Last month, Rodger Bybee's article, "Scientific and Engineering Practices in K-12 Classrooms," provided an overview of Chapter 3 in "A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas" (NRC 2011). Chapter 3 describes the practices of science and engineering that students are expected to develop during 13 years…

A rationale is presented placing the teaching of science in a more meaningful context for the layman and requiring new synthesis of subject matter, less oriented to emphasizing the structure of disciplines. (DF)

Presents a declaration for an interdisciplinary approach to environmental education signed by the editors of seven national education journals. (BR)

Reviews congressional appropriations which have led to the development of science education curriculum materials and science teacher education. Describes the present reluctance of Congress to appropriate more funds for additional efforts. (CP)

Proposed is a model for initiating curriculum change. Presented are four broad decision areas to be considered when contemplating curriculum changes including: scientific literacy, instructional organization, instructional methodology, and practical decisions. A sequential decision making chart is included. (SL)

Describes general characteristics of enquiry - principle of enquiry, fact, problem, hypothesis, interpretation and outcome. These characteristics of enquiry give rise to five general characteristics of knowledge. (LS)

Describes effective projects that made students effectively read scientific materials in the physics content area. Suggests using trade books in science to enhance student learning of basic physics concepts and comprehension of technical reading matter. (KHR)

Reviews science education reform efforts during the 1950s to the present in relation to their effects on the changing science curriculum. (ZWH)

Highlights classroom techniques that educators can use to promote intelligent, probing discussions on topics such as technology, human society, group behavior, social change, social conflicts, and global interdependence. Describes the graded discussion method. (SAH)