Presents a set of criteria for constructing a fair and realistic understanding of sex. Recognizes the impact that science can have on social policies and values and recommends that the definitions of sex and gender be carefully crafted. (DDR)

Points out that assessment of courses and curricula lags behind implementation and focuses on an evaluation project at the University of Arizona. Describes an effort to determine the effectiveness of science courses for non-majors. (DDR)

Argues that science education is a fundamental tool for global education and that it must be introduced in early years as a first step to a scientific culture for all. Describes testing validity of a didactic strategy for developing the learning of concepts, which was based upon an experimental work approach using everyday life contexts. (Author)

Argues that science teachers need to have training in and input into citizenship teaching to ensure that controversial issues in science are handled accurately and appropriately. Makes the case that such input should be of mutual benefit to science and citizenship teaching. (Author/MM)

Describes science curriculum for elementary children which incorporated Vygotskian approach to development of students' ability to engage in persistent, systematic inquiry. Discusses three factors: (1) instruction began by introducing ideas that are central and general to the discipline; (2) students invented and adapted cultural tools for…

Presents hands-on activities that give students a head start in learning the vocabulary and basic theory involved in understanding atomic structure. Uses beads to represent protons, neutrons, and electrons and string to represent orbitals. (DDR)

Argues that it is easier to transform schools and the process of schooling when social, cultural, political, and economic issues frame the discourse about how to ensure that all students have access to an equitable education. (DDR)

Challenges some commonly-held beliefs about what primary children can and cannot learn about astronomy. (Contains 16 references.) (Author/WRM)

Trans-disciplinary educational approaches hold the promise of helping students see real-life issues in an organic rather than a fragmented manner and be able to apply knowledge to address these issues in an organic manner. Presents reasons for organizing trans-disciplinary instruction around contemporary environmental issues. (Contains 14…

Describes a dramatic chemical demonstration in which chemicals that are black and white combine to produce a colorless liquid. Reactants include tincture of iodine, bleach, white vinegar, Epsom salt, vitamin C tablets, and liquid laundry starch. (DDR)

Discusses previous attempts to confront the issues of how to deal with the competing views of science. Suggests an alternative approach for integrating nature of science issues into the school science curriculum. States that educators must accept that no single nature of science exists. Includes references. (CMK)

Describes the development, implementation, and results of a pond life elementary student research project. Utilizing the pond life example, provides guidelines for children's research projects including the implementation of the K-W-L (know-want to know- learned) strategy with the children's reports/projects. Provides resources utilized in the…

Studies how the cultural context of curriculum policy relates to what students are taught in the classroom by using data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Explores how what constitutes school science varies from one culture/nation to another, and that these differences pervade all instantiations of curriculum.…

Presents the results of a two-year project to implement recommendations for reform of college-level introductory science courses. Studies student reactions in a course required for biology majors and concludes that critical thinking skills can be successfully integrated with the study of process in science. (Contains 30 references.) (DDR)

Describes trends in students' explanations of biological change in organisms. Student responses to questions on how graphically depicted phenomena occur were analyzed and most students were unable to offer causal explanations. (Contains 27 references.) (DDR)