Writing can be a rich source of information for science teachers who wish to take their students' present understandings into account as they plan and carry out instruction. The responses students give when asked to explain in writing what happened in an experiment can help the teacher address particular student's misunderstandings. Even writers…

Documents an evolving attempt to manage a values argument writing assignment in a large enrollment plant science class. Explores how developing library skills improved students' writing. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

Preparing students to be scientifically literate citizens and ready for future course work demands that teachers take time and effort to teach writing strategies embedded in middle school science. Illustrates successful ways of integrating writing into science classrooms. (Contains 11 references.) (ASK)

Describes the Polaroid Education Program. Discusses ways to incorporate instant photography and writing into a range of subject areas. (SR)

Points out the importance of teaching writing and the teacher's responsibility. Recommends providing feedback to student writings. Provides a sample student survey and responses to the feedback. (YDS)

Brings science and art into the language arts classroom as a means of exploring cross-curricular connections without losing sight of the priority of writing. Notes that keeping a pseudo science journal in language arts as well as painting and drawing helped students learn more and see more about themselves as learners, both in science and in…

This paper presents ideas for and examples of using poetry to teach science at the middle school and high school levels. These poems can be used to teach science lessons because they contain science terms. Students will learn science while defining and discussing these terms and realize that science relates to everything. The poems are "A Snow…

Presents elementary school science activities with a Halloween orientation. One activity teaches students to appreciate and understand bats. A second activity has students group and classify monsters by individual characteristics. Activities for integrating science across the curriculum include creating monster myths, conducting surveys of…

Discusses the problems associated with poor writing skills among students, means of addressing these problems, and tips for teachers who are considering using writing in their courses. (ZWH)

Describes how to use journal writing in elementary science classes. Writing lets children communicate observations and ideas while reinforcing understanding of key science concepts. Journal ideas include using notebooks to respond to teacher prompts or write about what students are studying; sharing a classroom science journal; and keeping a…

Describes an activity in which students are asked to write an essay on the Crustal Displacement hypothesis, an hypothesis that is inconsistent with the accepted understanding of crustal and mantle processes. The assignment is useful because it forces students to solidify their understanding of plate tectonics by applying their knowledge in a new…

Describes how a seventh-grade teacher incorporated poetry writing into her science class, helping students to learn the science material and helping the teacher to evaluate the students' knowledge. (SR)

Describes an effort to provide students in an introductory human anatomy course with an experience that both allows them to be creative with the facts they are learning and to be supported throughout the writing process. (ZWH)

Recommends skillful use of language arts to help students make sense of scientific and mathematical concepts. Suggests that connecting language arts with science and mathematics explicitly and intentionally strengthens teaching and learning in all three areas of the curriculum. (Author/NB)

Describes the use of thought-provoking essay questions such as "How does one determine the temperature at which Hell freezes over?" to promote better communication skills among chemistry students. Makes reference to and suggests other thought-provoking questions. (WRM)