Notes case study evidence that points to some success in using writing frames to encourage pupils to both develop and express their procedural understanding in science. Suggests that fundamental to the success of such frames in encouraging pupils' expression of understanding is the teacher's active promotion of learning as a social process in…

Presents a unit to investigate lemons and experience the real taste of a lemon that includes simple, enjoyable, and inexpensive activities that develop students' observation, prediction, measurement, and inference skills. Students also developed creative arts projects, explored mathematical concepts, and wrote stories about fruit. (NB)

Describes the development and validation of the Cultural Learning Environment Questionnaire (CLEQ) which assesses eight scales of the culturally sensitive environments of secondary school students. Examines associations between students' perceptions of their culturally sensitive learning environment, their attitudes towards science, and…

This article discusses the process skills students need to develop a basic scientific understanding, emphasizing the need for creative thinking within these endeavors. It provides examples of activities, using differentiation, which are appropriate for students in kindergarten through second grade and presents a hierarchy of science process…

Presents simple and safe activities for student use in the classroom or at home to help them to better understand the unique properties of water. (ZWH)

Discusses how laboratory skills or experiences learned in a chemistry course can be used to help students to better understand physics. (ZWH)

Uses the Science Process Skills Inventory (SPSI) to analyze student efforts at writing experimental designs. Results indicate that explicit, incremental development of the science process skills of formulating hypotheses and identifying variables, together with model examples, may be a means to facilitate student success in designing science…

Discusses concerns regarding the assessment of scientific investigations in the National Curriculum. Presents observations and assessment advice and guidance. (JRH)

Describes how one activity can lead students to investigate and understand science concepts. Example provided involves ripping of a newspaper and the resultant discussions on saws, fabric, meat, and newsprint. Suggests that this activity can be a bridge to study in language arts, career education, graphic arts, mathematics, science, and…

Presents an exploratory experience that allows students an opportunity to practice science process skills and use all of their senses. Describes a fruit study activity, appropriate for grades three through six, that incorporates the learning cycle (exploration, concept development, and concept application) and cooperative learning strategies.…

Describes an alternative method of assessing student's laboratory skills. The assessment tool is included in the article. (ZWH)

Explains a taxonomy of basic skills of science practicals that is used in the assessment of secondary science students. Details the assessment scheme which involves the evaluation of students through laboratory practical examinations, observational assessment, and written records of academic sessions. (DDR)

Argues that the only reason to ask students to plot graphs manually should be to have them learn the skill of plotting graphs manually. For data-analysis purposes, the use of computer-generated graphs has several advantages and few disadvantages over manual plotting. (Author/WRM)

Reflects on a career in science education by focusing on significant events that helped shape the practitioner's philosophy of science teaching and learning. (DDR)

Describes a cooperative-learning exercise to develop students' observation skills in preparation for the study of histology in a human anatomy course. (WRM)