Describes a science project prepared in partial fulfillment of a graduate course in elementary school science taken by the writer to improve his understanding of elementary school curriculum and to make social studies more interdisciplinary. An environmental topic was chosen and open-ended activities generated and described. (EB)

Describes elementary school activities and questions which center on the life cycle of the woolly bear caterpillars. (MLH)

Paper presented at the conference on "Curriculum Development in a Changing World, Syracuse University, July 10-11, 1968.

CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES, FIELD METHODS AND TECHNIQUES, AND SPECIFIC FIELD LEARNING ACTIVITIES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS REFERENCE VOLUME FOR TEACHERS. CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES INCLUDE STATEMENTS PERTAINING TO (1) SOIL, (2) WATER, (3) FOREST, AND (4) WILDLIFE. FIELD METHODS AND TECHNIQUES INCLUDE (1) PREPARING FOR A FIELD TRIP, (2) GETTING STUDENT…

THE CURRENT DEBATE OVER THE READING SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SCIENCE LEARNING IS DISCUSSED. IN THE PAST, THE TEACHING OF READING WAS BASED ON THESE TWO MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS--THE RECOGNITION OF MEANINGS OF INDIVIDUAL WORDS AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE WORD STIMULI RECEIVED FROM THE PRINTED PAGE INTO MEANINGFUL PATTERNS. THE RESURGENCE OF THE…

A TEST WAS CONSTRUCTED TO MEASURE SELECTED LIFE SCIENCE CONCEPTS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN GRADES ONE THROUGH SIX. THE CONTENT OF THE TEST IS BASED ON SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS--(1) STRUCTURE, (2) METABOLISM, (3) GROWTH, (4) REPRODUCTION, (5) RESPONSIVENESS, AND (6) ADAPTION. A LIST OF CONCEPTS RELATED TO THE SIX CHARACTERISTICS…

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PUPILS' ABILITY TO USE EVIDENCE FROM SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS WAS DETERMINED. THE 320 PUPILS FROM GRADES ONE THROUGH SIX WERE PLACED IN DECISION-MAKING SITUATIONS REQUIRING THEM TO USE EVIDENCE FROM A PLATFORM BALANCE OR GRADUATED CYLINDER. PUPILS WERE REQUIRED TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN MASSES OR VOLUMES OF PAIRS OF OBJECTS. THE…

SCIENCE UNITS CONSTRUCTED TO DIRECTLY TEACH CRITICAL THINKING ARE COMPARED WITH CONVENTIONAL SCIENCE UNITS FOR EFFECTIVENESS IN THE TEACHING OF CRITICAL THINKING. THE SAMPLE INCLUDED 1,554 FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS TAUGHT BY 65 TEACHERS IN FIVE DIFFERENT SCHOOL SYSTEMS. TEACHERS OF THE 469 STUDENTS IN THE RESEARCH GROUP WERE…

This teacher's guide suggests a number of ways to use a spinning table to explore circular motion. Activities are described which are appropriate for children in kindergarten through third grade. Suggestions are made for exploratory activities using the equipment rather than supplying detailed instructions for formal activities. Equipment and…

Presented are building activities, for elementary school children, using a variety of different materials. Weak materials, such as clay, straws and pins, paper tubes and index cards, are used as examples; structures built with these materials are displayed in photographs and discussed. Problems are suggested from which additional activities can be…

Using an inquiry-learning method rather than the lecture-demonstration teaching method, this elementary science curriculum deals with the processes of science and utilizes an inquiry approach into the causes of natural phenomena. The program was developed by an elementary science committee and recognizes the need for textbooks that will provide…