The Science Council of Canada conducted a 4-year study on science education in Canadian elementary and secondary schools. The study reached the conclusion that renewal science education is essential. This report analyzes the study's findings and presents recommendations for bringing about this renewal. The report is organized in four sections. The…

The unit box concept is an inquiry-oriented unit of instruction which helps preservice students develop teachable science units based on commercially available teaching guides. The unit box (which utilizes appropriate concrete materials to encourage hands-on learning for elementary students) contains everything needed to teach a specific unit,…

This 3-year research project, centered on the cognitive psychology of child-computer interaction, focused on the use of microcomputers for teaching specific topics in mathematics and science. In particular, issues arising from the use of computer-based simulations to promote learning (including the nature of the information displayed, the degree…

Science is often the stepchild among elementary school subjects-- something less than basic but not quite elective. This handbook encourages elementary school principals to begin thinking about science as a fourth "R" in their school's curriculum, a subject that teaches basic skills while enhancing those learned in other curricular…

This handbook is designed to assist elementary school principals in improving and maintaining quality science education programs, while strengthening their role as science curriculum leaders. The handbook can be used as a resource for disseminators as they prepare for meetings with principals' groups and as a reference that can be used by…

One area explored in the second (in-depth) phase of the Learning in Science Project was "children's science," defined as views of the world and the meanings for words that children have and bring with them to science lessons. The investigation reported focuses on the concept of "light" held by 36 students. Data were obtained…

The Learning in Science Project established that children from a young age construct out of their everyday experiences views which they use to explain their world and that these views are remarkably resistant to replacement by scientifically more useful views. Although science lessons tend to be based upon activities which are designed by teachers…

The Learning in Science Project has adopted the view that science teaching might be improved if teachers can be given some appreciation of students' views of the world and the beliefs, expectations, and language that learners bring to new learning situations. This investigation focuses on the views that children (N=34) may have about rocks and…

The Learning in Science Project (Primary)--LISP(P)--investigated the questions and explanations primary children have about rocks. Data were collected during teaching sessions from New Zealand students (ages 8-11) and Australian students (ages 10-11). The teaching sessions required the teacher to create a situation in which children generated some…

The topic of metals is frequently taught in primary schools. However, when metals are suggested as one of a series of topics for study, students often initially show little enthusiasm for the topic. To determine the ideas that children have about metals the Learning in Science Project (Primary)--LISP(P)--interviewed thirty-eight 9- to 10-year-old…

An alternative approach for teaching primary school science has been proposed by the Learning in Science Project (Primary--LISP(P). This study investigated the use of the approach during three series of lessons on the topic "metals." Each series followed the same general pattern: (1) an introductory session to stimulate children to ask…

The 1982 Search for Excellence in Science Education project has identified 12 exemplary programs in elementary school science. Descriptions of the programs and the criteria used in their selection are presented. Chapter 1 reviews four goal clusters (developed during Project Synthesis) related to the desired state in elementary school science.…

Research findings are reported concerning the extent to which writing assignments in contrasting examples of upper elementary science curriculum materials are likely to engage students in higher order thinking and problem solving, and to facilitate meaningful learning of scientific concepts. Organized around a common set of elaborate framing…

This study determined the status of marine education inclusion into K-12 lessons in North Carolina and reflected some inservice parameters. Analysis of a statewide, K-12 survey indicated: (1) 86% of the teachers responding taught some marine concepts in their classes; (2) the criteria for accessing information differed significantly among primary,…

This study consolidated observations of teachers in an institute setting designed to facilitate science learning content through performing science processes and asking questions related to self-perceived conceptual difficulties. The subjects were 11 elementary school teachers from a school district in Northeast Florida; they were enrolled in a…