Carefully crafted experiences in the early childhood classroom can create learning opportunities for children that allow one curiosity to lead to another. Learning how to find out answers to fascinating questions is what science is all about. In fact, it can be as simple as learning how an ordinary egg can be changed. For the past year, the…

Describes a nine-week unit that focuses on student development of science-based contraptions that work. Students are allowed to design, construct, and test a device of interest that performs a simple task, such as picking up a paper towel or turning a page in a book. (ZWH)

Describes a secondary science unit which uses an urban environment to develop a comparison between naturally formed mountains and man-constructed skyscrapers. The unit is one in a series of fifty laboratory activities designed to stimulate students of earth science by interrelating scientific principles and procedures to a familiar environment.…

This collection of instructional materials for energy education in the elementary classroom includes a teacher's guide, a student workbook, and three filmstrip/cassette-tape programs. These materials are designed to introduce children, in an interdisciplinary fashion, to energy issues and to show them what energy is, where it comes from, and what…

Describes five environmental awareness activities which can be integrated into any elementary school classroom situation. Activity oriented experiences are described utilizing field experiences, group work, language experience, role playing and the inquiry method. Activity topics include the meaning of environment, introduction to natural and…

Presents a unit approach that utilizes Howard Gardner's seven intelligences (Linguistic, Logical/mathematical, Spatial, Music, Kinesthetic/body, Intrapersonal, and Interpersonal). Students are given a list of activities and make a contract to complete a certain number on the list. A sample unit for fifth graders on the bodily systems is provided.…

This teacher guide for the astronomy unit of an outdoor education program consists of a series of performance objectives, intended to provide interesting, hands-on activities, involving interdisciplinary skills, that augment commitments of the mathematics, sciences, and social studies program of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools.…

Presented are 10 science energy education units designed to help students learn how to turn science questions and problems about energy into experiments. Each unit focuses on subject-matter knowledge and on the logic and strategy of scientific problem solving. These teacher-oriented materials include an overview of each unit, background…

Describes the use of an activity aimed at constructing a "Unit Box" in a science methods course for elementary teachers. (PEB)

For many educators, gathering, organizing, and maintaining materials involved in inquiry-based science and math activities can seem daunting. This handbook is designed to help teachers in the task of gathering and maintaining materials to make kits for 42 activities derived from the Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) Program at the…

Provides strategies for adapting microscope activities for students with disabilities. The following factors are considered: (1) mainstreaming strategies; (2) laboratory techniques; (3) observing and classifying; (4) vocabulary and terminology; and (5) safety. (ZWH)

Describes a project where students build their own catapults and modify them to solve four problems. Suggests the unit be integrated with a social studies unit on the Middle Ages. (PR)

This grade 2 science curriculum guide contains three activity units: (1) insects; (2) measuring; and (3) sink or float. Each unit contains a rationale, teacher background material, lesson plans, and lists of resources including books, audiovisual materials, resource persons, and science activity modules. The lesson plans list the science processes…

An eighth-grade science teacher shares her successes and strategies for designing and implementing an individualized scientific investigation approach for students with three major problems: (1) low reading ability, (2) high absenteeism, and (3) limited background in science. (ZWH)

Describes using the movie "Jurassic Park" as a foundation for a middle school interdisciplinary unit involving science, math, language arts, history, and geography. Suggested books and activities are presented. (PR)