Physics competitions for high school students focus on experimental measurements using fundamental physics principles. Reports on how Yale University's physics department organized a day-long event for approximately 100 high school students. (CCM)

Uses role-playing exercises as a method for teaching introductory astronomy classes to nonscience majors. (CCM)

Shows that it is possible to use an electric balance to measure Coulomb's force in a simpler way. Describes a demonstration set up to measure the repulsive force between two electric charges. (CCM)

Describes Camp Invention--a day camp devoted to creativity and science, and the result of a partnership among 248 nationwide schools and a nonprofit center for creativity in Ohio called Inventure Place. States that the camp, designed for second to sixth graders, provides a creative setting in which students' abilities are needed to accomplish…

Describes an activity in which students are introduced to the concept of food webs through a role-playing tag game. (Author/CCM)

Provides tips for students to create and maintain a miniature ecosystem using a large variety of living representatives. (Author/CCM)

Describes an activity in which students map mockingbirds' territories and describe at least 10 common behaviors of these birds. (Author/CCM)

Describes the water-repelling behavior of "magic sand". Suggests some demonstrations and activities to compare the properties of magic sand with those of regular sand. (WRM)

Introduces the analemma, a figure eight pattern of the sun's location over the course of a year. Presents a year-long science activity and explains procedures for indoor and outdoor models. (YDS)

Presents a collection of science activities that have elementary students investigate how color can trick the eye and the brain. The activities involve working with contrasting colors, creating a rainbow, and exploring the connection between colors and words. An instructor reproducible features two color activities. (SM)

In the study of chemical applications of group theory, some students find it difficult to identify the symmetry elements in a simple geometrical figure or molecular model. Suggests that pattern blocks and mirrors can identify mirror planes in geometrical figures to help students construct, develop, and explain concepts of symmetry elements. (ASK)

Presents a problem on solubility equilibrium which involves macroscopic, microscopic, and symbolic levels of representation as a resource for the evaluation of students, and allows for assessment as to whether students have acquired an adequate conceptual understanding of the phenomenon. Also diagnoses difficulties with regard to previous…

Slater's Z values are a limited pedagogical tool for understanding shielding trends throughout the periodic table. Uses screening percentages as a method to predict effective nuclear charge. (ASK)

Introduces the Galileo Inclined Plane activity in which students learn about accelerated motion without using modern timing devices. (YDS)

Presents a science activity that is a combination of guided-inquiry and open-inquiry in which students investigate crayfish. (YDS)