Describes study to determine if children from high, middle, and low socioeconomic groups differed in understanding selected science concepts and in the methods they would suggest to find answers related to the concepts. Results reveal differences. Curriculum planning should take these differences into account. Thirteen references. (PR)

Presents summary of AAAS Commission on Science Education, Teacher Education Committee report, Preservice Science Education of Elementary School Teachers." Recommendations for preservice science course objectives, content and facilities are based on deliberation at seven national conferences. Emphasis is placed on trends in elementary school…

An address delivered before humanities students and faculty (Arizona State University, Tempe, April 14, 1967). (Editor/RD)

Discusses the nature of "right" and "wrong," considering how the terms apply to science in general and to the ideas of Einstein, Newton, and other scientists in particular. Indicates that, in one sense, the terms are not questions of science but matters of dogma. (JN)

Discusses the definition of energy found in many high school and college level physics texts, the conflict of that definition with the second law of thermodynamics, and the relation to the concept of the conservation of energy. Suggests not using a definition of energy and provides some alternative strategies. (JM)

Discusses concepts that can be taught using bicycles. Includes examples of activities/experiments using these devices as well as suggestions for their use as research tools for student projects. One area of investigation suggested is an examination of variables that determine the speed at which a bicycle moves. (JN)

Three psychometric methods for validating learning hierarchies were applied to one data set derived from student responses (N=269) to items representing skills in a hypothesized hierarchy for the mole concept. The hierarchy derived from the analysis was supported by a test for transfer of learning from subordinate to superordinate skills.…

Outlines several ideas on introductory electrochemistry material suitable for college-level general chemistry. These include discussions of conductivity in solids and electrolytes, electrical quantities/properties, electrode potentials, and membrane potentials. Indicates that whatever strategy is used to present this material, the presentation…

Application of a five-level developmental scheme to ascertain pupil attainment of four concepts considered to be prerequisite to an understanding of photosynthesis is described. Results indicate widespread deficiencies associated with these concepts. Implications for learning complex concepts in biology are considered. (Author/JN)

Describes the semantic network technique of Rumelhart and Norman and by Lindsay and Normal for subject matter content analysis and explores its application to genetics. (CS)

Analysis of interviews with elementary school students (N=40) suggests that their concepts about time offer no more of a barrier to learning about the geologic past than concepts about time held by members of other age groups who are ignorant of geological events and records. (Author/JN)

Investigates effects of an independent variable (grade) on three dependent variables (membership, partial association, and generalization) describing preferential styles of thinking in 1635 pupils, measured by a 16 concept word test. (DS)

An instrument was developed to measure conceptions of the language of science held by prospective Nigerian science teachers (N=106) relative to conceptions held by seven selected science philosophers (Carnap, Frank, Hempel, Kemeny, Nagel, Nash, and Popper). Subjects did not endorse the language of science associated with a particular philosopher.…

Suggesting that physics need not be entirely mathematically oriented, offers examples and personal anecdotes illustrating how the applications of physics in other disciplines can be used to supplement traditional lectures and the physics of everyday phenomena. (JN)

Suggestions are given for using sand play to teach science related vocabulary and concepts to preschool and primary age children by using dry sand, wet sand, different sizes and shapes of spoons and containers, sieves, and funnels. (DC)