Describes main features of students' thinking about heat and temperature (developed before formal science teaching) and results of a study that shows that many notions about heat/temperature used by younger children are still apparent in the thinking of older students. The study involved interviews with 84 students in three age groups. (JN)

Presents and analyzes excerpts from an interview with one student to determine his conceptions of light (including the nature of light and of optical systems). Implications for instruction include taking students' initial beliefs seriously, approaching issues through actual experiences, and using intelligible, plausible, and fruitful…

Describes a chemistry course designed, in cooperation with local public school districts, to intellectually challenge a group of 8th, 9th, and 10th grade students. Organic chemistry and biochemistry are integrated into the course (titled Chemistry and Everyday Life) to emphasize practical applications of chemistry. The course syllabus is included.…

Background information, materials needed, and procedures used are provided for potentiometric fluoride, halide, orthophosphate, and sulfate titrations. Typical results obtained are also provided for each type of titration. (JN)

Eleven-year-old secondary school students (N=2065) were given a variety of attitude and achievement tests. Although both boys and girls had positive attitudes toward science, boys preferred studying physical science while girls preferred studying biology. Implications of these and other findings are discussed. (Author/JN)

Reports on a study of 1981-82 science enrollment in United States public and private secondary schools. Geographical regions are compared, and trends with 1976-77 data are addressed. Information on grade level and different courses is given. (DH)

Provides instructions and advice on growing the edible mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) in school. Also suggests several classroom activities using these mushrooms. (JN)

Presented are procedures used to assay the activity of lipase during storage at three different temperatures. Since lipase solutions can decay even when refrigerated, it is recommended that the enzyme be freshly prepared prior to laboratory sessions in which they are used. (JN)

Discusses the role of the small intestine in the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates and proteins. Indicates as outdated the view that these materials must be broken down to monomeric units before absorption and that the gut secretes a mixture of digestive juices which brings about absorption. (JN)

Discusses types of solar eclipses and the frequency of their occurrence. Emphasis is placed on the May 30, 1984 solar eclipse. Ideas for building a pinhole camera to view the eclipse, to determine if the sun is changing size, and to report scientific findings are provided. (BC)

Discusses the search for fundamental particles and fields of which all matter consists and the search for a unified theory of the forces with which these particles and fields interact. Topic areas include relativity and quantum mechanics, high energy accelerators, particle interactions at high energy, substructure, electromagnetic interactions,…

Discusses: (1) the fluid mosaic membrane structure and light reactions of photosynthesis as exemplified by the Hill and Bendall "Z-scheme"; (2) the arrangement of light-harvesting pigments, electron transport components, and ATP synthesis on chloroplast membranes; and (3) how these topics are treated in A-level textbooks. (JN)

Discusses the need for including noise pollution in the science curriculum and describes 10 activities for improving students' awareness and understanding of and concern for noise and its effects. (Author/JN)

Describes activities designed to discover what the fluid is in bubble lights used on Christmas trees. Also describes activities using soda straws (to make music and to make smoke). (JN)

Discusses: (1) inquiry science teaching; (2) characteristics of stable and fluid inquiry; and (3) using science textbooks to develop activities which reflect the fluid or tentative nature of scientific knowledge. (JN)