Describes an experiment in which students determine the density of Coke and Diet Coke, consider density as an intensive property, and compare the accuracy and precision of different types of glassware. (WRM)

Argues that treatment of one investigative longitudinal topic from start to finish in a high school biology class can illustrate many major ideas and concepts. Discusses ways to use various longitudinal studies of plant growth with General Biology classes. (WRM)

Documents Swazi students' written explanations of everyday actions in terms of an awareness of the social and economic implications of science, their skills in designing experiments to solve everyday dilemmas, and their abilities to draw on relevant science concepts to solve everyday problems. Finds that considerably less than half of the students…

Describes a simple demonstration of the flow of sand through an orifice at the bottom of a sandbox. Advocates the experiment's use with dimensional analysis for students in an introductory physics course. (WRM)

Discusses ways for teachers to help students understand how to ask questions appropriate for scientific inquiry. (WRM)

Presents a series of experiments that can be used to demonstrate how aspirin can be synthesized and characterized, how the hydrolysis of aspirin can be used as an introduction to kinetics, and how coordination chemistry (chelation) can be introduced by preparing and characterizing the copper complexes of aspirin and salicylic acid. (Contains over…

Presents instructions for carrying out polymerase chain reactions with a bit of inexpensive equipment. (WRM)

Describes some experiments that can be performed at home to illustrate what makes popcorn "pop". (WRM)

A biotechnologist-turned-teacher introduces a series of laboratory modules incorporating concepts from microbiology, cellular biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and evolution. The Amylase Project aims to distill the biotechnology process into a few short steps using amylase, the easiest enzyme to detect of those commonly produced by…

Offers free software for timing experiments, instructions for making a timing interface and a variety of switch sensors for any IBM-compatible computer, and suggestions for experiments. (AIM)

Describes how computer simulations can enhance students' learning of physiology. Discusses how computer models enhance experimentation; using computer modeling in high school science; three steps in students' writing of a simulation; and the value of simulations. Lists six software vendors who offer packages on the PC or Macintosh platforms. (AEF)

Discusses BioProjects, a new technique for helping students understand the scientific method, in which students formulate a hypothesis, test it, and present the project to the class. States that through biological, quantitative investigations conducted outside of the classroom, BioProjects helps students develop investigative as well as oral and…

Emphasizes the importance of using examples from the student's environment to aid in teaching science process skills. The author uses diagrams to aid in discussing the various uses of goldenrod (Solidago sp) galls in the classroom. (ZWH)

Describes the "Teachers + Occidental = Partnerships in Science" (TOPS) program whose goal is to improve high school biology and chemistry students' laboratory instruction by enhancing their teachers' knowledge and classroom application of modern instruments, technology, and experiments. Includes 13 classroom-tested experiments that employ a…

Addresses the difficulty that teaching assistants and new faculty members may experience in finding a convenient outline of the task of preparing an experiment for undergraduates. Explains all phases of developing a laboratory exercise and includes a list of things to consider for each phase. (DDR)