At last! A practical, readable guide for teachers, school leaders, and parent/teacher associations that shows how to plan fun, hands-on science nights! Get easy-to-implement, content-rich tips and ideas that will cultivate positive attitudes toward science! Learn how to involve and actively engage families in their children's science education.…

Science starts at home. Parents play a crucial role in determining how much science their children learn. This paper presents a list of tips that parents can use to help their children learn science. They are: (1) Focus on your child's interests; (2) Talk with your child about what you are doing-- make it a two-way conversation; (3) Girls are just…

Noting the increase in interactive museums and science centers and children's exuberant reaction to hands-on exhibits, this guide provides tips for parents on how to prepare for a museum visit and how to encourage the learning process during the visit. The first part of the guide discusses the shift in museum policy from "hands off" to…

With the exception of periodic science fairs or the occasional home-science project, science is not usually the galvanizing force for the school community. But, through family science events, it can be. It is no secret that students whose families are involved in their children's education significantly benefit in achievement, attitudes, and…

This guide is a resource for K-8 teachers, college student tutors, parents, and others engaged in learning activities to help primary, elementary, and middle school students learn mathematics and science. It presents a collection of activities adapted from printed and electronic sources which help motivate student interest in mathematics and…

This resource guide is a source of current information for teachers, principals, administrators, science curriculum specialists, parents, and those involved in systemic reform of science education. These curriculum materials and other resources support inquiry-based science teaching that fosters an understanding of science concepts through…

This publication presents changes and modifications for 2006-2007 to the "International Rules for Precollege Science Research: Guidelines for Science and Engineering Fairs." It is written to guide fair directors, teachers, scientists, parents, and adult volunteers as they pursue their work of encouraging students to explore and investigate their…

This document is a collection of some of the physics activities used in the Teaching Science with TOYS professional development program for teachers. The TOYS activities have been compiled into this document as a resource for teachers who want to use toy-based physical science activities in the classroom. The activities do not assume any…

"Science for Girls: Successful Classroom Strategies" looks at how girls learn, beginning with the time they are born through both the informal and formal education process. In the author's current role as professor of science education, Dr. Goetz has surveyed hundreds of female elementary education majors in their junior and senior year of…

The performance-based assessment was developed to assess students' higher order thinking skills in real-life problem-solving situations in Alberta, Canada. These tasks assess aspects of science that cannot be measured easily by regular paper and pencil tests. The purpose of this document is to provide teachers, administrators, students, and…

The purpose of the Toys in Space project was to create new ways for children to discover the joy and excitement of science and technology in the world around us. This book describes how familiar toys behave in the space environment where the downward pull of gravity is absent, and clearly documents those principles of physics that explain why the…

This book focuses on the use of common, everyday materials, some of which can be obtained easily for use in hands-on-science activities. Major emphasis is placed on starter activities designed to prompt children to ask "why" or "what would happen if" type questions about science events. This guide aims to meet the need for actively involving…

School in the Park is an innovative museum-based educational effort to engage students in their community during the school day. Since 1999 several hundred students have been educated each year in museums and the zoo in San Diego. This is more than a field trip, it is changing the way that education is provided. Challenging the Classroom Standard…

Focusing on the use of common, everyday materials that can be obtained for free or purchased inexpensively, this document was developed to provide classroom teachers, youth leaders, camp counselors and parents with ideas and activities in science. A major emphasis is placed on "starter" activities, which are designed to encourage…

This book is a collection of activities, stories, ideas, and games designed to help adults and young children develop a shared awareness of their environment. The material is presented in eight chapters. Activities and stories are interwoven throughout each chapter to provide a holistic view of the topic covered. The end of each chapter contains…