Analyzes changes and developments in the primary science curriculum in Botswana from 1969-1989. Discusses the objectives, basic concepts, and reasons for change during three time periods: 1969-1982, 1982-1989, and 1989-present. Identifies discovery teaching as the recommended method of instruction. (Contains 17 references.) (Author/YDS)

Discusses the problems of science education in Thailand and presents a hands-on teaching approach in science and mathematics as a revolutionary approach to these problems. (YDS)

Describes a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project in which hands-on science became the predominant mode of instruction in a school district. Explores the effectiveness of the program and its implications for the future and the science supervisor. (KHR)

This study reports on the effects of a major reform initiative which was implemented in the Iowa City Community Schools District. The Science: Parents, Activities, and Literature (Science PALs) Project was launched in 1994 to reform the district's elementary science program. It was designed to increase teacher effectiveness by providing a…

Discusses reasons why inservice workshops often fail to impact science teaching. Describes restructuring of a workshop series so that teachers become real science learners, struggling with their own ideas about different scientific concepts as they design experiments and share theories with their peers. (JRH)

This paper takes a close look at a large county public school in northern Nevada and its implementation of a newly adopted standards-based elementary science program. The study investigates the opinions of elementary classroom teachers about the new hands-on activity-based science program for kindergarten through grade six. The results indicate…

This report presents the results of a three-year educational partnership that supports a unique interdisciplinary team approach to professional development. The Sage Colleges collaborated with two school districts to enable educators to align content and standards; draw upon a bank of assessment vehicles, questions, and assignments; create…

Presents a student's eye view of science education. The views emerged from a three-year research and evaluation study carried out at the Manchester Metropolitan University in England that involved preservice primary teachers. (DDR)

This document provides a summative evaluation of an ongoing collaborative professional development project that focuses on a course in experimental science learning. Project goals include: (1) providing elementary school teachers with a professional development program for science education that is grounded in the National Science Education…

A comprehensive reform of the science curriculum and the methods of teaching and assessing science instruction is underway. This booklet shares ideas drawn from research and promising practices in science education. These ideas are addressed specifically to educators, but are important to anybody concerned with science education in elementary,…

The aim of this book is to provide a resource for classroom teachers to develop students' knowledge, attitudes, and skills that would prepare them to become more scientifically literate. By articulating a clear theoretical framework coupled with accessible teaching strategies, it is designed to help teachers who feel unprepared for and intimidated…

This summary report of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 1996 State Assessment Program in Science and Mathematics provides comparisons of average mathematics scale scores for Grades 4 and Grade 8 in public schools and comparisons of average science scale scores for Grade 8 in participating jurisdictions. Data is presented in a…

This guide for elementary Teacher preparation programs in science education comprises three sections: "Introduction"; "Guidelines"; and "Implementation." The reform efforts, particularly those pertaining to science education, are characterized by a shift towards shared responsibility for the preparation of teachers to…

This study takes place within the context of the Science: Parents, Activities, and Literature (Science PALS) project and examines elementary school students' reactions to instruction implemented by teachers participating in this special problem-centered professional development program. The study focuses on student perceptions of their science…

The goals of this research project included noting the importance that primary teachers placed on student ideas in planning and delivering science lessons for the topic of snails, and comparing the importance teachers afforded student ideas-and instruction based on student ideas-with the perception their students had of the importance of their…