Activities to help students in grades 4-6 learn about Kentucky's natural heritage are provided in three sections. Part I offers lesson plans to supplement "Thunder At Middle Ground," a four-part childrens' television series which explores Kentucky's precious natural areas. The four programs focus on the five major natural systems in…

Intended for use by local school districts, this guide provides assistance to curriculum planners, members of boards of education, administrators, supervisors, classroom teachers, and others involved in and concerned about the development of science curriculum for elementary and secondary education. It is designed to assist in: (1) establishing…

This unit in fish biology is suitable for kindergarten through sixth grade. Provided in the unit are: (1) behavioral objectives for grades K-3 and 4-6; (2) an overview of activities and instructional strategies; (3) background information on fishes; (4) diagrams of internal/external fish structure; (5) list of key vocabulary words; (6) discussion…

Included in this science activities energy package for students in grades 4-10 are 12 activities related to energy storage. Each activity is outlined on the front and back of a single sheet and is introduced by a key question. Most of the activities can be completed in the classroom with materials readily available in any community. Among the…

A study examined the effects of using a form of children's literature known as tradebooks on students' science achievement and attitudes. Subjects were 47 fourth grade children. For 6 weeks the experimental and control groups progressed through the objectives of a science unit on animal and plant populations. The control group used the textbook…

A conceptual basis for a major study on science education in Canada to be conducted by the Science Council of Canada is presented. Section one explains the rationale behind the study. Different people argue that the relevance of science to daily living has been lost and that science education should therefore focus on the purpose of science rather…

Originally prepared for the Science Council of Canada, this document presents a rationale and general framework for a science and society curriculum for Canadian students. Pointing out ways in which citizens are scientifically illiterate, it argues that science education must address social issues and prepare individuals to make social and…

Designed to serve as a resource for science teachers, kindergarten through college, this publication contains 10 chapters, each focused on a topic of interest to science teachers working in the 1980's. Chapter titles and their authors are: (1) Understanding Science as a Cultural Phenomenon - Mission for the 80's, Drew Christianson; (2) What…

Following an introduction to solar technology which reviews solar heating and cooling, passive solar systems (direct gain systems, thermal storage walls, sun spaces, roof ponds, and convection loops), active solar systems, solar electricity (photovoltaic and solar thermal conversion systems), wind energy, and biomass, activities to introduce solar…

Two main factors are involved in bilingual-bicultural education as far as science education is concerned. First, there is the interplay between language and concept formation, and secondly, there is a need for culturally familiar examples in science materials for bilingual students. In line with these factors, this paper suggests that an inquiry…

A study investigated urban childrens' (N=150) responses to the science/technology role models on the television program "3-2-1 Contact" in relation to their gender, sex-role stereotype, and interest in science. Two primary questions were investigated: (1) What are the differences between boys and girls in relation to stereotypic…

This paper reports results of a large-scale, descriptive study of correlates of attitudes toward the mathematical, natural, and social sciences. Objectives of this study were to: (1) examine the levels and direction of attitudes toward the sciences as a function of grade level; (2) probe into possible causal determinants of these attitudes; and…

Water related activities for sixth-grade students are presented as one possible way to incorporate environmental education into the existing curriculum of Hawaii schools. Designed as an interdisciplinary approach, the activities integrate numerous thematic and subject areas to teach that fresh water is a limited but vital natural resource. Topics…

The Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) has been designed to describe change as it affects individuals and to prompt more successful change efforts. CBAM views the teacher as the focal point in school improvement efforts, yet also acknowledges social and organizational influences. This paper describes the application of the model to a curriculum…

This 32-page pamphlet contains color photographs and detailed diagrams which illustrate general descriptive comments about living conditions aboard the space shuttle. Described are details of the launch, the cabin, the condition of weightlessness, food, sleep, exercise, atmosphere, personal hygiene, medicine, going EVA (extra-vehicular activity),…