Discusses activities related to the Elementary Science Study (ESS) unit "Growing Seeds." The unit teaches students to manipulate, observe, and record the growth of seeds. Activities foster classifying, hypothesizing, and predicting skills. Enrichment activities and a culminating activity for the unit are suggested. (JN)

Describes a laboratory exercise in which students select and identify an organism, study it as it interacts within its environment, collect further information through library research, and bring the organism (alive, preserved, or photographed) to lab for a five-minute presentation. (JN)

Discusses and provides questions for use in "Energy Flow in a Wetland," a game in which energy is examined as it passes through a wetland's food chain. Includes full-color, poster-size game board, rules, and an energy loss chart which lists calorie-consuming events organisms encounter during their lives. (JN)

This teaching unit on using shadows in science instruction and other class activities explains how to set up and equip a "super private sleuthing box" where students can solve mysteries such as where to find shadows and how to shrink or enlarge them. Ideas for making silhouettes and shadow plays are also given. (PP)

A school building was originally used while investigating the acceleration of a free-falling body due to gravity. Because it was difficult to measure time accurately over such a short distance, an alternative method using a rocket was used. Materials needed and a description of the activity are provided. (Author/JN)

Discusses activities completed during a junior high school unit on energy conservation. Comments on actual student projects and special problems or precautions to each activity are also discussed. Activities include beautifying home/neighborhood, less letters to editor, preparing posters, and others. (Author/JN)

Provides rationale for and description of an acid rain game (designed for two players), a problem-solving model for elementary students. Although complete instructions are provided, including a copy of the game board, the game is also available for Apple II microcomputers. Information for the computer program is available from the author.…

Describes an experiment to examine the kinetics of carbamate decomposition and the effect of buffer catalysis on the reaction. Includes background information, laboratory procedures, evaluation of data, and teaching suggestions. (Author/JN)

Uses discussion and illustrations of several demonstrations on air temperature differences and atmospheric stability to explain the phenomena of temperature inversions. Relates this to the smog in Los Angeles and discusses the implications. (DC)

Describes the nature of wetlands (low areas with shallow water or water-soaked soils supporting aquatic and semi-aquatic plants) and suggests wetlands topics and activities for science, history, and language classes. (Author/SK)

Briefly describes three science experiments: (1) universal curve for tape times; (2) depiction of magnetic fields; and (3) alpha particle detection by a Kodak LR 115:II plastic film. (SK)

Two experiments fostering experimenting and predicting skills are described. Materials needed and instructional strategies for extinguishing a fire and igniting a match coupled to a fork-spoon combination balanced on the edge of a jar are provided. (Author/JN)

Instructions are provided for assembly of a pull-out, two-sided picture puzzle of the skeleton of a seven-year-old girl. Suggestions for activities using the assembled puzzle and comments on bones and bone morphology are also provided. (Author/JN)

Describes an experiment with resolving ability and how it varies according to the aperture of the telescope used (including the human eye). Although designed for use in college laboratory classes, a method is included that amateur astronomers can use to determine the actual resolving powers of their telescopes. (JN)

Describes the method used at Macquarie University, Australia, for implementing the home experiment approach in first-year biology. The sequences of activities for experiments in plant growth are included; and assignment sheets are appended. (CS)