensemaking tasks that students are engaged in as they figure out science and/or design solutions.
  • Check the instructions for authors to see how you should supply tables and figures, whether at the end of the text or in separate files, and follow any guidance given on the submission system.

Funding statement

  • You should declare only the acquired funds and grants that are directly relevant to the work reported in your article; for example, This work was supported by the [Funding Agency #1] under Grant [number xxxx]; [Funding Agency #2] under Grant [number xxxx]; and [Funding Agency #3] under Grant [number xxxx].

Competing interests

  • Include or confirm the competing interests required by the journal. Articlo checks this item and flags anything that still needs author input.

Data availability statement

  • Add or confirm the author-written Data availability statement; Articlo flags it if author input is still needed.
  • Authors are required to provide a data availability statement, detailing where data associated with a paper can be found and how it can be accessed.
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  • If data cannot be made open, authors should state why in the data availability statement.
  • Authors are required to cite any data sets referenced in the article and provide a Data Availability Statement.

Ethics statement

  • Include or confirm the ethics statement required by the journal. Articlo checks this item and flags anything that still needs author input.

Blinded manuscript

  • Include or confirm the blinded manuscript required by the journal. Articlo checks this item and flags anything that still needs author input.

Cover letter

  • Using Third-Party Material You must obtain the necessary permission to reuse third-party material in your article.
  • The use of short extracts of text and some other types of material is usually permitted, on a limited basis, for the purposes of criticism and review without securing formal permission.
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  • If you wish to include any material in your paper for which you do not hold copyright, and which is not covered by this informal agreement, you will need to obtain written permission from the copyright owner prior to submission.

Title page and author information

  • Provide the author, affiliation, and correspondence details for the separate title page; Articlo creates the editable companion file.
  • All authors of a manuscript should include their full name and affiliation on the cover page of the manuscript.
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  • Should be written with the following elements in the following order: separate title page with any acknowledgments and/or declaration of interest statement; main body.
  • One author will need to be identified as the corresponding author, with their email address normally displayed in the article PDF (depending on the journal) and the online article.

Article structure and word limits

  • Should be no more than approximately 2,000 words.
  • Photos should be high resolution (a minimum of 300 dpi), so please check your camera settings before taking any pictures.
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  • This could be adapted from your departmental website or academic networking profile and should be relatively brief (e.g. no more than 200 words).
  • Margins Margins should be at least 2.5cm (1 inch).
  • Feature articles that describe classroom activities should demonstrate current research regarding the teaching and learning of science as exemplified in the A Framework for K–12 Science Education.
  • Should be no more than 1,000 words.
  • Should be no more than 750 words.
  • Should be no more than 300 words.
  • These instructions will ensure we have everything required so your paper can move through peer review, production and publication smoothly.
  • Do not include names or institutions within the text of your manuscript.
  • Before you submit your article, please review our safety guidelines.
  • Your research funder or your institution may require you to publish your article open access.
  • Use our APC finder to view the APC for this journal.
  • We do not publish feature articles that: contain material that is not original, or does not provide a unique approach to a classic activity.
  • Photos of students should be candid; they should be engaged in the activity, not posing for the camera.
  • If photos of students are used, a signed Model Release Form is required for each identifiable student.
  • Support materials you use to organize your lesson and support students.
  • These must be scientifically accurate and grade level appropriate.
  • Letter: Letters should be submitted in a timely manner and focus directly on an issue addressed in The Science Teacher.
  • Before you submit your article, make sure you’ve checked the instructions for authors for your chosen journal, so you are aware of everything required.
  • Most journals create image descriptions during the production process, but a minority may require authors to provide image descriptions.
  • Review: Running heads and received dates These aren’t required when submitting a manuscript for review.
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: Originality and accuracy of content has been confirmed by the authors.
  • Authors must provide full methodological details and adhere to relevant reporting guidelines where applicable.
  • Authors must retain the original and revised versions which must be shared upon request.
  • The PLSP guidelines for authors must be followed at all times.
  • Provide a page number for any direct quote.
  • Manuscripts that describe a classroom activity should also provide the following: content area, grade level, big idea/unit, essential pre-existing knowledge, time required, cost (for a class of 30), basic safety requirements.
  • Manuscripts that describe a classroom activity should also provide the following: descriptions of how students are doing science and/or engineering through the science and engineering practices (see A Framework for K–12 Science Education ).
  • Please use SI units (non-italicized).
  • Please note that data should only be shared if it is ethically correct to do so, where this does not violate the protection of human subjects, or other valid ethical, privacy, or security concerns.
  • Special characters If you are preparing your manuscript in Microsoft Word and your article contains special characters, accents, or diacritics, we recommend you follow these steps: European accents (Greek, Hebrew, or Cyrillic letters, or phonetic symbols): choose Times New Roman font from the dropdown menu in the “Insert symbol” window and insert the character you require.
  • Special characters If you are preparing your manuscript in Microsoft Word and your article contains special characters, accents, or diacritics, we recommend you follow these steps: Asian languages (such as Sanskrit, Korean, Chinese, or Japanese): choose Arial Unicode font from the dropdown menu in the “Insert symbol” window and insert the character you require.
  • Manuscripts that describe a classroom activity should also provide the following: all aspects of the learning experience from pre-assessment through summative assessment.
  • Manuscripts that describe a classroom activity should also provide the following: safety precautions.
  • We do not publish feature articles that: do not apply to high school level (grades 9-12) science teaching and learning.
  • Manuscripts that describe a classroom activity should also provide the following: examples of teacher and student interactions and classroom information that demonstrate that your manuscript is an authentic, classroom-tested activity.
  • Manuscripts that describe a classroom activity should also provide the following: suggestions for managing the activity, such as monitoring student engagement; and distributing, storing, and disposing of materials and equipment.
  • We do not publish feature articles that: do not reflect current research regarding the teaching and learning of science as exemplified in A Framework for K–12 Science Education.
  • We do not publish feature articles that: are strictly opinions, personal reflections, travelogues, or diary-type submissions.
  • We do not publish feature articles that: promote a commercial product such as materials, books, software, or professional services.
  • If you want to share an experience, activity, or classroom tip but do not think it will work as a feature-length article, consider submitting an Idea Bank!
  • If you are at the early stage of your research, you may also need to read how to start writing a journal manuscript.
  • We do not publish feature articles that: are term papers, dissertations, university writing assignments, outlines of lesson or unit plans, lists of ideas, or reviews of literature.
  • Image descriptions are typically used by systems such as pronouncing screen readers to make images accessible to people that cannot read or see the object due to a visual disability.

