Seriation, or serial ordering, is a type of classification involving the arrangement of items according to how much of a specific property they possess. Presents several activities for teaching seriation to preschool and kindergarten children. (PR)

Describes how one activity can lead students to investigate and understand science concepts. Example provided involves ripping of a newspaper and the resultant discussions on saws, fabric, meat, and newsprint. Suggests that this activity can be a bridge to study in language arts, career education, graphic arts, mathematics, science, and…

Describes a method of measuring the speed of sound that can be done in front of a class on a lab table in 15 minutes, be understood by junior high school students, and be engaging and instructive for students at high school and college levels as well. Provides schematic for sound trigger. (MVL)

Discusses the probability of seeing a tire explode or disintegrate while traveling down the highway. Suggests that a person observing 10 hours a day would see a failure on the average of once every 300 years. (MVL)

Leeuwenhoek's demonstration proving the Earth's rotation, which leads to some significant errors in reasoning, can be reproduced from this article and used to provide an interesting discussion in undergraduate astronomy and physics courses or clubs. (LZ)

Describes two simple demonstrations of an object moving in a straight line tangent to the circle if centripetal force is removed. Demonstrations use a pie plate and petri dish with ball bearings to illustrate the phenomena on an overhead projector. (LZ)

When disequilibrium is integrated into the high school chemistry curriculum, students are challenged by phenomena that cause them to question previously held beliefs. They then develop possible explanations and design methods to test their hypotheses. Discovery learning encourages in-depth concept development, independent problem solving, and…

This study reviews a representative sample of recent studies that dealt with the effectiveness of text-based or teacher-based analogies in learning science concepts. The purpose is to provide a synthesis of the findings and to present implications for teachers and researchers in science education. (LZ)

Describes a method for capturing a real object and its real image on film. Explains many photography terms related to the experiment. (MVL)

Examines the ideas secondary school students associate with the word "cycles" before instruction. Draws conclusions about the integrative role of this concept in teaching and learning about environmental issues. Possibilities for making use of the concept of cycles in lower and higher secondary environmental education are discussed. (LZ)

Describes a strategy for presenting ideas of atomic physics in the laboratory portion of the course before it is introduced during a lecture in order to give students an appreciation for the concepts involved, a historical look at how the field developed, and a comprehensive review of physics concepts. Presents a worksheet for the Bohr atom…

Describes a soap-solution activity involving formation of bubbles encasing the students that requires only readily available materials and can be adapted easily for use with various grade levels. Discusses student learning outcomes including qualitative and quantitative observations and the concept of surface tension. (JRH)

Presents two demonstrations to compare the differences between the screen reproductions of a bulb when using a converging lens and a pinhole and how that reproduction image reaches the observer's eye from multiple vantage points. (MDH)

Describes a model in which cooperation and participation among teachers, administrators, and a university educator-facilitator allow teachers to conduct research in their classrooms. Six inservice sessions introduced the use of a modified conceptual change model for teaching science concepts. Post interviews with students support the effectiveness…

Provides both a rationale and framework for Earth systems education and a description of the early development of the Program for Leadership in Earth Systems Education (PLESE). Presents the seven basic understandings that form the conceptual basis for the PLESE program. (five references) (MCO)