Explains how insects can be used to stimulate student writing. Describes how students can create their own systems to classify and differentiate insects. Discusses insect morphology and includes three detailed diagrams. The author provides an extension activity where students hypothesize about the niche of an insect based on its anatomy. (PR)

Uses air temperature profiles--a topic taught in beginning meteorology courses--to illustrate the ease of restructuring the teaching/learning environment as a problem-solving mode. Students access real-time information through Accu-Weather's interactive database. Students use the data to answer the question, "What happens to air temperatures…

Described is a laboratory in which students are confronted with rigs built from full-sized industrial machinery and equipment. Students must draw a flow sheet, dismantle and draw key components, reassemble the parts, operate the rig, and interpret the run data. The laboratory and the course built around it are discussed. (KR)

Presents an outdoor experiment to measure the speed of sound as a classroom experience to begin the teaching year. Measures the delay time from seeing and hearing crashing cymbals across a field to calculate the speed. Exposes students to experimental uncertainties and limits of uncertainty in measurement. (MDH)

Traditional and novel uses of enzymes and microbes in the baking, brewing, and dairy industries are described. Cheese, yogurt, baking, brewing, vinegar, soy sauce, single-cell proteins, enzymes, food modification, vanilla, citric acid, monosodium glutamate, xanthan gum, aspartame, and cochineal are discussed. Industrial links with firms involved…

Reviewed are the various purposes that discussion may serve for science education--for carrying out practical work, for interpreting results, and for understanding social issues. The importance of students contributing their own experiences to a discussion is discussed. (KR)

A model to illuminate and relate various twentieth-century philosophical perspectives on key questions about the nature of scientific theories and, therefore, aspects of the structure and development of postmodern science is described. The Scientific Theory Profile model then forms the basis for a course for science teachers in perspectives on the…

Information is provided on the use and misuse of drift nets used internationally in the Pacific Ocean. An activity in which students acquire some understanding of the history of fishing and the effects of modern technologies on fish populations is included. (KR)

An activity is presented that incorporates the signals, affinities, actions, qualities, and unity of nature. Students are led through the activity and are asked to sense, enjoy, validate, match, resonate, appreciate and honor, trust, and celebrate a particular nature area. (KR)

An activity in which students transform an ampicillin-sensitive strain of E. coli with a plasmid containing a gene for ampicillin resistance is described. The procedure for the preparation of competent cells and the transformation of competent E. coli is provided. (KR)

The potential of concept mapping, a learning strategy, coupled with assessments oriented toward problem solving used to facilitate meaningful learning, is examined. How students make and use concept maps in studying and the factors that influence the way they are made and used are discussed. Sample concept maps are included. (KR)

Investigations that facilitate experimental design, the concept of replication, data analysis, and other aspects of scientific study are described. A list of materials, the recommended plants, and the directions for building the hydroponics unit are included. (KR)

The heat content of a food at a given temperature can be described by the thermodynamic property of enthalpy. Presents a method to construct a simple calorimeter for measuring the enthalpy changes of different foods during freezing. (MDH)

Discusses the use of answering machines to teach astronomy to students while they are home. Provides directions on prelesson instruction; how to prepare the taped lessons; parent involvement; and lesson implementation. (MDH)

Describes a take-home experiment in which students measure the diffusion of acid through acid-filled capillary tubes immersed into base solutions and vice versa. Students represent and analyze the effects of ambient temperature, molecular weight, and concentrations of the solutions on that movement. (MDH)