Evolution offers an intellectually satisfying and extremely well-supported explanation for the diversity of life in the natural world, its similarities and differences, how changes occur and how new life forms have developed. There are plenty of reasons to anticipate the teaching of evolution with exhilaration. In recent years, the issue of…

The National Science Education Standards are designed to provide a vision of scientific literacy for "all" students--regardless of age, race, ethnic background, English-language proficiency, socioeconomic status, disability, or giftedness. One of the most powerful strategies in science instruction--which aligns with the Standards--is the use of…

In this inquiry-based, integrative art and science activity, Grade 5-8 students use multicolored Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) crystallizing solutions to reveal beautiful, cylindrical, 3-dimensional, needle-shaped structures. Through observations of the crystal art, students analyze factors that contribute to crystal size and formation, compare…

Science education reform has four major goals: (1) science for all; (2) teaching for understanding and application of science knowledge and processes; (3) inclusion of broader views of science in the curriculum; and (4) less is better. Focuses on teaching for understanding and application of science, and recommends using an embedded assessment…

Provides a brief overview of the constructivist learning model and characterizes the science classroom where the constructivist model can best be used. (ZWH)

Asserts that science is poetry that is intended for all students to understand. Presents text and a teaching model, The Why How Tree, to aid in helping all students to better understand how the world works. Emphasis is placed on the dependent relationship that the disciplines share. (ZWH)

Discusses the positive and negative aspects of outcome-based education. Also included in the discussion are recommendations for the successful implementation of outcome-based education. (ZWH)

Addresses the fact that a very small number of programs in science education were identified as outstanding in the field by the National Science Teachers Association. (NKA)

Applies a theory of analogical thinking as satisfaction of multiple constraints to the use of analogies in instruction. It shows how the strengths of particularly good analogies and the weaknesses of particularly bad ones can be understood in terms of pragmatic, semantic, and structural constraints. The constraints suggest lessons for how…

Contains instructions and two patterns for making a terrestrial globe and a tectonic globe. The pattern is designed to be glued onto a tennis ball. By constructing the globes, students obtain a greater understanding of the locations of the edges of continents and the earth's plates. (AIM)

Described is a model for planning and conducting an investigation designed to teach science process skills. Use of this model illustrates the generalizability of process skills and facilitates their inclusion in novel curriculum areas and beyond the classroom. (DS)

Presents a practical model for planning and implementing a field trip as an integral part of the science curriculum. Reviews the literature related to the role of field trips in the learning process; describes the model; and provides an example implementing the learning cycle method. (Contains 17 references.) (MDH)

This brief paper describes a project, the Curriculum Development in Teaching Science to Students with Disabilities Project, which provides training to teachers and teacher educators. Participants receive information on teacher education, methods, materials/programs, organizations, media resources, evaluation/assessment alternatives, World Wide Web…

Described is a three-phase model for teaching problem solving to the middle school student. Phases include cue attendance, thinking aloud, and developing diagrams of steps to solutions. Because middle school students are in a transitional period in their cognitive processes, implementation of problem solving skills seems appropriate. (Author/DS)

Presents a conceptual framework for teaching science to students with disabilities. The framework suggests integration of explicit instruction in critical concepts, with cognitively-based approaches that emphasize problem-solving skills on real-world tasks. Implications for policy, professional development, and creation of learning environments…