Describes an activity that uses a candle, a scale, and an elevator to demonstrate the concept of weightlessness in space, showing that astronauts are not truly weightless. Activity includes an exploration phase, a concept introduction phase, and a concept application phase. Provides guidelines and safety measures for conducting the activity. (JW)

Lists suggestions for improving experiments involving effects of various chemicals on Daphnia heart rate. Concludes that the real value of these experiments lies in what they teach about variations in the response of living things to chemicals and the difficulties researchers encounter when doing experiments with living things. (JRH)

Presents a lesson plan that uses information about traditional African iron-smelting to highlight the scientific contributions of non-European cultures. Includes a laboratory activity on the reduction of metal oxides with a multicultural perspective that helps students grasp some of the chemistry concepts involved in smelting. (JRH)

Presents an activity that involves construction of a Native American drill to teach about technology, simple and compound machines, mechanical advantage, and force and area. Introduces students to non-Western technological innovations. (JRH)

Presents strategies aimed at increasing physics enrollment by creating and advertising a physics program that appeals to the majority of students but sacrifices neither rigor nor content. Involves extensively publicizing the class at school and moving the course out of the classroom and into the home. (JRH)

Describes classroom uses of the "Myrmeleon obsoletus," a common species of the ant lion better known in the United States by its larvae, the "doodlebugs." (ZWH)

Discusses simple activities with familiar materials to help children feel at home with chemistry and what the term "chemical" means. (PR)

This paper reviews science curriculum issues surrounding the education of students with disabilities. The background of science education for these students is explored, and three curricula designed especially for them are examined, including a curriculum from the Biological Science Curriculum Study, the "Full Option Science System," and…

Discusses marbleized paper, which originated in Japan in the eighth century and became quite popular in Europe and the United States in the nineteenth century. Describes the scientific process behind marbleization, and explains how students can produce their own colorful designs by placing a sheet of paper on top of oil-based paints floated in a…

Describes an activity where students with dirty hands and students with clean hands handle boiled potatoes to observe and compare the growth of mold on the potatoes. (PR)

Describes a performance assessment protocol that rates six goals: (1) methodology of research, (2) use of equipment, (3) accuracy in measurement, (4) application of concepts and formulas, (5) use of mathematics, and (6) completeness and clarity. Provides an example performance task evaluation sheet. (MVL)

This article describes a demonstration in which a straightened coathanger supported by threads and held near the ears resembles bells or gongs when struck. A mathematical explanation of the effect is provided. (MVL)

Describes the construction of a demonstration toy consisting of a rotating shaft suspended by a magnetic field with the cost being around $2. (MVL)

This activity is more concerned with illustrating the process of scientific discovery than with astronomy. Students are involved in observing the Moon and noting the simultaneous location of the Sun. A manual with observation log and diagrams is provided. Requires no special equipment and takes a discovery learning approach. (LZ)