A special science program for gifted children keeps them interested through hands-on experience and the enthusiasm generated by a teacher's love for her subject and her students. (Author/SK)

Suggestions are provided for using animals (particularly snakes) as the focus of studies and activities in the science classroom. For example, cages with animals can serve as a learning center on various aspects of the animal. A list of suggestions for the care and feeding of snakes is provided. (JN)

Instructions for constructing contour models from topographic maps are presented. Includes materials needed, sources of topographic maps, tips for drawing lines, and preparing the model using cardboard. Indicates that the model is a valuable instructional tool for turning topographic maps into "real" contours of land. (Author/JN)

Suggestions for successful geology field trips are provided. These "field hints" focus on geological reasoning; equipment; notes; samples and records; field practices, including mapping; camping; working with associates in the field; and general considerations such as carrying along a few textbooks, finding out about an area before the trip, and…

A workshop was designed to introduce experiences with chemistry at a level appropriate to elementary school teachers with little/no background in chemistry and presented so teachers learned to do hands-on experiments appropriate for their students. A list of 16 activities (with brief descriptions) used in the workshop is included. (Author/JN)

Instructions for constructing cross staffs and quadrants are provided. Astronomy teaching methods using the two devices are discussed. These include locating common constellations with the cross staff and following a star (or moon, sun, or planets) by reading the altitude and azimuth with the quadrant. (JN)

Discusses planning necessary for a successful elementary school science fair. Includes a science fair checklist. (JN)

Describes outdoor biology activities in a woodland area at a private boys school in England. Activities included studies of areas within the woods, winter trips, and wood and pond animals. Includes comments on preparing for and teaching the activities. (Author/JN)

Telecom link is a structured design exercise concerned with building a telecommunications link between London and Amsterdam. Designed for A-level physics, the simulation requires a minimum of 10 hours. Aims of the exercise, design specifications and technical aspects, and summaries of four possible technologies used in the simulation are…

Presents an experiment which includes fractional distillation with gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and infrared analysis. Objectives are to introduce students to fractional distillation and analysis of each fraction by GLC, to induce them to decide if each fraction is sufficient for infrared analysis, and to identify unknowns. (Author/JN)

Describes the winners of the Space Traveler Project, a contest jointly sponsored by Rockwell International, NASA, and this magazine to identify worthwhile elementary science programs relating to the Space Shuttle. (SJL)

To encourage students to become involved in the inventive and imaginative dimensions of biology, students are asked to invent: a useful product, way to use old newspapers, insect repellent, organism attracter, organelle separater, way to measure rate of hyphal growth, and method to measure strength of spider web. (DC)

Describes activities in the "Earth Science Activities" book (available from the author). Activities range from simple to complex, with detailed instructions/information for the teacher to conduct the activity as is or with modification to meet individual class/student needs. Includes sample activity: "Ashfall in Washington-Courtesy of Mount St.…

Describes an instructional strategy to convey the elements of trigonometry to introductory physics students. (SK)

Thermochemical cycles are used to decide which hypothetical compounds might exist and, if not, what is the factor that condemns them to non-existence. Hypothetical compounds of rare gases provide examples of the approach with added historical interest that thermochemical considerations led to prediction and demonstration that XePtF-6 was stable.…