Points out that in 2001, Mars will be closer than usual to Earth and recommends implementing a Marswatch 2001 project in the astronomy curriculum to inspire students. Includes information on available resources and explains the focus points of the activities. (YDS)

Presents a remarkable demonstration on chiralty in molecules and the existence of enantiomers, also known as non-superimposable mirror images. Uses a mirror, a physical model of a molecule, and a bit of trickery involving the non-superimposable mirror image. (Author/NB)

The lab described in this article was developed to satisfy two major goals. First, the activity is designed to show students the proper techniques used to identify the seven characteristics of all minerals. Second, the lab gives students a glimpse into the life of a professional field geologist. The author has students complete this lab at the end…

Colors are powerful tools for engaging children, from the youngest years onward. We hang brightly patterned mobiles above their cribs and help them learn the names of colors as they begin to record their own ideas in pictures and words. Colors can also open the door to an invisible world of electromagnetism, even when children can barely imagine…

Believing that all children should have their multiple intelligences nurtured, these authors planned and implemented a set of learning experiences that would engage each of these capacities for the children in this kindergarten classroom (Figure 1). This study of ladybugs gave children the opportunity to learn in at least eight different ways-all…

At the annual, all-day events-sponsored by Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) and held in nearly every state across the country each September--students participate in interactive activities and exhibits to learn about water resources and explore how human behaviors, such as development and recreation, can affect the quality of the…

This twenty-first century study serves as an umbrella that incorporates history, ethnography, languages, mathematics, geography, art, and of course, astronomy. Obviously, archaeoastronomy is a deeply interdisciplinary pursuit and clearly adapts to modern-day science curriculum content standards. From extensive educational research, the authors…

The article describes an activity for the author's fifth-grade students called "build the strongest mountain." To them, it was not a lesson--it was a challenge. To the author, it was an activity that turned a run-of-the-mill Earth science unit into a terrific opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of erosion and develop…

Few things capture the spirit of spring like flying a kite. Watching a kite dance and sail across a cloud spotted sky is not only a visually appealing experience it also provides a foundation for studies in science and mathematics. Put simply, a kite is an airfoil surface that flies when the forces of lift and thrust are greater than the forces of…

The laboratory has been given a central and distinctive role in science education, and science educators have suggested that rich benefits in learning accrue from using laboratory activities. Twenty years have been elapsed since we published a frequently cited, critical review of the research on the school science laboratory (Hofstein & Lunetta,…

This article presents a class activity called "The Case of the Disappearing Snack" that involved second- and third-grade students. In this activity, the students investigated who stole the class snack. As they investigated the "crime," they developed critical-thinking skills and practiced using a microscope. Although microscopic evidence was not…

This article describes an alternative way of teaching about biomes by having students become expert biogeographers. In order to become experts students need to first find out what a biogeographer does. Doing an online search lets students find out for themselves what the responsibilities are of people who work in this field. A good place to visit…

The energy and enthusiasm shown by young students walking through the doors of an interactive science museum is difficult to surpass. Awaiting them is an opportunity to explore, create, discover, and learn about the world. This article presents the interactive science museum project of eight-grade students. Fifth-grade students were the target…

This article describes an inquiry-based activity for high school students in which they determine the pH of the digestive compartment in "Paramecia" using different pH indicators. This lab activity introduces students to the challenges of research on the cellular level and illustrates one of the primary methods that scientists use to measure the…

Students of an Applied Chemistry degree course carried out a fire-assay exercise. The analysis showed that the technique was a worthwhile quantitative analytical technique and covered interesting theory including acid-base and redox chemistry and other concepts such as inquarting and cupelling.