An idea for hands-on activities for families to use in discovering the outdoors together when visiting parks is described. Family packs contain discovery and natural history cards, thermometers, magnifiers, insect boxes, photographs of animals and plants, a pencil, and a feedback form. (SA)

Describes a summer program for prefreshman science students entering Xavier University, designed to develop their problem-solving and academic abilities by emphasizing the connection between reading comprehension and analytical skills. (MKM)

Describes an experimental setup which allows the student to investigate the resonance characteristics of a vibrating plate using a small, circular steel plate clamped around its perpiphery. (HM)

Discussed is the intertidal region and the characteristics and adaptations of the organisms that live in that region. Several activities that involve the intertidal region are described, which reinforce the adaptive behaviors and forms of the organisms found in the intertidal region. (Author/DS)

Discusses procedures, theoretical considerations, and results of an experiment involving the preparation of a tetrahedral nickel(II) complex and its transformation into an octahedral species. Suggests that fundamental aspects of coordination chemistry can be demonstrated by simple experiments performed in introductory level courses. (Author/JN)

Described are laboratory methods for enumerating microorganisms in food. These methods are utilized to determine if foods are potentially hazardous to the consumer due to high concentrations of microorganisms. Discussed are indicator organisms, including coliforms, interococci, yeasts, and molds; food poisoning organisms (staphylococci and…

Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California at Berkeley, which conducts preservice and in-service teacher training programs and develops curriculums in science and mathematics, is devoting increasing attention to the role of science centers in informal education. Examples of the Hall's research projects in many different fields are…

Describes a lecture demonstration illustrating Charles's Law with a balloon-balance thermometer. The technique allows a determination of the absolute minimum temperature to within an accuracy of 10 percent of the exact value: -273.15 degrees Celsius. (BT)

A description is given of a chemically-oriented curriculum on "Smoking and Cigarette Smoke" for science and nonscience oriented high school students. Laboratory activity is emphasized. (SA)

Evaluates an educational program carried out at the Institute for Desert Research in Israel, to test the possibilities of the desert as an educational resource for ecosystem study. The results of teaching a field-oriented ecology course are presented. (HM)

Describes six laboratory procedures for preparing polymers which have been used in a course for undergraduate industrial arts students, who have a concentration in plastics technology but have not taken more than one year of college chemistry. (BT)

The use of live animals in the secondary school laboratory is discussed along with suggestions for increasing the use of live animals and challenges to those teachers who restrict this use. (SA)

Scientists may be fairly accused of lack of awareness of the needs of society, and they may therefore be unresponsive to these needs. Scientists must involve the public in issues underlying scientific controversy. Scientists must recognize the role of their own values in their pursuit of science. (RE)

Describes an education initiative, Putting Children First, in which men and women of the Eastman Chemical Company work with area teachers to provide real-life science experiences for area students. Discusses the beginnings of the program, its implementation, and its current status. Lists services offered by the program. (JRH)

Describes the Suffolk Activity Center for Science (SACS) built by middle school students for middle school students and enhanced by a partnership with the University of Stony Brook. Involves students from nine participating schools building an interactive hands-on exhibit dealing with the concept of energy. Discusses advantages and suggestions for…