This column discusses resources and science topics related to students in grades preK to 2. In this month's issue students study landscape surfaces to recognize changes due to human impacts or natural phenomena.

Project BudBurst is a national program intended to get students and other "citizen scientists" to participate in a real study about plants, the environment, and climate change. It also provides an excellent opportunity for students to build data-analysis skills. A collaboration of several agencies and universities, the program began last year and…

One teacher took her class on a year long earthquake expedition. The goal was to monitor the occurrences of real earthquakes during the year and mark their locations with push pins on a wall-sized world map in the hallway outside the science room. The purpose of the project was to create a detailed picture of the earthquakes that occurred…

Describes how to construct a water cycle demonstration. Presents a list of necessary materials and directions for construction. Recommends the model for other activities. (YDS)

The challenge for today's elementary teachers is not "whether" but rather "how" to use computers to effectively teach students essential skills and concepts. One exciting way of meeting this challenge is to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS), computer software that captures, manipulates, analyzes, and displays data on specialized layered…

Describes several activities including directions for surveying and mapping the schoolgrounds, designed to help children comprehend the meaning and significance of contour lines. (JR)

Describes an interdisciplinary unit for upper elementary students that integrates science, geography, history, and mathematics in the study of spoons. Students determine the volume of each spoon by submerging it in a graduated cylinder of water and measuring the difference in water levels before and after submersion. Shows students that scientific…

Presents an interdisciplinary curriculum developed to be used in science, art, and music classes. Studies the connections between plants, animals, and the environment in the oceans, and compares the amount of land with the amount of ocean. Describes how to integrate the study of oceans into art and music. (Contains 13 references.) (YDS)

Discussed are the reasons for the changing of the seasons on earth. Included are 27 activities which can be used to teach geography and the seasons. Diagrams of planetary motion and climatographs are presented. (CW)

Reviews the history of cartography. Describes the contributions of Strabo and Ptolemy in early maps. Identifies the work of Gerhard Mercator as the most important advancement in mapping. Discusses present mapping standards from history. (CW)

Introduces the Apple Ocean activity which teaches about the diminishing natural resources of the earth including drinkable water, habitable land, and productive areas while working with fractions, ratios, and proportions. (YDS)

Described is a classification activity that uses holiday greeting cards. Identification of animals, their characteristics, natural habitat, eating patterns, and geography are some of the suggested ways in which to classify the animals. (KR)

Interdisciplinary learning modules called "Maude Visits..." are described. The modules apply basic scientific concepts to current and future problems facing people in various countries such as the Soviet Union. Activities using maps, money, and convection currents are included. (KR)