The videos in this educational series, for grades 4-7, help students understand the science behind weather phenomena through dramatic live-action footage, vivid animated graphics, detailed weather maps, and hands-on experiments. This episode (23 minutes) discusses how clouds form, the different types of clouds, and the important role they play in…

This study examines the changes in students' conceptual thinking and problem solving abilities. Conceptual thinking skills and problem solving abilities are important factors for medical school applicants as diagnosis and treatment procedures strongly depend on these skills. Underrepresented minorities in medicine is a concern in United States,…

Ranger Rick's NatureScope is a creative education series dedicated to inspiring in children an understanding and appreciation of the natural world while developing the skills they will need to make responsible decisions about the environment. The topic of this issue is "Let's Hear It for the Herps!" Contents are organized into the…

This curriculum unit revolves around the intriguing nature of dry ice and the incessant curiosity it provokes in all those who have the opportunity to interact with it. The activities featured in this book guide students toward being able to conduct their own independent scientific inquiry while presenting strong scientific content. Activities…

This digest presents a summary discussion of the value of holding science fairs in the elementary school context. Reasons for conducting science fairs for elementary students are discussed in terms of several learning theories. Developmentally appropriate types of elementary science projects are suggested. Goals for elementary school science fairs…

Evaluated teaching activites focusing on scientific concept of "animal" with three age groups: 5 (N=15), 9/10 (N=23) and 14 (N=20). Results suggest that these activities modified some students' concept of "animal" toward the scientific one, and that not understanding basic concepts (such as animal) may cause difficulties in…

Investigated 90 Form Two students' (grade nine equivalent in USA) alternative conceptions and instructional strategies to affect change from alternative to scientific conceptions. Results indicate significantly larger improvement in acquisition of science concepts (mass, volume, density) by experimental groups resulting from strategies/materials…

This article outlines concepts and skills that will help teachers and students interpret news and controversies generated by medical research. Students need to: (1) understand some basic research concepts; (2) apply critical thinking to health news; and (3) know how to locate additional information sources. (Authors/PP)

Suggests, by argument and example, that the views which children bring with them to science lessons are, to them, logical and coherent, and that these views have considerable influence on how and what children learn from their classroom experiences. (Author/SK)

This essay by a Harvard evolutionist presents viewpoints concerning the creationists' arguments against evolutionary biology. Semantics regarding "facts" and "theory" of evolution are examined, examples are cited of creationist argument, and arguments for evolution are presented. (CS)

Describes cognitive mapping techniques compatible with the information processing view of human thinking. Student knowledge was assessed by clinical interview and performance on paper-and-pencil tasks. Concept maps and semantic networks were then constructed. Uses that these assessment tasks and representations might have in science education are…

Suggests that current approaches to mechanics following Newton's laws will not improve by better presentations due to conceptual difficulties of the approaches. Offers an alternative way of setting up mechanics which avoids some of the conceptual pitfalls but still requires mathematical ability. (Author/SK)

Describes an interdisciplinary classroom activity to explain the effect of the ocean on local weather incorporating principles from physics, chemistry, mathematics, and meteorology. (DS)

Structure of physics can be treated as an instructional variable by teachers who make the choices: defined versus derived concepts, operational versus paraphrase definitions, and theoretical versus empirical relationships. Operational definitions and empirical relationships are recommended for beginning students; paraphrase definitions and…

Many didactical difficulties encountered in contemporary school physics are due to an outdated philosophy of science as illustrated by the energy concept, an example of a theoretical term which cannot be defined operationally with the help of simple measurement operations. (Author/DS)