Explores the development and status of Earth Science Education in Israel and England and Wales. Finds that, despite separate traditions for education in the Earth Sciences, there are a surprisingly large number of commonalities between current trends in each of the countries in the study, and each has had difficulty determining what constitutes an…

Describes classroom activities and field experiences organized around evidence of seasons, daily changes, and time-dependent processes. (WRM)

Surveyed 7-year-olds' ideas about the Earth in space, focusing on their ideas about shape and their ability to represent and describe land masses or other surface features, Earth's size relative to the sun and moon, and its nature as a planet. Found that focusing on the Earth's shape and gravity alone has underestimated youngsters' learning…

Describes events that occur during an eclipse. Finds that the solar eclipse provides a tremendous opportunity for teaching about the earth and beyond in content. (Author/CCM)

Describes Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) for K-12 educators. (YDS)

Explains a geology activity and provides information for model construction. Uses different colors to represent different rock sequences. Provides a rubric for assessment. (YDS)

Geoscience departments with graduate programs were surveyed to determine the courses required of entering graduate students. Most geologists consider the core curriculum to be that which is required or recommended by most graduate programs. In addition to geology courses, two semesters of calculus, physics, and chemistry were required by more than…

Advocates using computer imaging technology to assist students in doing projects in which determining density is important. Students can study quantitative comparisons of masses, lengths, and widths using computer software. Includes figures displaying computer images of shells, yeast cultures, and the Aral Sea. (SAH)

Describes a lab involving a cloud formation activity that uses the constructivist learning model to get students more involved in creating the lab. Enables students to develop a greater understanding of the concepts involved and more interest in the lab's outcomes. (JRH)

Describes the experiences of students and teachers involved in space shuttle experiments. Aims to spark student interest in the space program and careers in science. (ASK)

Introduces the American Renaissance in Science Education (ARISE) project. Discusses factors influencing the project's success. (YDS)

Presents an earth science activity on rocks to demonstrate the vital links between minerals and rocks. Uses different kinds of breads to demonstrate that rocks, like breads, are composed of various ingredients in different proportions. (ASK)

Details an 'explanatory Earth story' on plate tectonics to show how such a 'story' can be developed in an earth science context. Presents five other stories in outline form. Explains the use of these stories as vehicles to present the big ideas of science. (DDR)

Describes summer institutes for urban teachers in Milwaukee that centered on several Lake Michigan beaches within the bounds of their school district. Compares the sand from four different beaches for grain size, magnetite content, as well as fossil and modern Zebra Mussel Shells. Encourages good field trip teaching practices. Includes 19…

Reports that with proper preparation and pre-assessment of student expectations, geoscience courses can be effectively taught with supplementary materials reflecting minority group frames of reference. Indicates that inclusion of environmental justice oriented content may not effectively attract and retain students of color from non-science…