Describes several hummingbird adaptations and suggests ways of attracting hummingbirds to schoolyards and including them in the curriculum. Provides hummingbird feeder tips along with a list of ideas for designing inquiry-based activities related to hummingbird behavior. Also provides a hummingbird quiz, two instructional games, and a listing of…

Presents an activity that engages students in designing and making an artificial flower adapted for pollination by hummingbirds. Students work in teams to design flowers that maximize the benefit from attracting hummingbirds. Examines characteristics of real flowers adapted to pollination by hummingbirds. (DLH)

Presents an innovative, inquiry-oriented lesson plan for using biotechnology to teach evolution. Using acrylamide gel electrophoresis, students learn how to isolate and compare different proteins from the muscle tissue of readily available seafood specimens to determine phylogenetic relationships. Uses a 5E (engagement, exploration, explanation,…

Presents an activity in which students seek answers to questions about evolutionary relationships by using genetic databases and bioinformatics software. Students build genetic distance matrices and phylogenetic trees based on molecular sequence data using web-based resources. Provides a flowchart of steps involved in accessing, retrieving, and…

Describes a simple, inexpensive test for soil contamination that can be used in a variety of courses to examine the effects of soil toxicity, to practice standardized laboratory procedures, to study experimental design and data analysis, or to investigate earthworm ecology. Presents background information along with details regarding equipment,…

For many, doing science is entertaining, and engaging in a science activity for its entertainment value is a credible rationale. Drawing parallels between science and various forms of entertainment from sports to opera, highlights the value of "infotainment". Also mentions the risks associated with entertaining the public with science.…

Using an incremental model, 15 teens were trained as facilitators for an inquiry-based science program for children. Data from focus group interviews, surveys, and direct observations showed that teens were effective in implementing curriculum activities with children. Key elements in the model's design were workshop organization, introductory…

Describes an activity to demonstrate the freeze thaw cycle which can cause rocks to break apart due to the expansion of freezing water. (Author/MM)

Describes a science laboratory on reproductive behavior and studies the dynamics in Lirceus, an aquatic crustacean of which the females evaluate the males' quality through mating contests. Explains collecting isopods and developing colonies in the lab environment. Investigates food deprivation, locomotor activity, and behavioral trials to…

Introduces a lesson plan on the role of the acorn and its complex community of biotic relationships between animal and fungal organisms. Introduces students to ecological concepts through acorn investigations including dissection of acorns and exploring the organisms' interaction web. (YDS)

Introduces an activity on water that encourages students to learn about water use and conservation. Focuses on the ways in which water is used in homes, the water cycle, and water conservation. (YDS)

Presents an activity on measurement and points out the importance of units which, in most cases, are omitted by students. Focuses on measurement in informal settings, indirect measurement, ratio and scales, and surface area to volume ratio. (YDS)

Presents two demonstrations involving organic electrolytes, strong electrolytes versus weak electrolytes and weak electrolytes versus nonelectrolytes. (KHR)

Describes a 90-minute "Island Watershed" activity to help earth science students understand the concept of the water cycle. Introduces a surface waters unit appropriate for students in grades 7-10. Includes watershed project guidelines. (Author/KHR)

The Dallas Science Place contains 55 interactive displays on observable phenomena, organized into 7 topic areas: motion, waves, matter, electromagnetism, energy, change, and entropy. Attempts were made to keep the exhibits' forms elemental, so that the underlying physical phenomena could be readily observed and experienced. (JDD)