Describes an inquiry-based science activity in which students investigate the preferred food sources of sowbugs. Students design their own experiment, perform a first trial, and refine their procedure before conducting a second trial with more accurate results. (SAH)

Describes a series of simple and nontraditional experiments that enable students to discover the properties of infrared radiation by studying the propagation, reflection, diffusion, and refraction of infrared. The experiments rely on two modules, an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver. (SAH)

Advocates allowing students to create their own animated simulations as a better way of teaching scientific processes. (YDS)

Presents an experiment that tests for spontaneous generation, or abiogenesis. Observes microbial growth in nutrient broth under seven different flask environments. Includes instructions for the methods. (YDS)

Explains methods for introducing high school students to the issue of the declining amphibian population. Plays the game Frogs' Futures following a seminar as an instructional strategy. Describes the game, procedures, and rules. (YDS)

Points out the importance of molecular models in biology and chemistry. Presents a laboratory activity on DNA. Uses different colored wax strips to represent "heavy" and "light" DNA, cesium chloride for identification of small density differences, and three different liquids with varying densities to model gradient…

Presents an example of an authentic inquiry-based investigation of living organisms that can be easily performed in a school setting or students' neighborhood using pillbugs. Students observe, ask questions, collect data, classify and compare, measure, and analyze data to draw conclusions about pillbug behavior. (SAH)

Describes a study in which fourth and fifth grade students drew pictures of what they believed a scientist looks like. Scientists then visited the classrooms and students were asked to draw another picture of what scientists look like. More stereotypic views of scientists were seen in the first drawings than in the second. (SAH)

Introduces an activity for making a wind vane for elementary grade students. Lists required materials and explains the process. (YDS)

Discusses nature activities that teachers can use with young children to help develop the children's observation and processing skills. Teachers and students can examine weeds in the spring, observe and understand the role that insects play in nature, study the many colors and sizes of leaves in the fall, and find and analyze animal tracks in the…

Presents an activity exploring the process by which satellite imagery is produced. (MKR)

Presents activities and demonstrations that enable teachers to use various types of confections as tactile experiences to spark chemistry students' interest and generate enthusiasm for learning. Presents uses of candy in teaching about atomic structure, spontaneous nuclear decay, chemical formulas, fractoluminescence, the effect of a molecular…

Describes the Monarch Watch program that tracks the migration of the monarch butterfly. Presents activities that introduce students to research and international collaboration between students and researchers. Familiarizes students with monarchs, stimulates their interest, and helps them generate questions that can lead to good research projects.…

Presents an activity, appropriate for children in grades five through nine, that requires students to reconstruct a Lego structure after reading other students' written description of the construction process. Highlights the connection between explicit writing and scientific observation and involves students in observing, classifying, measuring,…