Reports on revisions to the teacher education program at Eastern Michigan University to improve teacher preparation for teaching science, especially physics and chemistry, in the elementary grades. (LZ)

Discusses a Lehigh University model for teacher preparation in science based on the Project 2061 call for reform in elementary science and mathematics teacher education. Reports on the model, method, and model evaluation. (LZ)

Provides a set of guidelines and useful examples to help teachers assess the effectiveness of inquiry investigations. The authors focus on seven issues: (1) meaningful and accurate learning; (2) time; (3) cost; (4) safety; (5) level of difficulty; (6) preparation procedures; and (7) science activity resources. (ZWH)

A report of how literature books can be used to create authentic contexts for teaching science at the second-grade level is presented. Points out that, instead of relying on expensive technologies, teachers could use carefully selected reading materials to provide students with meaningful contexts for science learning activities. (LZ)

Reports on a study undertaken to validate the practicality of using the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (Perceived Form) (CLES) in a preservice elementary science methods course. Suggestions are made to potentially revise the CLES for more accurate measures in college classrooms. (LZ)

Primary students at one Hawaiian elementary school learn science through direct experience, gaining firsthand knowledge from their gardens and fieldwork. The article describes a garden project involving students and parents. The project, which was originally intended to teach students about plants, actually expanded their knowledge in a variety of…

Presents ideas on integrating science fiction into language arts, science, social studies, and math. Suggestions include an interstellar journey, imaginative language lessons, futuristic social studies, extraterrestrial life studies, intergalactic math, and science fiction story writing. (SM)

Presents year-long, elementary science projects that address the question of why daylight hours vary in length according to locality. Provides three instructional units designed to commence in September, including data collection activities for sunny days encouraging later classroom calculations; on-going graphing activities; and modeling…

A paradigm that suggests the critical factor of quality rather than quantity of knowledge is proposed. The potential for retention and transfer in using a design and technology approach is discussed. Activities that generate relevant data for students are provided. (KR)

Fifty-three elementary school children were tested on Incidental Science Knowledge, i.e., knowledge acquired by chance outside school, and the results obtained were correlated with intellectual development and cognitive style as measured by interviews and group testing, respectively. Indicates that cognitive style and misconception play a…

Provides seven fully developed library media activities that are designed to be used with specific curriculum units in art, reading and language arts, science, and social studies. Library media skills objectives, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, evaluation, and follow-up are described for each activity. (KRN)

Describes a science program that encourages elementary students and their families to participate in hands-on science activities at home. The program was designed to strengthen links between home and school and to foster communication between parents and children. Currently 15 schools in Nova Scotia involving 30 classrooms participate in the…

The Northwest Power Plan, developed by the Northwest Power Planning Council to deal with the increasing demands for energy by the Pacific Northwest, is discussed. An idea of how sufficient energy could be produced as well as preserve the qualities of life that make the Pacific Northwest special is presented. (KR)

Reports an instructional application of a theory of analogical reasoning. Uses the grinding of a sugar cube as an explanatory-predictive analogy for state transitions of water as a stimulus for promoting associations with other appropriate experiences in elementary school students. (PR)

Changes that have occurred in education since the publication "Education through Science" was produced and issues that would be included in a present-day issue of the publication are discussed. The topics of classroom organization, assessment, management, subject knowledge, technology, multicultural issues, special educational needs, and…