Using data on upper-division students in the University of California system, we show that two distinct cultures of engagement exist on campus. The culture of engagement in the arts, humanities and social sciences focuses on interaction, participation, and interest in ideas. The culture of engagement in the natural sciences and engineering focuses…

Examples of fall activities to bring the natural world into the classroom are offered including conducting a simple chromatography experiment on leaves, correlating number of seeds with the lines on pumpkins, planting colored corn kernels, and designing and making scarecrows. (DB)

Compiled in conjunction with the Texas Sesquicentennial celebration, this bibliography is designed to aid librarians in selecting reference materials related to Texas history, culture, and geography. The needs of small and medium-sized libraries have received special attention, but the bibliography would also be useful to large libraries and those…

A teacher of environmental studies at a magnet Montessori school for gifted children, ages 3 to 9, describes the development of Our Green Classroom, an outdoor garden featuring 100 species of plants, a pond, a birdbath, a bird and butterfly feeding station, a composting demonstration site, and a recycling center. Program emphasis is on hands-on…

Suggests ways to help children discover, study and appreciate nature through their senses, by teaching skills in observation, directing discussions of shared outdoor experiences, and helping children do research on a particular topic. (ED)

The fourteen-year life story of a sealed terrarium is presented. (BB)

Reviews issues associated with the language, practice, and organization of environmental education. Cites the ways in which environmental education may be perceived as an innovation. Contends that a conventional perspective on innovation may not be the most fruitful manner for dealing with emerging issues in environmental education. (ML)

Ten ideas for elementary education science activities are presented. Scientific topics included are: archeology, astronomy, biology, anatomy, nutrition, earth science, and inventions. (CJ)

Provides tips for planning a field trip. Includes the following sections: (1) Defining the field trip; (2) Role of the instructor; (3) Preparing students for the field trip; (4) Allocating time; (5) Transportation; (6) Keeping students involved; (7) Division of labor; (8) Equipment; (9) Behavioral rules; (10) Medical emergencies; and (11) Special…

Argues that the use of nature literature in science, history, religion, geography, etc., classrooms can sharpen students' observation skills, help students learn to value the world around them, and introduce environmental issues such as man's threats to nature. Describes sample activities. (DMM)

Native American science is defined as activities of native peoples of the New World in observing physical phenomena and attempting to explain and control them. Problems in studying native science, ethnoscience and native science, archaeostronomy and ethnoastronomy, ethnobotany, agriculture, technology, and future directions are discussed. (JN)

Lists and describes representative software for Macintosh microcomputers. Included are Apple University Consortium software, word processing software, statistics packages, integrated packages, database management systems, and others. Source of software and costs (when available) are included. (JN)

This science column includes background information, discussion questions, science activities, writing activities, and a bibliography on a different topic each month. The titles of the five installments included in this compilation are: (1) "Chameleons and Other Quick-Change Artists"; (2) "Niagara Falls and Other Super…

Two learning activities are presented to develop observation and classification skills at the elementary level. The first is an electric box that associates tree names with leaf and bark specimens, and the second is a pond water observation and slide preparation activity. (BB)

Presented is an introduction to the life history and interesting qualities of the golden beetle. Suggestions for activities and questions leading from an examination of this insect are given. (MR)