Presents the author's views of what should be done about science teaching and curriculum in the British elementary schools. (HM)

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…

This paper proposes a Piagetian model for an early childhood science education program which provides opportunities for children to learn logical thinking and to prepare them for reading and writing. Discussed are suggestions for science areas of concentration, abilities to consider, substructure levels, cognitive thinking skills, and schemes. A…

This document describes an empirical study on the patterns of teacher behavior and a comparison of student outcomes from two settings where different programs (types of curricula) were used. The two psychological positions identified within the curricula were stated to have been operationalized in the two programs developed for the elementary…

This paper discusses the implications of Piaget's theory to science education. The first section of the paper, "What Science Teachers Need To Know: Scientific Knowledge and Its Source," describes three sources of students' knowledge and corresponding educational practices. The second section, "Functions of Intelligence," discusses the concept of…

This study was designed to examine effects that access to manipulatives in science instruction have with respect to the development of spatial conceptual abilities and whether the effects were different for males and females. A secondary purpose of this investigation was to examine what relationship sex and access to manipulatives in conjunction…

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)

This report presents the results of an investigation of the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) program and the effects of the Materials Objects unit on first-grade students and teachers. The contents of the report include purposes and limitations of the study, discussion of the instruments, observers, reliability of the Q sort, the…

Summarizes a pilot project which investigated how elementary school children in Southeast Asia learn science and mathematics concepts at different cognitive levels using the modified clinical method and group task approach. Includes the Concept Learning Project's basis, goals, phases, methodology, activities, and a summary of the findings. (DS)

Examines 11 elementary science texts in terms of conceptual structure and reasoning demands using concept maps. Reports that (1) the conceptual structures vary widely across texts; (2) most of the structures are well defined; and (3) the reasoning demands are above the developmental capabilities of most of primary-level children. (Author/YP)

Presented is a bibliography that cites research studies and articles related to Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS), and provides a brief summary of these research studies and articles and some commentary within 5 categories. These 5 categories are: (1) SCIS and teachers, 8 studies or articles are reported within this category which are…

Investigated was the relationship between spatial visualization and cognitive development in a sample of 88 Australian freshman teacher education students. Results support the hypothesis that enhanced capacity to visualize is an outcome of overall cognitive development. (HM)

This paper is based on a portion of the curriculum analysis of elementary science textbooks that was conducted as part of a larger Elementary Subjects Center study of curriculum materials used in literature, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts. A commonly used elementary science curriculum series, Silver Burdett and Ginn's…

This paper discusses Piagetian theory on children's cognitive development and its relevance to an early childhood science program. Children, at different stages of their development, exhibit characteristics of behavior or of thinking which may or may not affect how and what they learn in the classroom. It is suggested that subject-matter content,…

Considers an aspect of children's thinking and learning: the set of beliefs or expectations they hold about the way natural phenomena occur and how they affect the sense pupils make of experiences we give them in science classes. Implications for instruction are addressed. (Author/SK)