In a remarkably brief period of time, humans have developed technology that allows space travel to become a reality. Rockets have been built, energy systems designed, and planetary forces understood. In the activities described in this article, students investigate space travel by designing their own rockets and manipulating variables to determine…

Oranges, flying disks, pool noodles, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe may seem like items discarded after a Rube Goldberg experiment, but in fact, these objects were used in teaching science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This article describes a project in which The Center of Ocean Sciences Education Excellence SouthEast (COSEE SE)…

Inspire your students to become detailed observers by encouraging the use of magnifiers. Magnification can make us see an object with new understanding. Rachel Carson said, "Some of nature's most exquisite handiwork is on a miniature scale, as anyone knows who has applied a magnifying glass to a snowflake"(Carson 1965). The lesson described here…

As educators, we are always deciding what experiences we want to give students in order to achieve our goals of developing science process skills. One of the best ways of teaching about observation is described here. Using a hand lens and an illuminated pocket microscope, students observe an object at three different levels of…

Describes the basic principles of setting up an aquarium and gives hints on its use as an instructional aid in elementary classrooms, both in generating biological questions and investigations and in its use in other parts of the science curriculum. (AL)

Young children are naturally curious about their environment and learn best by exploring the world around them. Magnifiers, or hand lenses, are a valuable tool in this exploration. Discusses the selection, use, storage and costs of magnifiers. Includes suggestions of objects/phenomena to observe inside and outside of the classroom. (JN)

Provides instructions to build an inexpensive device to demonstrate wave-motion to elementary school children. (MDH)

Activities are suggested for helping students understand the nature of contours (lines of constant geographic elevation), including instructions for preparing a contour map with an apparatus constructed with a sharpened stake and perpendicular crossbar, plumb line (washer tied to string), and a soda straw. (SK)

Five components are presented that should be included in developing elementary science inquiry centers. Classroom management and initiating the centers are also discussed. (SA)

Through the use of science-reading kits, one teacher develops practical application of children's reading skills. Each child designs and builds appropriate materials for science learning kit on the subject of his/her choice. (SA)

Presents a teacher-made instructional material that can be used to help students understand and retain the concepts of magnet and magnetic field. Doughnut-shaped magnets levitate above each other when placed over a post with like poles facing each other. Instructions are provided to make the device. (MDH)

Describes the construction of a variety of inexpensive, escape-proof, and safe insect homes--each complete with window, ventilation screen, and cover--so students can observe firsthand the intriguing world of insects. (PR)

Suggestions are given for encouraging parents to participate in their children's science studies, at home and at school. Several sample lessons illustrate the kinds of experiments that require only inexpensive supplies which parents can provide. (SA)