Explores the current images that students have of scientists, student perceptions of science study in school, and student awareness of their use of science outside of school. Fifth grade students (N=117) were the subjects of this study that asked students to sketch scientists and school science. (DDR)

Argues for an approach to conceptual-change instruction that places students' science conceptions and their ability to reflect on those conceptions at the center of science instruction. Focuses on the effect of using status concepts. Contains 24 references. (DDR)

Supports the approach for young children that allows them to perform actions on objects and observe the reactions. Describes some techniques to use to encourage an inquiry approach. (DDR)

Reports a study that tracks the changes in children's ideas about science and scientific concepts through the use of interviews and questionnaires. Students respond to seven questions about science learning, scientists, and their future relationship to science. (DDR)

The intent of this paper is to open for consideration the relationship between metacognition and the promotion of conceptual change within the classroom. This goal is achieved through a brief description of present research by the authors, drawing from the existing literature a summary of what is meant by conceptual change learning, defining the…

Argues that inventions are of the utmost importance in knowledge development, and that conventions play an important role in inventions by providing support for their development. This position borrows from Piaget's perspective regarding figurative and operative aspects of thought. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

Reports on preservice teachers' use of a concept-mapping tool to create/modify concept maps about science-related elementary curriculum-content knowledge. Data from interviews, journals, and analysis of the concept maps showed how the preservice teachers used the tool to construct their curriculum-content knowledge in the form of more powerful…

Explains how students can be guided to model the invention process using potatoes. Details the steps and the materials used in the modeling, including the phases of the invention process. Presents this activity as preparation for the Invent America program. (DDR)

This case study explores the ways in which a beginning elementary classroom teacher gains a foothold in teaching science. The analysis includes episodes from the teacher's first three years of teaching while participating in an educational research project that investigated an inquiry-based approach to teacher professional development. The…

Reports on a project in which children develop instructional technology skills while learning a great deal of science. Explains how children construct a multimedia presentation on the topic of invertebrates. (DDR)

Presents stories that illustrate how children learned lessons about the nature of science. These lessons include such ideas as observing closely and keep records, accessing resources, and collaborating with each other. Describes the use of a classroom bird station and nature walks in accomplishing the goals. (DDR)

Focuses on how one teacher examined classroom discourse through a unit on tornadoes and natural catastrophes. Defines various types of discourse and discusses how discourse in a 6th grade class was analyzed. Details some of the activities that engaged students. (DDR)

Traces change in conception of gravity in a boy from kindergarten until second grade, focusing on the process by which persons restructure ideas that differ from accepted scientific understandings, and acquire scientific ideas. Provides criteria for defining an alternative conception; suggests how conditions in the initial interview may have…

Examines changes in the science content representations of two prospective elementary teachers during their first year in an experimental teacher preparation program. Finds that opportunities to engage in cycles of instruction guided by structured considerations for content representation contributed to improvements in the teachers' science…