Reports on a study into the relative importance of the four goal clusters of Project Synthesis as perceived by members of service clubs and community groups. Results indicate that although the importance of science for further studying of science remained constant from 1976-1986, significant increases occurred in the importance of science in…

Stresses the role of the elementary school principal in a school's science program. Provides ideas for getting the principal involved in your science program. Discusses some of the advantages of getting the school administrator personally involved in the school science program. (CW)

Describes learning experiences for preschool and primary age children involving simple machines. Discusses how toys give children an opportunity to explore and understand the technical aspects of our world. Surveys a variety of commercially produced toys to help children explore friction and motion. (CW)

Examines the definitions of scientific observation used in assessing students in Great Britain for the General Certificate in Secondary Education (GCSE). Proposes an instruction framework that supports such definitions. Provides examples of observational tasks and some methods of evaluating them. (TW)

Describes 20 teaching activities and experiments appropriate for use with various secondary school science classes. Instructional activities include the study of catalase, raising bees, a game about equilibrium, spectrometers, lead iodide, resonance, graphing, and electromagnetic waves. (TW)

Presents a new method to teach the subject of evaporators which is both simple enough to use in the classroom and accurate and flexible enough to be used as a design tool in practice. Gives an example using a triple evaporator series. Analyzes the effect of this method. (CW)

Describes an activity using a large balloon to help children understand that, even though the horizon appears to be flat, the Earth is, indeed, round. Uses a toy ship to reinforce evidence from the first part of the activity. Stresses the importance of confronting naive theories at an early age. (CW)

Describes two demonstrations suitable for chemistry instruction. One involves fractal structures obtained by electrodeposition of silver at an air-water interface and the other deals with molecular weights and music. (TW)

Provides an overview based on personal experiences, recollections, viewpoints and anecdotal records. Discusses the general philosophy of education in the Soviet Union, the selection of students, graduate study and the chemistry curriculum. Compares and contrasts the educational systems of the Soviet Union and the United States. (CW)

Describes the underlying pattern that, once seen, will allow students to describe the shape of any hydrogen orbital. Involves the exponential form of the orbitals. Provides computer-generated plots of this concept. (CW)

Describes an experiment that provides a study of the different colors and shapes of crystals of transition metal dimethylglyoxime complexes with the use of a low power microscope. Discusses the preparation and examination of the crystals. (CW)

Presents an experimental example illustrating the most common methods for the determination of kinetic parameters. Discusses the different theories and equations to be applied and the mechanism derived from the kinetic results. (CW)

Reports on a study which investigated the effects of having students analyze circuits in the laboratory compared with troubleshooting from homework problems. Results indicated that laboratory experiences provide a richer learning experience than lecture and homework alone. (TW)

Provides some activities that are designed to help students understand some of the reasons why parents sometimes refuse to let their children have pets. Includes mathematics and writing lessons, a student checklist, and a set of tips for parents. (TW)

Discusses some of the ecological variables involved with plant and animal survival during the winter months. Addresses the effects of changing climatic conditions on habitats, foot-loading indexes, and the overall concept of adaptation. Provides some simple teaching activities dealing with winter survival. (TW)