Describes the procedures employed to make salt from seawater. Reviews the basic principles of seawater chemistry and discusses the techniques used to measure salinity. Identifies major saltworks locations and indicates the proper conditions needed for solar production of salt. (ML)

Students in a classroom with living plants and animals scored higher on knowledge of biology and attitude toward science and sciencing measures than students in a control group. These findings suggest that living displays serve to stimulate interest and curiosity which in turn influence attitude and achievement. (Author/JN)

Sixteen concept words related to "matter" were described as simple textbook definitions and 16 multiple-choice items were constructed for each concept definition. These materials were used to compare the ability of 1,635 Tasmanian and 826 Indian students to recognize the concept definitions and their attendant verbal labels. (JN)

Presents a set of laboratory experiments that can assist students in the detection of carbon dioxide. Offers a variation of the supported drop method of carbon dioxide detection that provides readily visible positive results. Includes background information on carbon dioxide. (ML)

Reviews a study which examined high school biology students' (N=58) understandings of the concepts of food chain and ecosystem. Discusses the evaluation scheme and relates how this approach can be used in classifying student responses. It was found that most of the students failed to understand the targeted concepts. (ML)

Provides a reproducible flow chart to aid students in problem-solving skill development. Steps include: determining what is asked; choosing a relationship; and checking validity of the relationship. Teacher notes are given to improve instruction. (DH)

Describes two contests in which students: (1) build bridges from balsa wood; or (2) construct whizzers (self-contained motorized devices for movement on tight steel wires). Testing situations and guidelines for these contests are included. Points out that physics enrollments have increased as a result of the contests. (DH)

Discusses an easy way of interfacing physics experiments to a microcomputer, providing information on the "analog input port" of a BBC microcomputer. Also describes a capacitor discharge experiment with suggestions for several student activities such as investigating decay curve shapes. Program listing is available from author. (DH)

Suggests that effective communication between teacher and students will help eliminate and deter behavioral problems. Discusses such strategies as keeping pace with the student, redefining behavior, and using presuppositions with connectives to help achieve this goal. (DH)

Two tests were administered to 652 students to investigate the effect of structuring questions about the mole. A third test was administered to see whether each step/operation was intrinsically difficult or if it was only difficult when part of a series of steps/operations. Findings are reported and discussed. (JN)

Presents directions for making a three-dimensional model of the ocean floor using simple materials, with procedures for including such features as continental shelves, fractures, and canyons. In addition, steps are given for discovering the shape of another student's model using bathymetry (measurement of depth). (DH)

Describes a relatively simple method of extraction and purification of bacterial DNA. This technique permits advanced secondary-level science students to obtain adequate amounts of DNA from very small pellets of bacteria and to observe some of its polymer properties. (ML)

Examines use of fire extinguishers related to the four classes of fires (designated A, B, C, and D). Suggests that when computers or other valuable electronic equipment are in an area (including laboratories), the ABC-rated Halon 1211 should be used since it produces a very effective, noncorrosive, nonconducting mist with no residue. (JN)

Indicates that the true red color of calcium can be obtained (using the procedure described by Sorm and Logowski) if the calcium ion solution is mixed with an equal volume of saturated ammonium bromide solution. Suggestions for flame tests of other elements are also noted. (JN)

Teaching how scientific models work can result from "black box" techniques applied to various classroom seating arrangements. The teacher can assign students to seats based on observable (last name, height) and nonvisible (telephone number) criteria. Students become involved in guessing the criterion, which leads to discussion of models and…