Through integration of geology, biology, chemistry, and the history of science, the historic Krakatoa eruption offers a unique portal for student inquiry in the classroom. Students are inherently fascinated by natural disasters, and modern comparisons to the Krakatoa cataclysm are as close as the day's news. This article uses the historic Krakatoa…

In both universities and K-12 schools, students leave one world and enter another as they attend classes in discipline-specific domains. But how can students gain the experiences necessary to make discoveries--for personal satisfaction, for academic enlightenment, and perhaps even for the betterment of humankind--without educators who see the…

The "Learning Lab: The Cell" exhibit was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Museum and the MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences (CEHS). Specially designed for middle and high school students, the Learning Lab provides museum visitors of all ages with fascinating insights into how our living cells work. The…

During Earth Science Week (October 8-14, 2006), millions of citizen scientists worldwide will be sampling groundwater, monitoring weather, touring quarries, exploring caves, preparing competition projects, and visiting museums and science centers to learn about Earth science. The American Geological Institute organizes this annual event to…

Describes a chemistry club project. Explains the three goals: to enhance hands-on science in elementary classrooms, to encourage females to enter the field of science, and to encourage high school students to consider teaching as a career choice. Provides an outline and examples of the characters and demonstrations. (RT)

Discusses the advantages of opening class sessions with demonstrations. Describes 11 demonstrations, including cloud formation, lather expansion, singing glassware, a flickering filament, balancing a fork and spoon, spinning an egg, television distortion, a roll race, a vortex generator, a suspended egg, and flight magic. (YP)

Presents abstracts of innovative activities of students in grades 7 through 12. Projects include community surveys, student or teacher initiated home/school experiments, scientist-supervised research by high school students, community and school service projects. (EB)

Recently published research can be paired with engaging activities to keep students informed about the rapidly changing world of science. "Environmental Health Perspectives" (EHP), a peer-reviewed environmental health research journal (published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health),…

Discusses an astronomy simulation activity introducing the concepts of rotation, revolution, and retrograde motion. Describes the activity procedures in classrooms. (YP)

Discusses some of the educational advantages of utilizing the resources of science museums in school science programs. (JR)

Discusses one school's development and implementation of an integrated science course, and shares the insights gained by teachers involved in the restructuring process. (ZWH)

Provides information for the development of a lesson which teaches students about sand, discusses facts about sands, sand studies, life in the sands, and sand activities. Includes diagrams showing the range in sand grain shape, formation of sand ripples, and sand samples from around the world. (RT)

Explains the need for science training for many environmental careers and science related tasks required in performing their jobs. States that environmentalists are getting industries to change production methods and helping policymakers make regulations. (RT)

Presents a concise (3,000 words) history of the universe and includes discussions of the Big Bang and Steady-State theories relative to the expansion of the universe. (PB)

Describes how literature can be used in the science classroom. Discusses Activities; Promoting Excellence in the Classroom; Equity for all Students; and Adapting the Method. (ZWH)