Instructors of elementary science methods classes have long lamented the significant difficulties their students exhibit when trying to understand the many complexities of teaching science. As noted by some researchers and practicing teachers, preservice teachers often fail to developmentally function at desired levels with respect to…

A sex-related difference, favoring boys, was found on initial performance of two samples (one British, one American) of 10- and 11-year-old children on tasks involving volume and density. After classroom instruction that included opportunities for interaction with appropriate materials, both sexes performed at higher levels but differences…

Examples of explanations students give during science lessons are used to demonstrate that there are a number of very different modes of explaining. In addition, it is suggested that the peculiarly scientific method of explanation is fraught with difficulties, some of which current learning theories may just be able to describe. Areas discussed…

Reviews the formation of space, time, and measurement concepts in children with respect to Piagetian developmental levels and presents some teaching methods to help promote these concepts. (SK)

Investigates the development of the concept of heat by children aged four to nine. Analysis revealed 11 thought patterns classified into six categories underlying children's concept of heat. These categories are related to scientific knowledge of the physics of heat. (HM)

Researchers have attempted to develop paper and pencil Piagetian tests that yield results equivalent to manipulative Piagetian tasks and that can be administered in significantly less time. This study is an attempt to partially replicate and extend the findings of research by Paul Ankeny and Lyle Joyce who found significant positive correlations…

This paper addresses two distinctive issues concerning animistic and anthropomorphic thought in the context of constructivist science education. The first concerns the extent of such ways of thinking, both within science itself and within school science. The second concerns the implications of this for theories of instruction in science education.…

This study is concerned with preservice primary school teachers (N=100), a group of tertiary students who traditionally come from the secondary school stream. These students have, on the whole, avoided subjects like physics, chemistry, and mathematics that demand a high level of cognitive development for understanding/assimilation of abstract…

Ascertained influence of an intervention in development of operational seriation/transitivity in kindergarten/first-grade children (N=60) who initially failed to demonstrate ability to do seriation/transitivity problems. Seriation of size was also studied. Results, interpreted in context of Piaget's equilibrium theory, indicated advancement toward…

Classificatory behavior of 41 fourth graders enrolled in a science program at the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. was assessed on an instrument adapted from Piaget's interviews with children on class inclusion. Developmental levels were related to student performance in the program. Data analysis shows that students with a high…

Reviews current brain research and implications for science instruction. Includes discussions of correlations between Piagetian stages of cognitive development and human brain development, arousal and attention mechanisms, and hemispheric specialization. (SK)

Six Piagetian-type tasks, designed to examine associated topological groupings, were examined to determine if a hierarchical relationship existed among them. The groupings examined were: the partitioning of sets and addition of subsets, reciprocity of proximities, one-to-one multiplication of elements, order of placement, symmetrical interval…

Reviews the neural modeling principles of learning, perception, cognition, and motor control, discusses their applications to sensory-motor problem solving, and explores possible relationships between that pattern of problem solving and aspects of higher order formal operational problem solving. Cites implications for science education. (ML)

Summarizes a pilot project which investigated how elementary school children in Southeast Asia learn science and mathematics concepts at different cognitive levels using the modified clinical method and group task approach. Includes the Concept Learning Project's basis, goals, phases, methodology, activities, and a summary of the findings. (DS)

Describes a set of Science Reasoning Tasks which are valid and reliable for assessing the ability of children to use concrete and formal reasoning strategies and can be used by science teachers without professional training in Piagetian studies. Thirty pupils can be tested on each task in about 50 minutes. (Author/DS)