Reviews Outdoor Biology Instructional Strategies (OBIS) materials. The program, consisting of 97 nonsequential biology/ecology activities (games, simulations, crafts, experiments, data analyses), teach environmental concepts and an understanding/appreciation of the environment. Indicates effectiveness of the materials in motivating students,…

Investigated relationships between physics achievement and language of instruction where instruction was in the second language of both students and teachers. Grade 10 subjects (N=176) studied light/sound in either Chinese (N=90) or English (N=86). No differences in achievement, students' motivation, and time spent in physics were found.…

Discusses how the science faculty at one rural Massachusetts school responded to the state mandate requiring basic competency testing for all students. The approach taken (includes unit on Connecticut River) does not call for major changes in science course format, only in broadening definition of the responsibilities of science teaching.…

Highlights several basic ecological principles and suggests corresponding classroom activities for grades five to eight that revolve around a freshwater aquarium. Basic ecological concepts, adaptations, characteristics of aquatic habitats, and pollution problems are outlined in separate tables. A short list of resource materials is included.…

An alphabetical list of 44 references (books and articles) on various aspects of creationism, creationism-evolution controversy, and Darwinism is presented. (JN)

Outlines a survey of laboratory practices and policies for employee protection from exposure to chemicals. Findings support the argument that academic, industrial, and other research laboratories are different from the manufacturing environment and should have a different toxic chemical policy and standards. (Author/SK)

Describes four functions served by student attitudes (instrumental, ego-defensive, value expressive, and knowledge) and discusses various ways to foster positive attitudes including using principles of cognitive dissonance. Also discusses various types of attitude measures. (SK)

Instructions (with diagrams and parts list) are provided for constructing an eye model with a pliable lens made from a plastic bottle which can vary its convexity to accommodate changing positions of an object being viewed. Also discusses concepts which the model can assist in developing. (Author/SK)

Provided are two informational sheets, one on puffers and one on carrageen (Irish Moss) and two classroom activities, one on buoyancy in fresh and salt water and one on water surface tension. (DC)

Topics include: (1) the content, style, and level of physics' textbooks; (2) suggestions for in-class use; and (3) recommendations for upgrading current texts. (SK)

Examples of the application of compound pendulum theory to the practical measurement of the moments of inertia of human beings, farm tractors, and sailing boats are presented. Suggests developing laboratory experiments to measure moments of inertia of hockey sticks, golf clubs, and frisbees, among others. (Author/SK)

Describes the influence of declining enrollment on the science department at one sixth form school, focusing on areas such as the science curriculum, scheduling, staffing, facilities, and teacher re-education. (DS)

Summarizes 10 cases of lawsuits against science teachers, with the courts' decisions. Cases involved hazardous laboratory experiments, faulty power equipment, and the use of nonlaboratory rooms for science experiments. Recommendations are made regarding safety guidelines for middle and secondary school science classrooms. (CS)

The importance of examining both the natural history of organisms being investigated and numerical data from long-term field experiments is illustrated by describing a long-running field experiment at an English Field Study Council Centre. Sample results are discussed and alternative methods of using field studies in biology instruction are…

Reports a study to determine the degree to which junior high school students (N=102) adhere to myth and fable, and what differences exist in the degree of adherence among subgroups established by sex and grade level. Findings indicated no adherence to either myth or fable. (DS)