To make elementary science students grasp the scientific concepts being taught, teachers must not ignore their preconceived ideas. Instead, teachers must identify misconceptions then help the students test them. The article presents a step-by-step approach that can serve as a model for teaching any science concept. (SM)

Presents an interdisciplinary approach to introductory biology using a learning community model that addresses many of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's (AAAS) and Sigma Xi's objectives in the teaching of introductory science courses. (PR)

Reviews four hypotheses about learning: Comenius's transmission-reception theory, information processing theory, Gestalt theory, and Piagetian theory. Uses the categories preunderstanding, conceptual change, and learning processes to classify and assess investigations on learning processes. (PR)

Summarizes the results of three related studies whose overall purpose was to determine elementary students' conceptions about earthquakes at two widely separated locations in the United States. Certain topics, such as the cause of earthquakes, seemed to cause difficulty for students. New definitional responses emerged in the studies that took…

Provides guidelines for classroom discussions of bioethical issues. Equipped with an ethical reasoning model, teachers can help to prepare students to make responsible decisions about science-related issues. (ZWH)

Presents an activity that teaches children the language of the honeybee--and which transforms the classroom into a honeybee colony. Children mimic the foraging behavior of honeybees and learn to appreciate the importance of community effort among animals. (PR)

Analyzes the presentations of electric current in physics textbooks. Concludes that from 1891 to 1991 most textbooks used a fluid model, which predated Faraday, for explaining direct-current circuits. (PR)

Describes an outreach program designed to expose high school students to cutting-edge science. High school students are provided with hands-on experience in molecular biology (polymerase chain reaction, restriction mapping, chromatography, gel electrophoresis, human DNA sequencing, etc.) and may have an opportunity to participate in the Human…

Promotes the use of memory devices, also known as mnemonics, by outlining six different types that are proven ways to help students recall information. Then describes a memory device used by the author to help students recall the process of neural conduction. (PR)

Describes science experiments for undergraduate biology instruction on the concepts of mutation and characterization of the resulting mutant strains. The filamentous fungi "Fusarium moniliforme" is used to illustrate the induction of mutants (mutagenesis), identification of the mutated gene, construction of a biochemical pathway, and…

Explains how young students can be introduced to fossils. Suggests books to read and science activities including "Fossils to Eat" where students make fossils from peanut butter, honey, and powdered milk. (PR)

The history of atomic theory is outlined from earliest times up to the orbital model and describes a corresponding teaching method. The historical part of the paper emphasizes social and philosophical aspects in the development of atomic theory. The second part of the paper describes a method for teaching this material at the secondary level.…

Describes concrete demonstrations on the states of matter. In the first demonstration, students represent molecules; and, in the second demonstration, moth balls are heated to produce a change of state. (PR)

Describes an activity for helping students understand and use data tables. (PR)

Discusses and explains early people's fears and explanations of eclipses. Describes the lunar eclipse scheduled for November 28-29. (PR)