The objective were to explore some of the ways in which the calculator can be used and to determine the effects. Areas covered are: computation, mathematics readiness, problem solving, and discovery learning. (MP)

Describes an approach that motivates preservice teachers to become involved in the scientific experience. The approach involves a science demonstration or activity that is done both in and out of class in which students report observations using a Vee diagram. Includes assessment procedures. (DDR)

Results of two studies using the Esper paradigm to determine development of rule application and discovery are reported. Subjects learned and generalized when rule and structure were provided, but there was little evidence of rule discovery. Manipulations of memory and attention facilitated learning, but only attention facilitated rule discovery.…

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)

Suggestions are given relating to having plants and animals in the classroom to stimulate development of the understanding of the concept of being alive, a concept not really understood by children under age nine. The research reviewed promotes firsthand experiences to help form concepts of living and nonliving, of identity and causality. (EB)

Remarks are focused on two of the findings of a study carried out by Bingham-Newman and Hooper in "Classification and Seriation Instruction and Logical Task Performance in Preschool."

The growth in science understanding and reasoning of 12 children is being traced through their primary school years. The paper reports findings concerning children's growing understandings of evaporation, and their changing responses to exploration activities, that show the complexity and coherence of learning pathways. Children's responses to…

Systematically incorporated into classroom instruction in word analysis, word sorts provide a sensible alternative to phonics or whole-word approaches and are congruent with the meaning-based direction of today's basal reading programs. A word sort is an activity in which the learner arranges words printed on cards into groups. This technique can…

The article emphasizes the importance of the teacher listening to the student's questions and problems in math classes in order to understand exactly what the student is misunderstanding. (CD)

Demonstrations are presented in which children can be introduced to evidence of specific concepts enabling them to participate in such a way that any conceptual conflicts that might arise in this learning situation can be gradually reduced. (EB)

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 a unit on magnetism that utilizes hands-on activities in which students make hypotheses for discrepant behavior, discover whether a magnet attracts one object through another, measure the strength of magnets, explore levitating paper clips, and play a game dependent on magnetic attraction. (MDH)

This paper describes student performance and beliefs regarding fractions resulting from a five-phase approach toward developing mathematical intuition via physical materials. Interviews with students using this approach and with students using a conventional textbook approach indicated significant differences in problem-solving abilities and…

Challenged is the traditional model for the transmission of mathematics in the elementary school classroom. An inquiry approach to learning mathematics is proposed and supported with results of a year long research project that exposed second graders to mathematical learning experiences using this approach. (MDH)