Presents activities and demonstrations that enable teachers to use various types of confections as tactile experiences to spark chemistry students' interest and generate enthusiasm for learning. Presents uses of candy in teaching about atomic structure, spontaneous nuclear decay, chemical formulas, fractoluminescence, the effect of a molecular…

Describes three models that provide a concrete experience of abstract concepts such as DNA replication, RNA synthesis, and protein synthesis. Explains their hands-on use and notes their advantages for teaching and learning. (JRH)

The Developmental Approaches in Science, Health and Technology (DASH) program provides opportunities for students to experience the worlds of scientists and technologists in elementary classrooms. It aims to build an understanding of technology and science through constructivism and hands-on science for K-6 graders. This instructional guide…

One creative way that elementary science educators can teach their students about animal communication is to give them glow sticks and a set of cards with descriptions of what different firefly flash signals mean. The paper describes such a project and presents related activities. (SM)

This monograph addresses the basic ideas of constructivism in the context of science teaching. Instructional practices for applying constructivist-based teaching principles explained in this document include using open-ended, hands-on activities; cooperative learning; various questioning strategies; student journals; and a curriculum based on the…

This guide is a resource for K-8 teachers, college student tutors, parents, and others engaged in learning activities to help primary, elementary, and middle school students learn mathematics and science. It presents a collection of activities adapted from printed and electronic sources which help motivate student interest in mathematics and…

This book contains a series of hands-on science activities for young children. The activities are designed to be done by children with an adult partner. An interactive learning feature is also included. Through these activities, children can discover that science is all around them and that science helps to explain why things happen the way they…

This paper reviews science education research conducted with students having behavioral disorders. Both textbook-based approaches and activities-based approaches were found. Guidelines for teaching science to this population are provided, such as making participation in desirable activities contingent upon appropriate behavior and providing…

Describes experiments to culture cells in a laboratory that provide students with hands-on experience in manipulating cells and a chance to observe cell growth characteristics first hand. Exposes students to sterile technique, cell culture, cell growth concepts, and eukaryotic cell structure. (JRH)

This book was designed to open up opportunities to expand an instructor's "teaching toolbox." It contains numerous examples of activities or ideas that can be implemented with few modifications to engage students. This book synthesizes one science program's 5-year curricular development experience into a form that addresses and reflects all the…

Using an interactive method to teach middle school students can address the needs of this diverse population. Electrofiles provide opportunities for students to be actively engaged in learning. Students can build content knowledge in electrical circuits by designing an electrofile or they can review other content area knowledge through a variety…

This handbook features ideas for implementing Project WET activities in Virginia. Project WET activities are designed for a variety of educational programs and can be used to complement existing curricula while addressing curricular objectives and educational standards nationwide. Activities include: (1) "Life Systems"; (2)…

Describes two laboratory exercises corresponding to studies of statics and dynamics to illustrate the concept that the combination of real and simulated laboratory tools, with some real data being recorded in computer-aided form, can result in a very sound understanding of physical principles. (JRH)

Describes a simple, safe, and inexpensive hands-on demonstration of normal and abnormal coagulation using bovine blood plasma. (JRH)

Describes some inexpensive activities and demonstrations that illustrate basic concepts that are often overlooked, as a low-cost means to foster student participation in physics classes. Activities described deal with acceleration and forces, freefall, conservation of energy and momentum, conservation of angular momentum, and resonance. (JRH)