Insects are extremely important for maintaining the natural environment, performing such essential ecosystem services as decomposition, dung burial, and soil aeration, as well as providing food for other wildlife. Insects are also important for human interests such as crop pollination. Though the advantages of using insects as teaching tools are…

What happens in the first week of school could very well set the stage for the rest of the school year. Setting high standards for science activities based in inquiry can start on the first day of science class and develop as the year unfolds. With the use of simple, readily available, inexpensive materials, an efficient mystery box lesson can be…

The authors conducted a test to determine whether they could incorporate a discovery box into a preschool setting was successful. It stimulated the students' natural inquiry processes while promoting understanding of healthy foods and allowing for practice of fine-motor skills. It was easily incorporated into the curriculum and classroom space.…

Along with inquiry-based teaching, exploring the elements of art can guide students to view and represent objects realistically. Understanding line, shape, color, value, form, space, and texture helps bridge the gap between what students actually observe and what their preconceived ideas about the object may be. This type of explicit instruction…

Describes a camping experience and its activities created for girls entering 6th grade who wanted to learn science and explore science-related fields. Indicates that the camping experience for girls promoted positive attitudes toward science learning. (KHR)

Described is a interdisciplinary unit on space. During the planning of their projects, students become immersed in talking about ideas, writing, designing, and illustrating a space colony. The unit relates science to language arts, social studies, mathematics, art, and music. (KR)

ScienceQuests organize the curriculum around an authentic problem or project for students to solve. They focus on developing students' content knowledge, collaborative skills, and dispositions (i.e., attitudes toward science). Each ScienceQuest is built around "big ideas," such as: (1) All living things have basic needs that must be satisfied in…

Argues for attitudes that will help nurture appreciation for the sciences in young children and stresses the importance of preparing youth to address global challenges in energy resources and conservation, to advance biochemistry and medicine, and to discover frontiers in space. (DDR)

Advocates the use of the environment as a learning tool to increase student achievement, motivation, and skills in lifelong learning. Includes a number of tips to assist teachers in taking it outside. (DDR)

Discusses approaches to science projects designed to eliminate negative reactions, improve topic selection and problem identification, and create excitement. These include creating classroom resource centers, bulletin boards, and student committees to help students develop their projects by narrowing broad topics to specific problem statements and…

Described is an color-making activity where students use food coloring, eyedroppers, and water to make various colored solutions. Included are the needed materials and procedures. Students are asked to write up the formulas for making their favorite color. (KR)

Reports on effectiveness of an elementary school science program comparing attitudes toward science of Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) students and teachers with those of students and teachers in non-SCIS classes. Students (N=456) indicate preference for SCIS process-approach science, and SCIS teachers (N=109) spend more time teaching…