Discusses using amphibians and reptiles as an excellent resource for students to observe and gain an understanding of the process of science. These animals are easy to maintain in the classroom and play important roles in ecosystems as the prey for many birds and mammals and as the predators of various organisms. (SAH)

Three fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms (147 students) were observed over 10 weeks. Science was taught either through (1) short, in-class projects; (2) an ongoing gardening project; or (3) teacher-oriented expository method. Participation in agriculturally oriented experiential activities, such as the projects, had a greater effect on science…

Cites research to support the idea that field trips are more successful for students if they receive a process skills orientation as opposed to a cognitive orientation to the field trip experience. Provides details on planning and preparation for a trip to the zoo. (DDR)

Describes a method for empowering biochemistry students to think critically about research data. Encourages students to formulate their own opinions by removing the usual dominant expert commentary. (Author/CCM)

Presents an inquiry-based science laboratory on the harmonic motion of the pendulum aimed at middle and high school students. Explains the appropriate assessment procedure for the laboratory. (YDS)

We describe a new educational program developed by the Cornell Institute for Research on Children (CIRC), a research and outreach center funded by the National Science Foundation. Thinking Life A Scientist targets students from groups historically underrepresented in science (i.e., girls, people of color, and people from disadvantaged…

Reading comprehension skills promote achievement in science, so how can teachers help students to develop these skills? Research indicates that students who read well are more likely to be successful in school and in life (Belk 1999). Furthermore, there is a direct link between science skills and reading skills (Carter and Simpson 1978). There are…

Workforce projections worldwide show a growing need for people with strong backgrounds in math and science. As the eighth largest economy in the world, California benefits particularly from enterprises in the "STEM" fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). How well California's current public school students are…

The authors identified factors affecting problem finding depending on degree of structure of problem situation--either ill or moderately structured. Fifth-grade students (N = 115) were randomly assigned to 2 groups: Group 1 (n = 60) accomplished the ill-structured task; Group 2 (n = 55) performed the moderately structured task. Results indicated…

The reading of science-related, historical nonfiction alone does not necessarily lead students to make personal connections to science or understand science as a human endeavor interdependent with culture, society, and history. Teachers must structure students' reading to ensure that they consider specific aspects of science while reading and…

This paper sits within the research on the affordances of new technologies in the mathematics classroom and focuses on a specific feature that is available in dynamic geometry environments, i.e. measuring tools, within the context of conjecturing and proving in open geometry problems. We develop a classification of different modalities of…

This teacher's guide features step-by-step instructions for activities that use easily-obtained and inexpensive materials as well as background information, literature connections, and assessment ideas. The unit allows students the opportunity to focus on observing and describing the properties and attributes of substances. In these activities,…

The pairing of Mother Goose rhymes and nursery tales with the scientific thinking process is an effective instructional strategy linking reading and science learning at the primary level. This paper presents several such pairings which stress the basic science processes in grades K-3 of observing, communicating, comparing, ordering, and…

This research compared the outcomes of teaching middle school students two different methods of classification and phylogeny. Two classes were randomly selected and taught using traditional methods of instruction. Three classes were taught using the "Pseudozoid" approach, where students learned to classify, develop and read dichotomous keys, and…

This inquiry examines the relationship between the science and writing processes and the implications of that relationship for classroom instruction in the upper elementary grades. Drawing on historical research from constructivism and experiential learning theory, as well as current thought on knowledge and learning process, this study builds a…