Uses density to engage students in making quantitative observations that conflict with qualitative observations. Encourages discussion of the discrepancy thereby providing a natural means for student self-assessment and reflection. (DDR)

Details a project in which students explore and study the poisons in their environment by asking and finding answers to their own research questions. Includes some suggestions for involving students successfully in inquiry-based learning. (DDR)

Provides construction and operation details for a tornado machine. Includes suggestions for investigations and information about tornado warnings. (DDR)

Outlines an activity centered around the soap-making process in which soap is made via demonstration. Students are asked to develop an acid-base classification table and discuss various acid-base indicators. (DDR)

Explains an integrated insect unit in which students learn about the characteristics, life cycle, and environment of an organism; learn about specific body structures; and make inferences about the body structure and behaviors of the insects. (DDR)

Uses data from a survey of Perth lower secondary science teachers to reveal low levels of inquiry and determine the nature of the laboratory work undertaken by their students. Contains 29 references. (DDR)

Explains an activity in which students construct a simulated ice core. Materials required include only a freezer, food coloring, a bottle, and water. This hands-on exercise demonstrates how a glacier is formed, how ice cores are studied, and the nature of precision and accuracy in measurement. Suitable for grades three through eight. (Author/PVD)

Describes construction and use of a simple air-flow porometer for measuring how rapidly a certain quantity of air can be driven through a leaf by a known pressure difference. The device can be used to investigate how stomata respond to light, carbon dioxide, water status, and air pollutants. (PVD)

Describes the Science Concept-Vocabulary Acquisition (SCVA) model which promotes simultaneous cognitive construction of science concepts and the scientific nomenclature needed to understand and communicate those concepts. Contains 19 references. (DDR)

Provides details of an activity in which students spear a toy fish and learn about the refraction of light. Plans for the sighting apparatus and for making the toy fish are included. (DDR)

Describes a student activity that focuses on color and the production of images on computer monitors. Students discover the rules for making colors through the use of a magnifying glass and a computer monitor. Includes some tips for integrating the activity into the curriculum. (DDR)

Describes how to construct a simple motor from a coffee mug, wire, and magnets. Includes background information, student assembly procedures, troubleshooting, and extensions. (DDR)

Presents an activity in which students address a problem that allows them to use satellite images and fishing charts to predict where and how to fish, realize the need for conversion data, and discuss how satellite images can be used to exploit wildlife. Contains 16 references. (DDR)

Presents strategies for getting organized and creating a classroom environment that promotes science learning for primary students. Teachers must first decide what topics they are going to cover and what materials they need. Next, they should determine how to organize the materials. Finally, they should identify and set up areas in the classroom…

Focuses on how teachers understand the place of the laboratory and laboratory work in their practice. Observations are based on interviews conducted with secondary science teachers in England. Contains 27 references. (DDR)