Describes role-play centers in which children can do math problems, invent, experiment, write with a purpose, and act out adult career roles. Examples of centers include a doctor's office, a supermarket, a fix-it or inventor's workshop, a post office, a pet store, a zoo, a veterinary clinic, a museum, and a restaurant. (DKM)

Presents a simple method of recording root growth which can be used in schools. A slant board system was designed to facilitate access to roots to enable measurements to be made, essentially forcing the roots to grow in a two-dimensional form which allows each student to observe and record root growth over several weeks. (AIM)

Describes an alternative approach to the familiar paper cup and seed project in which students make grass heads out of nylon mesh stockings, sawdust, wire, rubber bands, plastic eyes, and grass seed. Students can observe the effects of light, sprouting rates, and the height and color of the sprouts on these grass heads. This creative activity is…

Presents a science activity designed to introduce students to the geocentric and heliocentric models of the universe. Helps students discover why phase changes on Venus knocked Earth out of the center of the universe. (DKM)

Discusses the importance of science process skills and describes ways to select sets of random numbers for selection of subjects for a research study in an unbiased manner. Presents an activity appropriate for grades 5-12. (JRH)

Describes a project where students visit, evaluate, and report on chemistry web sites. Discusses implementing the project, problems with the process, and results and rewards. Includes the evaluation form used and lists students' top chemistry sites. (JRH)

Describes an approach that uses the learning cycle to meaningfully teach students about mineral properties while alleviating the tedious nature of identifying mineral specimens. Discusses mineral properties, cooperative learning, and mineral identification. (JRH)

Presents an activity that uses a story attributed to two different tribes from eastern Canada to discuss the rotation of the earth on its axis and its revolution around the sun. (JRH)

Presents ideas on the use of rainy weather for activities in the earth, life, and physical sciences. Topics include formation and collision of raindrops, amount and distribution of rain, shedding of water by plants, mapping puddles and potholes, rainbow formation, stalking storms online, lightning, and comparing particles in the air before and…

Describes a university engineering competition in which students use formal engineering, imagination, and intuition to devise a range of exotic devices. Discusses the organization of the competition, benefits to the department and faculty, and some past examples of successful entries. (MKR)

Presents an activity enabling students of grades four to nine to construct a "Buzzing Bee" model using simple materials. Provides students with the opportunity to explore the concepts of sound and the Doppler effect. (MKR)

Describes the use of simple terraria and aquaria to illustrate basic ecosystem processes and the interrelationships between them. Involves an inquiry-based format which helps students come to an intuitive understanding of how ecosystems are put together and how they function. (JRH)

Presents a classroom activity on estimating animal populations. Uses shoe boxes and candies to emphasize the importance of mathematics in biology while introducing the methods of quantitative ecology. (JRH)

Describes observations of tethered satellites or subsatellites. Presents tracking tips to help students observe a new satellite, the Tether Physics and Survivability experiment. (JRH)

Presents an activity that demonstrates a crude method of mapping the sea floor and helps students appreciate some basic considerations that scientists face in working with a project of this type. Demonstrates the logistics of teamwork and the effects of time and cost limitations on science projects. (JRH)