The ways in which the concept of acceleration is treated in physics textbooks is compared with understandings of the concept demonstrated by final-year secondary (n=30) and first-year university students (n=60). Some students' understanding are shown to be incomplete in ways that parallel misleading or inaccurate textbook treatment of the concept.…

Describes the preparation and importance of a project where junior high school students stenciled "No Dumping! Flows to the Bay!" on storm drains in the area of their school. (PR)

Presents and discusses a contract to encourage students to get involved in cleaning up the environment. (PR)

Explains how a useful stereo image for overhead projection can be easily produced using technology available to most teachers. Red and green transparency films and red/green glasses are used to produce the three-dimensional view. (PR)

A middle school principal describes her school's exemplary hands-on science program. (PR)

Presents activities in which students construct simple crystal radio sets and amplifiers out of diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits. Provides conceptual background, materials needed, instructions, diagrams, and classroom applications. (MDH)

Identifies four programs meeting the criteria for being considered exemplary in biology education in grades 7 through 12 nationwide. Provides the selection criteria for program goals, curriculum, instruction, and staff. Expresses the concern that programs are not treating biology as a scientific process, nor addressing social and technological…

Provides a student worksheet and set-up instructions for a science experiment to demonstrate the concept of density. Students are asked to explain the phenomenon in which a liquid of lower density placed in the bottom of two vertical flasks flows up to replace the liquid of higher density in the upper flask. (MDH)

Describes an activity where students find the locations and elevations of their homes, school, favorite parks and lakes, and other significant places as they learn topographic skills and unique features of the community. (PR)

Discusses physical disabilities and laws for "mainstreaming." Presents a checklist for classroom safety for the physically disabled. (PR)

Presents an activity to help students understand the precepts of the Hardy-Weinberg principle and simultaneously permit observation of a model of evolution through natural selection in a nonthreatening setting. (PR)

Raises questions regarding what students are perceiving when concrete models are used to represent abstract scientific concepts. Discussion of several exploratory investigations on the role of models in science teaching is presented in three areas: (1) interactions with students; (2) effectiveness of models; and (3) spatial ability and models.…

Describes combining the simple activity of collecting monthly student height measurements with the technology of using a computer spreadsheet for a year-long activity that teaches measurement and data manipulation. (PR)

Presents an activity that demonstrates the physical and chemical changes that occur during the operation of a wet cell battery as it produces an electrical current. Provides instructions for the lesson. (MDH)

Describes a writing-across-the-curriculum course and its application to science courses. Shows how different kinds of writing instruction affect students' learning as well as students' attitudes, understandings, and approach to "writing to learn." (PR)