Describes the Suffolk Activity Center for Science (SACS) built by middle school students for middle school students and enhanced by a partnership with the University of Stony Brook. Involves students from nine participating schools building an interactive hands-on exhibit dealing with the concept of energy. Discusses advantages and suggestions for…

Describes several science activities designed around the upcoming Winter Olympics ice skating events which demonstrate the scientific principles behind the sport. Students learn that increasing the pressure on ice will lead to the ice melting, the principle involved in the spinning swing, and the technology of skates and skating outfits. (PVD)

Describes an earth science unit in which students study soil from their own backyards through a series of integrated activities. Introduces several earth science concepts, including local geology and the development of different types of geological regions. Presents activities to make a county soil map, measure moisture in soil, and measure the…

Presented is an analogy that can be used to explain the particle theory of matter. The three phases of matter are represented by preschoolers, yuppies, and senior citizens. The value of using analogies is discussed. (KR)

Discussed is the idea that models should be taught by emphasizing limitations rather than focusing on their generality. Two examples of gas behavior models are included--the kinetic and static models. (KR)

Students' conceptions of the concept of force are discussed. Possible problem formats and exercises are presented. The need for many formats and variations to help students' resolve their conflicting ideas about physics concepts is stressed. (CW)

This four-hour experiment uses a bee as a source of the enzyme which is reacted with a radioactive substrate to determine the specific activity of the enzyme. Uses thin layer chromatography, visible spectrophotometry, and liquid scintillation spectrometry (if not available a Geiger-Muller counter can be substituted). (MVL)

Describes a mouse skeleton reconstruction activity from owl pellets. Gives information about the materials, directions for students, and a five-day unit schedule. Provides some owl pellet sources. (YP)

Presents information in brief on changing priorities in science education. Cites three categories of aims for science, traits of underachievers, and the processes of science. Includes reflections on the Salter's GCSE Scheme of Assessment, the integration of science and drama, and a historical perspective of practical work in school science. (RT)

Examines the effect of solar radiation on colored shingles. Describes the experimental procedure, results, and discussion. Presents a picture of the experimental arrangement and three graphs of data measured at different dates. (YP)

Describes a study to evaluate the effect of the Energy Education Curriculum Program as perceived by elementary and secondary classroom teachers. Results indicate that energy education is taught in schools when materials and information are made available to the classroom teacher. (RT)

Presents a computer program for use in teaching ion speciation in soil solutions. Provides information on the structure of the program, execution, and software specifications. The program estimates concentrations of ion pairs, hydrolytic species, metal-organic complexes, and free ions in solutions. (Author/RT)

Discusses the advantages of using discrepant events in elementary school science classrooms in terms of motivation and problem solving skills. Describes the materials, procedures, and reasons behind five discrepant activities. (YP)

Describes five basic concepts, such as displacement, velocity, momentum, force, and moment of force. Discusses an experimental model to improve the intuitive understanding of acceleration in a straight line and a non-linear situation. (YP)

Argues that there are five domains of science education: knowing and understanding, exploring and discovering, imagining and creating, feeling and valuing, using and applying, and not just the two domains of content and process which many people view as being science. (RT)