The purpose of this study was to determine if an inquiry-oriented curriculum in elementary science (Science Curriculum Improvement Study, SCIS) transfer to other academic areas. A group of 46 pupils who had experienced SCIS in grades one through four, and 69 who had not experienced a similar course, were administered the Stanford Achievement Test…

The purpose of this study was to develop and apply a composite test instrument in order to compare the academic performance and cognitive functioning of boys in educationally handicapped and regular classes. Ten subtests were chosen from standard tests. Tests of seriation and classification were constructed; the battery was then administered to 64…

Interviews and classroom observations were used to evaluate the Solutions unit of the MATAL Elementary Science Curriculum Project. Both techniques were found to contribute insightful information about the reasoning strategies and learning difficulties of the students. (BW)

Developmental assumptions that are frequently regarded as constraints on elementary school science curricula are analyzed. The argument that elementary school children cannot function as experimentalists because they have not yet attained formal operational thought is not supported by the Piagetian or non-Piagetian research reviewed. (SLD)

An overview and rationale for the Science Curriculum for Individualized Learning (SCIL) are provided. SCIL is the result of the individualization of the SCIS program. The SCIL management system is based on the exploration, invention, and discovery concepts of Piagetian theory. An evaluation study of two SCIl units, Interactions and Systems and…

The development of earth and gravity concepts among 250 schoolchildren ages 8, 10 and 12 from two regions of Nepal was investigated. The children studied five nations located in different parts of the world. (HM)

Two studies examined the construction of children's beliefs about projectile motion of a ball rolled off a table. Describes the concepts used by children, analyzes their use as a function of age, and gives a naturalistic description of their use. Results indicate that appropriate instruction can remediate misconceptions. (MDH)

A 3-year study based on Piagetian theory considered this question: Do children who receive systematic instruction in the basic concepts of mathematics and science when they are in kindergarten think more logically when they reach second grade than do children who did not have such early instruction? The groups having prescribed lessons in…