In response to reports that have received widespread attention decrying the failure of science education in the United States to prepare sufficient numbers of scientists, projects have sought to determine what can be done to encourage academically oriented youths to enroll in more science courses in high school and preserve their option of going…

This paper is based on the work of Thomas Kuhn, a physicist turned philosopher and historian of science. In his book, "The Structure of Scientific Revolution," he posited a new concept of the nature and history of science and strongly criticized the current textbook tradition of science education. This study analyzed Kuhn's concept of…

This document reports on a study which indicated that there are three critical predictors that explain variability in environmental behavior. These predictors are: (1) perceived skill in using environmental action strategies; (2) level of environmental sensitivity; and (3) perceived knowledge of environmental action strategies. From these results,…

This paper describes the rationale for, methodology of, and some early results from a longitudinal study on science teachers' knowledge of science. Each of the participants is a university science graduate with a post-graduate university training for secondary school science teaching. The study focuses on two issues: (1) variations that occur in…

This guide contains 67 activities dealing with various aerospace/aviation education concepts. The activities are presented in units related to physical science, earth science, and life science. In addition, there is a section related to student involvement in the space shuttle programs. The physical science unit (activities 1-23) focuses on the…

This booklet contains the second in a series of three interdisciplinary units which focus specifically on the Pacific Ocean and its surrounding countries. The unit, intended primarily for lower to middle secondary level, consists of readings and interdisciplinary activities (science, art, social studies, English, and home economics) presented in…

The National Aquarium in Baltimore's sea turtle auditorium program introduces students in grades 6-9 to the seven (or eight, depending on which expert is consulted) species of sea turtles alive today. The program, which includes slides, films, artifacts, and discussion, focuses on sea turtle biology and conservation. This booklet covers most of…

This guide is designed for educators planning trips to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. The first part provides tips on organizing a school visit and information on the aquarium lobby and exhibits. These exhibits are: (1) Maryland: Mountains to the Sea; (2) Surviving through Adaptation; (3) North Atlantic to the Pacific; (4) South American Rain…

This document was prepared in an effort to help science teachers, administrators, and school staff members in California understand and avoid situations in which accidents could occur in the science laboratory or on field trips and outdoor education experiences. It contains major sections on: (1) first aid (including information on animal and…

This booklet was designed as a reference for teachers and students of physics on various types of data. Included are: (1) formulas for various constants involved in the study of gravity, electricity, magnetism, atomic physics, particles, and trigonometry; (2) a chart containing values of trigometric functions; (3) equations used in the study of…

This document reports on a study to develop an empirical method for analyzing and reporting classroom interaction data. Data were collected according to a classroom observation scheme involving the frequency of various interactions (question, answer, or management), the cognitive level of the interaction, the role of the actor, the level of…

Science education specialists from Asian and Pacific countries convened to explore issues related to the evaluation of pupil science learning. This document contains a synthesis of the discussions and findings of the meeting. Summaries of the study group's deliberations are provided in four sections. Chapter 1 describes the participating…

The ocean affects all of our lives. Therefore, awareness of and information about the interconnections between humans and oceans are prerequisites to making sound decisions for the future. Project ORCA (Ocean Related Curriculum Activities) has developed interdisciplinary curriculum materials designed to meet the needs of students and teachers…

This document was developed to provide eighth-grade teachers in New York City with a sequence of instructional activities in science. The major portion of the guide is divided into four instructional units. The first unit, "Chemistry," includes lessons and activities on liquid solutions, suspensions and emulsions, acids, bases,…

Relationships between student affective and cognitive learning outcomes and their perceptions of classroom environment as measured by the Classroom Environment Scale (CES) were investigated for a sample of 1,083 students in 116 science classrooms. It was found that CES scales displayed satisfactory internal consistency and discriminant validity,…