This monograph, published by the Science Education Programme for Africa (SEPA), is intended to help teachers and teacher educators with the skills and attitudes relating to learning science through activities designed to make the learner the center of attention. Presented is a review of Bruner's learning theory, Piaget's theory of intellectual…

Studied the intellectual differences between third and fourth grade Filipino children who had studied Science--A Process Approach (SAPA) and others who had studied a traditional curriculum. The SAPA children performed significantly better than the control group on a test of observing, comparing, and classifying simple geometric objects. (MLH)

The third-year evaluation results of an investigation extending through grade six. Studied performance of the same population, appearing in two previous evaluations, with sex, socioeconomic status, and maturity taken into account. Indicated third grade Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) children were superior to non-SCIS controls in both…

A sex-related difference, favoring boys, was found on initial performance of two samples (one British, one American) of 10- and 11-year-old children on tasks involving volume and density. After classroom instruction that included opportunities for interaction with appropriate materials, both sexes performed at higher levels but differences…

Presents a series of activities intended to enable teachers to determine if children are ready to be introduced to the concept of speed. Reviews Piaget's theories and the empirical evidence on which the sequence is based. (Author/CP)

An increase in the cognitive restructuring aspect of field-independence was found to be associated with an increase in formal operational thought in 11- to 12-year-olds who were given materials designed to achieve this result. Materials used (including computer programs) are described in an appendix. (JN)

Suggestions are given relating to having plants and animals in the classroom to stimulate development of the understanding of the concept of being alive, a concept not really understood by children under age nine. The research reviewed promotes firsthand experiences to help form concepts of living and nonliving, of identity and causality. (EB)

This study examined the effect of formal and concrete instruction upon science achievement and intellectual development of sixth grade students. Formal instruction, which emphasized oral and written language, included lecture, discussion, oral quizzes, written assignments, reading assignments, films, film strips, written tests, and quizzes.…

Examines the relationships between self-concept and (1) academic achievement, and (2) intellectual development in minority school children utilizing the Stanford Achievement test, Pier-Harris Self-Concept Scale, and seven Piagetian-like tasks. Concludes that self-concept enhancement is more a function of high level thought than low level thought.…

Two pilot studies with 22 mildly retarded children indicate that the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) Beginning unit aided development of I.Q. and reading readiness. (SL)

Demonstrations are presented in which children can be introduced to evidence of specific concepts enabling them to participate in such a way that any conceptual conflicts that might arise in this learning situation can be gradually reduced. (EB)

Analyzes the performance of the Electronic Task (ET), to test for combinatorial reasoning, over a broad range of subject ages and abilities in order to evaluate it as a substitute for the original Chemical Task (CT). (GA)

Investigated the development of formal reasoning among students (ages 10-18 years) from predominately White, middle-class communities located in rural, suburban homogeneous, and suburban heterogeneous areas. Results indicate clear differences among communities in formal reasoning ability. Implications for using science instruction to promote…

Describes a set of Science Reasoning Tasks which are valid and reliable for assessing the ability of children to use concrete and formal reasoning strategies and can be used by science teachers without professional training in Piagetian studies. Thirty pupils can be tested on each task in about 50 minutes. (Author/DS)

Reexamined Piagetian stages of males (N=182) and females (N=176), ages nine to eighteen, using cluster analysis, and sought information concerning occurrence of stages and influence of different tasks and gender on cluster patterns. Findings, among others, indicate that deviation from Piagetian stages was influenced by gender and type of task.…