A class centered on student design of experiments and peer review of the resulting reports is described. Thirteen students in an honors seminar section of an introductory physics class designed experiments to test various types of paranormal phenomena. Each experimental report was evaluated and ranked by several other students. To give them…

Biodiesel was synthesized by transesterification of waste vegetable oil using common glassware and reagents, and characterized by measuring heat of combustion, cloud point, density and measuring the heat of combustion and density together allows the student the energy density of the fuel. Analyzing the biodiesel can serve as a challenging and…

Toilet paper (TP) composition and physical characteristics were used to model scientific investigations that combined several "National Science Education Standards." Experiments with TP permitted the integration of TP history, societal change resulting from invention, mathematics (including geometry and statistics), germ theory, and personal…

The theme of Scale and Structure (or simply Scale) appears in many state science frameworks and projects of national importance. The major idea of this theme is that a change in scale will affect the nature of the given structure. This book is designed as a guide and set of activities for third- through eighth-grade teachers. The activities…

The purpose of this research was to explore concepts about thinking that contribute to children's metacognitive experience during experimentation. Twenty-four randomly selected elementary school children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, participated in five theory of mind tasks that assessed their: understanding of instantiation inference;…

This book provides a short course in the mysteries of seed structure, function, and development. Chapter 1, "Backgrounds, Hints, And Tips For Teachers And Parents," provides a basis for working with the mid-years student. Chapater 2, "Where Do I Start? What Do I Do?" provides procedural tips for science research. Chapter 3,…

This study investigated perceptions of 56 students in 4 general chemistry labs regarding their understanding of chemical concepts and processes. Conceptual understanding of scientific investigation was the focus. Students using a pre-lab guide for lab preparation were compared with students completing a traditional pre-lab assignment. Data sources…

The focus of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE) is to improve the undergraduate biology laboratory experience by promoting the development and dissemination of interesting, innovative, and reliable laboratory exercises. This proceedings volume contains 10 papers: "Testing Issues of Foraging and Flocking Behavior" (C. C.…

During the 1994-95 school year, the Eisenhower Regional Consortium for Mathematics and Science Education at Appalachia Educational Laboratory (AEL) conducted the Scope It Out project to provide training and technical assistance to educators in using the microscope as a learning tool in a standards-based curriculum. This publication is a…

For various reasons, students do not have access to laboratory facilities and yet need courses in the laboratory sciences such as chemistry. This paper describes "Outreach Chemistry," a course developed to provide a chemistry laboratory experience for students attending schools that lack science laboratories. Designed for off-campus students whose…

This book for high school students presents 20 different science fair projects that provide an opportunity to learn how plants are affected by natural and man-made influences on their environments. Many experiments in the book were adapted from original International Science and Engineering Fair projects. Each project includes in-depth background…

Sources to assist junior and senior high school students and teachers in planning, preparing, and executing science fair projects in the biological science are cited here, as well as a few books with experiments suitable for elementary grade students. (AA)

Young children in Australia enter early childhood education settings eager to make sense of the world that surrounds them. Their interest in every day experiences is evident in the range of questions asked, many of which are scientific in nature. Intended as a resource for adults working with 4-to 8-year-old children, this booklet provides an…

Two laboratory investigations are described: (1) staining chromosomes in root tips and (2) demonstrating pollen tube growth. (LS)

Describes an undergraduate chemistry experiment in which the concentration of chloride, fluoride, or bromide ions can be quantitatively determined by titrating with mercury (II) ions. (MLH)