Explains how electrical conductivity (EC) can be used to measure ion concentration in solutions. Describes instrumentation for the measurement, temperature dependence and EC, and the EC of common substances. (PR)

Describes hands-on activities with fungi that may provoke the curiosity of early adolescents and increase their enjoyment and understanding of a vast, important portion of botany. Some of the activities may be conducted during the winter months when most fieldwork ceases. (PR)

This article is a reproducible page for students in grades four through six. The stated objective is the student will organize information about unfamiliar animals and infer other information. Students read clues about five newly discovered species and use a chart to organize this information in a more meaningful way. (PR)

Discusses the teaching of vectors and the inadequate and inappropriate examples given in many textbooks. Suggests using the motion of a sailboat or the motion of a car moving on the Earth's surface as possible examples. Details a proper vector teaching example. (MVL)

Provides an activity which measures the heat transfer through an insulated cylindrical tank, allowing the student to gain a better knowledge of both the physics involved and the working of spreadsheets. Provides both a spreadsheet solution and a maximum-minimum method of solution for the problem. (MVL)

Presents the five goals and supporting outcomes that represent students' knowledge and habits of mind resulting from participation in a pre-K through grade-13 science education programs in Ohio. The five goals are in the following areas: (1) the nature of science, (2) the physical setting, (3) the living environment, (4) societal perspectives, and…

Describes two activities to analyze unit-cell structures from a geometric viewpoint and invite students to apply their mathematical understanding to scientific phenomena. Students form models of the simple cube, a building block of crystalline structures, and a methane molecule. (MDH)

Examined the process by which 79 nursery school pupils age 4 and 5 years discovered the properties of magnetism while playing with magnets and various metallic and nonmetallic objects. Found that the older children were more likely to discover magnetism on their own, while the younger children required the encouragement of their teacher to uncover…

Presents excerpts from the publication, "Science with Young Children," in which Bess-Gene Holt maintained that children (and adults) can experience science as a way of life. Other topics include sexism on the part of the science teacher and the concept of the child's "personal ecology." (BB)

Describes the author's methods to establish what students enrolled in an introductory biology course for nonmajors know about biology prior to instruction. The project also compared preinstructional knowledge to postinstructional knowledge. Beginning students knew the least about plant transport/chemical control and cellular metabolism. Students…

Described are the idea of chaos and the ability to control the chaotic behavior of a real-world physical system. Included is an explanation of the methodology and applications in biology and chemistry. (KR)

Utilizes vector mathematics to explain the reflective properties of a corner cube retroreflector, consisting of three plane mirrors assembled at right angles with a common vertex. Analyzes the useful property that an incident beam of light at any point in this reflector will return on a parallel path. (MDH)

Describes a Lexington, Kentucky, kindergarten science project that employed the Reggio Emilia approach of long-term open-ended projects steered by children's interests and group discussions. The children's investigation of how caterpillars make cocoons included direct observation of the metamorphosis process, construction of child-sized cocoons,…

Addresses the problem that students balk at the notion velocities do not add algebraically. Offers a geometric model to verify the algebraic formulas that calculate velocity addition. Representations include Galilean relativity, Einstein's composition of velocities, and the inverse velocity transformation. (MDH)

Describes a method of contrasting "scientific creationism" and evolution, or pseudo-science and science, that was utilized in a freshman seminar at Dickinson College. Discusses how the seminar format fostered analytical thinking, research, and writing skills. Presents responses given by creationist students after the course. (JS)