Investigates 49 preservice elementary teachers' conceptions of what causes the seasons using both a written procedure and a procedure that used models with verbal explanations. Results suggest that preservice elementary teachers are likely to show a high frequency of alternative conceptions of what causes the seasons and these conceptions are not…

Presents an activity in which students learn about the changes in the state of matter by making taffy the old-fashioned way. (JRH)

Explores the experiences of preservice elementary teachers with science fairs, attitudes resulting from their participation in science fairs as students, and the importance of these past histories for their students. Results indicate that most teachers felt that science fairs are beneficial, but those who rated them as most worthwhile had never…

Presents activities that use a box of pencils to foster science process skills. Describes each phase of the scientific learning method with instructions for a "broken pencil" activity. Discusses initial observations, multiple working hypotheses, detailed observations, developing a theory, pattern-process relationships, and further ideas. (JRH)

Presents information about watersheds including water quantity, water quality, floods and floodplains. Lists resources for learning more about watersheds as well as Internet resources. Includes a foldout that can be used to teach children about watersheds and floodplains. (JRH)

Discusses the use of biographies to increase student interest in plant science. Presents the biography of Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan woman who empowered women and children to plant and care for millions of trees in Kenya, as an example of teaching with biographies. (JRH)

Information is presented regarding "El Nino," a warm ocean current which has a profound worldwide effect on ocean life and weather patterns. Suggestions are provided for teaching students about the current and other related topics. (CB)

Information on commercial fishing is provided, and a board game is described which requires students to watch for ocean signs of good fishing, choose equipment to catch specific types of fish, and consider effects of weather on working at sea. A reproducible copy of the game, with instructions, is included. (IAH)

Features science concepts with accompanying activities teachers can use in the classroom. Presents a lesson in optics that utilizes optical illusions to illustrate scientific points and allows students to use the following processes: observing, communicating, controlling variables, hypothesizing, and gathering and interpreting data. (ET)

This study seeks out elementary school science teachers' perspectives and examines the processes by which prospective teachers come to learn to teach science. Focused writing tasks, interviews, stimulated recall of videotaped lessons, and a card-sort technique were used to evaluate student teachers' conceptions of science education. (LZ)

Discusses the importance of using children's literature to heighten children's appreciation of the wonder of nature. Focuses on three authors and a specific work from each: "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White; "Joyful Noise" by Paul Fleischman; and "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George. (MG)

Presents an inexpensive class activity to teach elementary students about light reflection off various surfaces. The activity involves aluminum foil, waxed paper, magazine pages, newspapers, overhead transparency film, construction paper, fabric, and a hand lens. A student page includes questions to make students think about reflection. (SM)

Describes a miniscience unit on frogs for elementary grades that teaches students about how frogs develop from tadpoles and how frogs need water during their entire life cycle. Students learn such skills as observation, collecting, and recording data. Provides addresses for ordering resources for teachers and students. (SM)

The article presents inexpensive activities to teach elementary school students about electromagnets. Students learn to make an electromagnet with a battery, nail, and wire, then different activities help them explore the difference between permanent magnets and electromagnets. (SM)

A project called the Science Partners Program (SPP) is described. The thrust of the SPP is to develop an avenue whereby students and parents can explore related events around the home and community during out-of-school hours. Advantages of the SPP in enhancing an existing elementary program are presented. (KR)