Presents the philosophy, history, description, and implementation of the Minnemast mathematics-science curriculum project. (CP)

Cites 124 references to science education research literature and summarizes research on instruction, curriculum, teacher education, developmental studies, teacher characteristics, and instrument development. (AL)

Strategies for using trees in classroom instruction are provided. Includes: (1) activities (such as tree identification, mapping, measuring tree height/width); (2) list of asthetic, architectural, engineering, climate, and wildlife functions of trees; (3) tree discussion questions; and (4) references. (JN)

Describes a Saturday science program (two 6-hour sessions) for middle school students. The aim of the program is to introduce intelligent and interested students to science as scientists do it, emphasizing fundamental manual and mental skills. Saturday sessions are taught by scientists at a local university. (Author/JN)

An instructional program based on expert-novice differences in experimental problem-solving performance was taught to grade six students (N=265). Performance was assessed with multiple-choice and open-ended measures of specific transfer. Between-group comparisons using pretest scores as covariate showed treatment condition students consistently…

Documented training and educational activities of preservice elementary education majors (N=20) to determine what (if any) aspects of their science training contribute to developing the apprehension elementary teachers have toward science, science education, and science instruction. Results, conclusions, and implications are reported from the…

Ascertained influence of an intervention in development of operational seriation/transitivity in kindergarten/first-grade children (N=60) who initially failed to demonstrate ability to do seriation/transitivity problems. Seriation of size was also studied. Results, interpreted in context of Piaget's equilibrium theory, indicated advancement toward…

Two areas of research were explored in this meta-analysis: comparison of inductive versus deductive approaches and use of advance organizers. The study involved 128 characteristics for 39 studies spanning the period from 1957 through 1980. Coding variables included 57 concerned with treatment features and 12 with outcome attributes. (Author/JN)

Discusses drill/practice programs and computer simulations. Also provides a chart comparing programs available through the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC). Included in the chart are title, grade level(s), content, skills required to complete program, potential of program to be integrated into regular curriculum, values…

"COMETS on Careers" describes science-related careers, introduces activities illustrating a science concept being studied, and encourages use of professional persons as activity leaders. Several COMETS chemistry activities are described. These activities, which can be performed in school or at home, focus on colloids, acid/base…

Compared formal science scope/sequence with curriculum as it was taught in Little Rock (Arkansas) classrooms. Elementary teachers (N=126) were given a list of 273 concepts and asked if a topic was a significant part of their instruction and how much time was spent teaching it. Results are reported and discussed. (JN)

Activities and instructional strategies for two multigrade lessons are provided. Activity objectives include describing an artificial reef (such as a sunken ocean liner) as an ecosystem, knowing animal types in the ecosystem, and describing a food web. (JN)

Discusses elementary and secondary science teacher education programs at Miami University (Ohio) in light of changes made by the Ohio State Board of Education's adoption of new teacher education standards. Outlines seven standards having major implications for change in Ohio's teacher education institutions. (JN)