A quantitative synthesis of research findings on the effects of three major activity-based elementary science programs developed with National Science Foundation support was conducted. Controlled evaluation studies of the Elementary Science Study (ESS), Science-A Process Approach (SAPA), or The Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) were used…

A developmental investigation of the ability to control variables was conducted. One or two logically similar physics problems were individually administered to 120 subjects age 12 to 14. The problems involved either familiar or unfamiliar variables. Each problem was presented in three different informational formats. Success on the problems in…

An attempt to train concrete operational fifth-grade students (N=32) and seventh-grade students (N=32) to perform at the formal operational level on tasks demanding the control of variables are reported. The training was conducted in four individual sessions of approximately 30 minutes each. The training sessions were designed to represent a…

The National Science Foundation's (NSF's) institute programs and curriculum development activities are briefly reviewed as well as the current activities of the Information Dissemination for Science program. Included are goals of the program and a discussion of the nature of projects funded by the program. (DS)

Reported are results of a study proposing to determine whether developmental patterns in correlational reasoning could be identified among a large and diverse sample; whether developmental patterns in correlational reasoning were similar regardless of problem context; and whether developmental patterns in correlational reasoning were similar for…

Women Inquire into Science and Engineering (WISE) is a 22 minute audio-visual (slide/tape) program for students in grades six through twelve. Its purpose is: (1) to apprise students of the opportunities for them in the Inquiry Into Science and Engineering Class and encourage them to take the prerequisite math and science courses; and (2) to…

The collection of competency goals and performance indicators is designed to assist regular and special educators in creating curriculum and instructional programs to maximize the learning potential of educable mentally retarded students. The competency goals and performance indicators are identified in most program areas by grade level categories…

The Integrated Science-Mathematics Education Project (ISMEP) is an NSF-funded, interdisciplinary science/mathematics education program for preservice elementary school teachers which fosters an increase in scientific and mathematical literacy, improved attitudes toward science and mathematics, and enhancement of intellectual development on the…

Five instructional techniques for increasing the meaningfulness of technical or scientific information are summarized: (1) organization of prose; (2) use of concrete analogy and advance organizers; (3) use of inserted questions in prose; (4) elaboration activities such as note taking; and (5) discovery learning. Research on each technique is…

Information from the American Institute of Medical Climatologists on human responses to weather and climatic conditions, including clouds, winds, humidity, barometric pressure, heat, cold, and other variables that may exert a pervasive impact on health, behavior, disposition, and the level of efficiency with which individuals function is reviewed.…

This handbook consists of 60 science activities, 20 each for kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2. Each activity has five parts: (1) a science concept; (2) behavioral objectives; (3) motivational activity; (4) suggested class activity; and (5) questions. Activities are selected from the biological, earth, and physical sciences. The handbook is…

The supplement and ditto packet to the science-math strand of unit six for second graders features visual materials to help the teacher carry out the instructional and assessment activities for the unit's four kits. Illustrations are provided to help stimulate oral language and conceptual development. Some are designed to be cut out for…

Presented is a statement of goals and objectives to be used by the overseas dependent schools. This document is intended as a guide for program instruction by the teacher, as a basis for the evaluation of either commercial materials or those developed locally, as a basis for further evaluation of science education in the dependent schools, and as…

THIS BULLETIN IS PRODUCED BY THE NATURE CENTERS DIVISION, NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE AND TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY NATURE AND CONSERVATION CENTERS. THE TOPICS COVERED ARE--(1) PURPOSE AND VALUE OF A NATURE AND CONSERVATION CENTER, (2) INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS SUCH AS COMMUNITY READINESS, LAND…

ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY, AND COLLEGE LEVEL SCIENCE COURSE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE DESCRIBED. INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS ARE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL AND ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE. MANY OF THE PROJECTS REPRESENT COMPLETE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND INCLUDE SUCH MATERIALS AS STUDENT TEXTBOOKS, LABORATORY MANUALS, SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS, TEACHER…