Explores early railroad expansion and ways in which new railroad technologies contributed to the development of the United States, particularly the western states. Activities help students understand how steam engines work, why stopping trains can be a lengthy proposition, why magnets will figure prominently into future trains, and why train…

Describes one teacher's experience working at a science center during a leave of absence from teaching. Discusses the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, OH. COSI is a science and technology center where visitors can see and interact with hundreds of exhibits and demonstrations on topics related to science, industry, health, and…

Presents a science activity using cubes for constructing the "Olympus Mons" model, the largest known volcano in the solar system. Uses the Catalina Mountains as a real-life comparison and builds a scale-proportionate model. (YDS)

Presents a lesson on toothpick chromosomes as a way to model genetics concepts in a more tangible and accessible way for middle school students. (KHR)

Presents a series of safety scenarios that science teachers may encounter during a camping trip or field instruction. Provides activities and background information on the topic of safety around abandoned, active, and idled mines as well as information addressing technology and mining careers. (KHR)

Describes activities designed to introduce cells to students and grab their attention. Provides effective strategies to teach many new terms and unfamiliar words related to organelles. (KHR)

Presents an outdoor activity to study pill bugs. Includes a lesson plan. (KHR)

Describes an activity called the Science Signature Game which purports students to know something about the other members of their class before they start working together. Discusses the effectiveness of this game and includes a sample of the game cards. (KHR)

Presents an activity that encourages students to think as scientists and explores microgravity. Employs a drop tower built with simple materials. (DDR)

Presents an activity that uses phosphorescent stars to help students understand the wave and particle nature of light. Discusses star phosphorescence, the emission spectrum of the stars, and the photoelectric effect. (DDR)

Presents a variety of activities that support the development of an understanding of Newton's laws of motion. Activities use toy cars, mobile roads, and a seat-of-nails. Includes a scoring rubric. (DDR)

Describes a unit on the study of ladybugs. Suggests that most people, especially children, consider ladybugs to be friendly and therefore are eager to observe and learn more about them. Presents activities, lists interesting ladybug facts, and makes recommendations for interdisciplinary learning. (NB)

Advocates using graphs with young children to express relationships in a visual form. Describes how to teach children about graphs to encourage them to develop the ability to quantify data and the confidence to use this tool for science learning. (NB)

Presents an activity that explores the operation of Maglev trains. Demonstrates that elementary students can master cutting-edge technology through creating and racing magnetic vehicles on a specially designed track, researching the history of rail transportation, and exploring a current science issue. (NB)

Presents investigations, recommended for grades four through eight, in which students design and create their own tops using everyday materials. Discusses preparation, concept development, concept application, and integration with other subjects. (JRH)