In Australia, a significant number of students enrol in first-year university biology without the benefit of high school biology. In order to help students support each other, the authors of this paper (a central unit academic developer and a biology coordinator of first-year biology) created a classroom activity that facilitated the distribution…

Scenes from the works of William Shakespeare were incorporated into individual and group projects for an upper-level chemistry class, instrumental analysis. Students read excerpts from different plays and then viewed a corresponding video clip from a stage or movie production. Guided-research assignments were developed based on these scenes. These…

Words are the foundation of knowledge. They are powerful tools used to express ideas, communicate with others, access knowledge, and learn about new concepts. Research shows a strong relationship between student word knowledge and academic achievement. As a result, building academic content vocabulary is an important part of science instruction.…

Presents suggestions for using children's literature to explore elementary science topics and create literature-based science activities. The article describes books that alphabetically tour the world's fruits and vegetables, describe the world through a blind grandfather's eyes, illustrate more than 600 animals and their sounds, and teach animal…

Presents a group of 21 innovative science activities from teachers nationwide designed to sharpen elementary students knowledge of science. The article is part of a package of 100 creative ideas for keeping elementary students enthused about learning in language arts, science, social studies, and math. (SM)

Presents a collection of inexpensive autumn science activities for elementary students. A full moon activity encourages observational and critical thinking skills. A pumpkin activity teaches physics. A spider activity teaches biology and alleviates unnecessary fears. A student page has children create a bookmark that shows faces in the full moon.…

Four elementary teachers present earth-friendly ideas to help students explore nature: creating suncatchers out of pressable outdoor items; making and filling nature explorer kits; producing ecology booklets with covers; filling shoeboxes with natural materials to make rhythm instruments; and making crayon rubbings of outdoor items. (SM)

Several hands-on whole science activities help elementary students learn about animals' diets and how they affect other animals. One activity involves identifying animals as carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores. Another has students construct food chains. Two across-the-curriculum ideas involve naming carnivores and preparing imaginary menus for…

The article presents a video-based unit on camouflage for students in grades K-5, explaining how to make the classroom VCR a dynamic teaching tool. Information is offered on introducing the unit, active viewing strategies, and follow-up activities. Tips for teaching with video are included. (SM)

This article beings with two anecdotes that demonstrate that math and science are everywhere in a teacher's classroom. The challenge is to take these wonderful "teachable moments" that happen all the time and intentionally incorporate them into the curriculum. Early childhood teachers need to learn to seize these teaching and learning…

Article discusses the four elements of good elementary science programs and offers ideas for creative hands-on science and across-the-curriculum activities (e.g., a please touch science center, curriculum planning chart, and getting to know you water activity). It notes science-related events and describes four science reference books. (SM)

The article presents a Native American tale about the moon that teachers can use to open the door to scientific exploration. After discussing facts about the moon, the article offers a reproducible Navajo story and several follow-up hands-on activities designed to pique students' interest. (SM)

This article introduces a section with 100 innovative suggestions for creative activities that go across the curriculum and across grade levels and that are designed to hold students' enthusiasm. The activities are grouped by language arts, math, science, and social studies. (SM)

Primary students at one Hawaiian elementary school learn science through direct experience, gaining firsthand knowledge from their gardens and fieldwork. The article describes a garden project involving students and parents. The project, which was originally intended to teach students about plants, actually expanded their knowledge in a variety of…

Across-the-curriculum articles focus on four areas. A math activity describes optical illusions and the properties of shapes. A hands-on science activity presents the chemistry of secret messages. A writing lesson helps students capture the essence of character. An art lesson presents a project on medieval castles. (SM)