Discusses the complexity of chemistry concepts and the identification of instructional barriers in terms of current learning theories. Recommends teaching to improve students' conceptual understanding. Contains 34 references. (WRM)

Offers a relatively simple analysis of the asymmetrical "sticking" and rolling behavior of two balls, one steel and one rubber, on an incline. Describes an Interactive Physics (TM) simulation designed to study the problem and gives rough experimental results. (WRM)

Describes classroom activities and field experiences organized around evidence of seasons, daily changes, and time-dependent processes. (WRM)

Surveyed 7-year-olds' ideas about the Earth in space, focusing on their ideas about shape and their ability to represent and describe land masses or other surface features, Earth's size relative to the sun and moon, and its nature as a planet. Found that focusing on the Earth's shape and gravity alone has underestimated youngsters' learning…

Presents some classic information on the biology of insects as well as some new research on ants, butterflies, and beetles. Contains 22 references. (WRM)

Presents three activities using pearl onion bulbs to illustrate plant growth and plant propagation under various conditions. (WRM)

Grounded theory may be used to bridge case studies and large-scale surveys as it enables the strengths of both to be combined in the same research program. Presents one example of the application of a grounded theory approach to research into science learning, and considers the generalizability of the research results. (Contains 33 references.)…

Describes the construction and use of a set of "relativistic metersticks" that represent the apparent lengths of a meterstick passing a stationary observer at relative speed v/c. (WRM)

Presents simple experiments using the flow of water from bell jars that can provide an easily visualized introduction to exponential decay. (Author)

Outlines problems students have with understanding the abstract concept of chemical bonding as revealed in previous research. Describes the development of a two-tier multiple-choice diagnostic instrument for assessing alternative conceptions about chemical bonding held by 14-16 year olds. Discusses the instrument and its findings for a group of…

Describes a simple shopping game that provides an active and entertaining way for middle school students to appreciate what is meant by chemical formulae. (WRM)

Presents an activity that involves dropping spherical party balloons onto a sonic motion sensor to show that the force associated with the air resistance is proportional to both the square of the velocity and the cross-sectional area of the balloon. (Author/WRM)

Describes a chemistry experiment that allows students to calculate rates of reaction, orders of reaction, and activation energies. The activity demonstrates that to increase a reaction's rate, a catalyst need only provide any additional pathway for the reaction, not necessarily a pathway having lower activation energy. (WRM)

Presents the epistemology of scientific concepts from a schematic modeling perspective. Discusses students' initial cognitive states based on the level of commensurability between students' own concepts and their scientific counterparts. Contains 87 references. (DDR)

Explores the problems primary teachers encounter in science and technology and the extent to which these problems are associated with lack of confidence or background knowledge. Findings indicate that there are some ideas which primary teachers come quickly to understand and others that require more extensive professional development. (DDR)