Describes the use of Vee maps in helping students understand scientific investigations. (PR)

Describes two curriculum approaches used at a college as an alternative to traditional introductory science-survey courses. The first course is entitled "Nature of Science" and the second is "Current Research." (PR)

Describes an activity to simulate the geometries of a spreading pathogen such as HIV throughout a generation. Students exchange "bodily fluids" three times and are then tested for the presence of "infection." Materials used include base solutions (NaOH or KOH), phenolphthalein (pH indicator), clear plastic cups, and an eye dropper. (PR)

Describes an easy and inexpensive method of preparing experimental growth media that high school students can use for plant cloning investigations. (PR)

Describes a unit on magnetism that utilizes hands-on activities in which students make hypotheses for discrepant behavior, discover whether a magnet attracts one object through another, measure the strength of magnets, explore levitating paper clips, and play a game dependent on magnetic attraction. (MDH)

Describes problems with school science fairs including poor judging and a lack of understanding by the students of their own projects. Suggests improvements to the system. One suggestion is for science fair projects to be displayed only in classrooms and not district or regional fairs. (PR)

Describes an acid rain demonstration for helping students understand chemistry concepts. (PR)

Describes a course where students design and construct a sundial, once they understand the apparent movement of the sun. Explains general issues of daily astronomy and describes the design and construction of three sundials. (PR)

Presents a model of a generic atom that is used to represent the movement of electrons from lower to higher levels and vice-versa due to excitation and de-excitation of the atom. As the process of de-excitation takes place, photons represented by colored ping-pong balls are emitted, indicating the emission of light. (MDH)

Explores the Columbia River Basin, its ecosystems, and challenges faced by natural resource managers. By studying the basin's complexity, students can learn about common scientific concepts such as the power of water and effects of rain shadows. Students can also explore social-scientific issues such as conflicts between protecting salmon runs and…

Argues that by examining which concepts of a particular area of physics are fundamental and which are defined, teachers can choose concepts for investigation that progress logically and should minimize students' misconceptions and confusion. (Author)

Explores measuring the specific heat of a metal ball. The ball is heated to a known temperature then placed in cold water. Students measure the temperature gain of the water in this investigation of the principle of Conservation of Energy. As a second task, students make a precise determination of the density of the ball. (PVD)

Describes instruction in an urban sixth-grade classroom in which students are learning about mass, volume, and density by attempting to layer three miscible solutions of differing densities atop one another. Contains 24 references. (DDR)

Presents a 12th-grade class project on measuring velocity-dependent forces encountered in two common forms of locomotion--rollerblading and cycling. (WRM)

Reports on a study of the contributions fieldwork made to Spanish secondary students' (n=67) understandings of concepts and principles of ecology. Concludes that fieldwork helps clarify ecological concepts and intervenes directly in the development of more favorable attitudes toward the defense of the ecosystem. Contains 47 references. (Author/WRM)