Presents an activity, appropriate for children in grades five through nine, that requires students to reconstruct a Lego structure after reading other students' written description of the construction process. Highlights the connection between explicit writing and scientific observation and involves students in observing, classifying, measuring,…

Rain observation activities are described for preschool and lower-elementary children. (BB)

Discusses a game and related activities to help students develop observation and inference skills. (MKR)

Gives illustrations for experiences designed to help intermediate (grade 6) children learn to follow directions. Activities, in the form of five stations contained in one classroom, were developed with each activity focused on a different approach to problem solving and observation. (PEB)

Describes activities for helping children develop skills in quantitative observations. (PR)

Two learning activities are presented to develop observation and classification skills at the elementary level. The first is an electric box that associates tree names with leaf and bark specimens, and the second is a pond water observation and slide preparation activity. (BB)

Suggests various observations that can be made while at a zoo, including behavior of animals, adaptations to special environments, locomotion, food type, and physical characteristics. Provides a sample data sheet for animal observations, citing the usefulness of organized observation. (JM)

A way to enlarge the projected image of solar eclipse onto a viewing surface is presented. (MR)

Presents activities that utilize balloons to encourage students to explore questions related to scientific concepts. Concepts explored include light, heat, charged ions, polarization, and the sense of smell. (MDH)

Describes several hands-on science activities which focus on the use of apples. Suggests several ways of using apples to teach classification. Proposes a field trip to an orchard as a culminating activity. (TW)

Describes development of units to teach measuring skills using manipulative materials. Concepts fostered include repetition of identical units, comparison, and standardized units. Descriptions of activities on length and area and mass are given, as well as references for additional activities. (JM)

Hands-on activities that use water, candles, powders found in the kitchen, and bubbles to provide a lesson on chemical change are presented. Directions for conducting the activities and a list of needed supplies are provided. (KR)

Describes a lesson in which fifth graders made observations of candles. Discusses the progress of the lesson and the necessity of instructing students in what and how to watch and measure. Stresses that this can be easily accomplished inexpensively with imagination. (CW)

Describes laboratory activities which encourage students to develop and test hypotheses related to the effects of changing environmental factors on plant growth. Uniform (fair) testing and careful observation and measurement, supplemented by graphing, are emphasized as important in reaching valid conclusions. (JM)

A springtime forest probably contains over 100 shades of green. Describes outdoor observation activities that let the children monitor tree and plant growth. (PR)