Describes the Evening Science program, a science enrichment program for K-6 students and their parents where students and parents engage in problem-solving activities that encourage science learning for the whole family. (JRH)

Describes a unit that gives students an opportunity to write while actively exploring the scientific concept of magnetism. Provides students with a framework for recording their learning and gives teachers a method for observing how well students actually understand and can apply the knowledge they acquire. (JRH)

Describes a project in which discussions were held between agriculturalists and elementary teachers in order to provide an opportunity for the participants to examine the ways in which science is developed and used in an occupational context integral to the community. Examines the views of science and school science expressed by the participants.…

Discusses an alternate path to teaching introductory stoichiometry based on research findings. The recommendation is to use problems that can be solved easily by rapid mental calculation as well as by pure logic. (AIM)

Suggests an approach to teaching vectors that promotes active learning through challenging questions addressed to the class, as opposed to subtle explanations. Promotes introducing vector graphics with concrete examples, beginning with an explanation of the displacement vector. Also discusses artificial vectors, vector algebra, and unit vectors.…

The speed of light is a fundamental characteristic of the universe. So many processes are related to and dependent upon it that, if creationist claims were true, the universe would be far different from the way it is now. The speed of light has never been shown to vary based on the direction from which it was measured. (PVD)

Presents a letter written in response to a videotape presented to a teacher by a student; the videotape denounced evolution on religious grounds. The letter explains some of the biases of the video to the class and the importance of learning about an issue before taking a stand against it. (PVD)

Argues that the study of refraction of sound waves, although usually neglected, is an excellent ancillary to the normal optical approach in physics courses. Discusses the historical context of interest in the science behind outdoor sound propagation, particularly during the Civil War in the United States. (WRM)

Describes a variation of typical introductory chemistry stoichiometry experiments in which the reaction is run in a modified 20-ounce plastic soda bottle. (WRM)

Discusses the chemistry of marine ecosystems, particularly with regard to the Hawaiian islands. Contains 31 references. (WRM)

Analyzes students' understanding of biological phenomena via the ontological categories of processes and matter. Analysis is based on tenth-grade students' explanations of biological phenomena such as photosynthesis, energy resources, temperature regulation, and the interrelationships between living and nonliving things. (Author/WRM)

Finds positive correlations between metacognition (awareness and self-management) and success on reading comprehension tasks for a group of seventh-grade students (n=27). Also finds that 22 weeks of schooling with explicit reading strategy instruction significantly enhances students' metacognition and their abilities to comprehend science text…

Addresses the controversy over teaching evolution in K-12 classrooms. Contends that evolution should be taught in the same way as other scientific theories, as the currently accepted view of the scientific community. (WRM)

Tests the hypothesis that an early adolescent brain growth plateau and spurt exists, and that this plateau and spurt influence students' ability to reason scientifically and to learn theoretical science concepts. Finds that measures of students' (n=210) prefrontal lobe activity correlated highly with scientific reasoning ability, and that these…

Discusses the history of the development of Newton's Law of Cooling. Describes an experiment conducted in the kitchen that is designed to test the rate of cooling of a hot block of iron. Finds that Newton's law does not represent very well the mechanism of heat loss. (Contains over 10 references.) (WRM)