Reporting guidelines

  • Include or confirm the reporting guidelines required by the journal. Articlo checks this item and flags anything that still needs author input.

Preprints and prior publication

  • If you have shared an earlier version of your Author’s Original Manuscript on a preprint server, please be aware that anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
  • We do not publish feature articles that: have been previously published in either print or digital format (websites, blogs, e-books, etc.).

Artificial intelligence disclosure

  • Add or confirm the author-written Artificial intelligence statement; Articlo flags it if author input is still needed.
  • Please include a statement disclosing whether and how generative AI has been used in the research and manuscript preparation process.
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  • Use of AI tools as part of ethical research studies is permitted.
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: The name and version number of the AI tool used.
  • Systematic Review: Use of AI tools as part of ethically conducted literature reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analysis and bibliometrics studies is permitted.
  • Use of AI tool assisted plain language summaries (PLS) of authors own work is permitted.
  • Please read our guidance on using AI tools in your research and manuscript preparation to understand scenarios where their use may be permissible, and the required information that must be disclosed.
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: Confirmation the authors have checked terms of use for the specific AI tool used, and therefore confirm suitability for publication.

Supplementary material

  • Manuscripts that describe a classroom activity should also provide the following: Word documents of supplemental materials such as worksheets, checklists, assessments, and rubrics that enable the reader to quickly integrate your described activity into their classroom.

Manuscript structure

  • Headings This will show you the different levels of the heading section in your article: First-level headings (e.g. Introduction, Conclusion) should be in bold, with an initial capital letter for any proper nouns.
  • Authors must retain full records of the methods undertaken, including full descriptions and records of the prompts used, which must be shared with the journal upon request.
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  • We do not publish feature articles that: focus on research without providing ample practical details for the classroom application of the research results or ideas.

Article type and manuscript length

  • Direct submissions for this article type should be sent to The Science Teacher.
  • Should be written with the following elements in the following order: title page; main text.

Language and text style

  • Please use American spelling style consistently throughout your manuscript.
  • Please use single quotation marks, except where ‘a quotation is “within” a quotation’.
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  • Please note that long quotations should be indented without quotation marks.
  • Headings This will show you the different levels of the heading section in your article: Fourth-level headings should be in bold italics, at the beginning of a paragraph.
  • Headings This will show you the different levels of the heading section in your article: Fifth-level headings should be in italics, at the beginning of a paragraph.
  • Headings This will show you the different levels of the heading section in your article: Second-level headings should be in bold italics, with an initial capital letter for any proper nouns.
  • Headings This will show you the different levels of the heading section in your article: Third-level headings should be in italics, with an initial capital letter for any proper nouns.

Study reporting guidelines

  • Authors must provide full methodological details and adhere to relevant reporting guidelines where applicable (e.g. CONSORT-AI, STARD-AI, GAMER, TRIPOD-AI, etc).
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What your package checks

Abstract: 200 words
Paper: 750 words
Title page: separate file
Declarations: Data availability, Artificial intelligence
Format: Times New Roman

Source transparency

This preparation guide uses published journal-specific author requirements. Journal instructions can change, so authors should complete a final review before submission.

Open official guideline source