Describes the main features, rationale, and goals of the Science, Math, and Social Studies Help (SMASSH) project which provides unified, mutually supportive educational experiences for elementary school children. Describes the learning cycle instructional approach, presents a brief background of the science concepts addressed in these lessons, and…

Describes an open-ended interdisciplinary activity in which students construct a model of an island and then investigate real-life problems and other student selected island projects. Emphasis placed on problem solving. (BR)

Activities in which students can learn to determine the history of a tree from the growth pattern recorded in the rings of a cross-section of a tree are described. Activities include background information, objectives, a list of needed materials per group, and procedures. Cross-sections of four different tree types are included if real tree…

Describes an approach of two elementary school teachers in combining instruction in reading and science. Students brainstorm a list of things they know about a topic; then they generate a list of things they wish to find out. Students read and conduct science activities to find out what they wish to know. Then students summarize what was learned.…

Describes three inquiry-based activities designed for students to begin to understand complex environmental relationships in their own backyard. Includes investigations of ants, which allow students to establish a baseline survey of ant fauna, test the importance of ants in nutrient cycling and soil structure maintenances, and increase student…

A joint business-chemistry course which focuses on consumer testing is described. Guidelines for organizing the students into testing teams and suggested laboratory experiments are included. (DT)

Describes a lab that introduces agarose electrophoresis techniques and basic information on proteins to middle school and high school students. Insists that, built around a scenario in which students must solve a crime, the lab has real-world applications that should spark student interest. (KHR)

Integrates science and social studies in several activities that study weathering caused by the freezing and thawing of rocks, wind erosion, and the effects of weathering on tombstones. Cites the possibility of these activities leading to an interdisciplinary exploration of pollution, customs, and populations. (MCO)

Describes the Crime Lab Project, which takes an economical, hands-on, interdisciplinary approach to studying the career of forensics in the middle or high school classroom. Includes step-by-step student requirements for the investigative procedure, a sample evidence request form, and an assessment rubric. (KHR)

Presents a lesson on introducing writing into the science curriculum by using an experiment to illustrate the detrimental effect of tobacco smoke on human lungs. Outlines the materials, procedures, a summary of the project, extension activities, and additional information about the writing process. Two handout sheets are included. (RT)

Proposed is an activity designed to teach the similarities and differences between artistic and scientific vision. Objectives, materials, procedures and follow-up activities are listed. Preliminary activities in physical science and earth science are suggested. (CW)

Described are four interdisciplinary units entitled "A Very Fishy Unit,""Building Healthy Bodies Unit,""Hands-On Plants Units," and "Butterflies Spell Beauty Unit." Each unit contains science activities, skills and concepts covered, and activities that cover other disciplines. (KR)

Discussed is a way to develop an integrated unit based on a fictional book. An example for constructing a unit is included as well as activities from units that consider birds, volcanoes, and measurement. Each unit contains a summary, topic areas, content-related words, activities, related books and references. (KR)

An integrated unit that combines the areas of science, social studies, and art is described. Water and land environment, the community, and folk arts are reflected in the unit. Activities include measuring water and air parameters, netting and seining, observation of a stream and the land around it, writing and picture journals, and media…

Explains how literature constructs can support science curriculum in an integrated unit model. Literature is integrated to complement science, but the literature activities are feasible in their own right. The result is an organized and purposeful exploration of concepts from two points of view that may be used as separate lessons or incorporated…