This paper is based on a portion of the curriculum analysis of elementary science textbooks that was conducted as part of a larger Elementary Subjects Center study of curriculum materials used in literature, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts. A commonly used elementary science curriculum series, Silver Burdett and Ginn's…

Despite long-standing provisions in three Philippine constitutions naming Filipino as the national language, there has been no serious effort to implement the use of Pilipino in the Philippine educational system. Pilipino is based mainly on Tagalog, but is also a blend of words taken from English, Spanish, Arabic, Tamil, and Chinese. A 1973…

Microteaching, or peer teaching, is an activity that requires science methods students to plan, teach, and evaluate a particular lesson. The peer teaching activity, although obviously similar to teaching a lesson in a traditional classroom, enables the methods students to teach to a small group of their peers, thus easily receiving constructive…

A study analyzed the number and types of contributions that girls and boys made to a science discussion in a sixth-grade class. A 48-minute, student-centered cross-discussion was videotaped and analyzed. The exceptionally long discussion and the complexity of the topic (involving moving shadows and frames of reference) make the lesson a rich…

This multimedia package contains a book and a videotape on bats. The videotape uses video sequences of bats in action which are designed to support 21 lessons, each designed to teach essential elements of classroom curricula to students ages 9-15. The video is divided into four 12-minute segments that include footage of bats, direct relevance to…

Research studies using booklet classification were implemented by the American College Testing Program to investigate the linkage between the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Achievement Levels Descriptions and the cutpoints set to represent student performance with respect to the achievement levels. This paper describes the…

In February, 1996, representatives of departments of education and major teacher education colleges in 39 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Department of Defense met at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. to identify and discuss issues surrounding the preparation and credentialing of science…

A study was conducted to determine some of the problems and characteristics of low socioeconomic status (SES) parents who have children with low science achievement scores relative to parents of higher achievers. Sixteen low-achievement seventh graders in an urban school and 16 high-achievement students participated, along with their mothers.…

It has been alleged that few American students can use their knowledge effectively in thinking and reasoning. This study urges teachers to give more attention to student abilities in analyzing, classifying, comparing, formulating hypotheses, and drawing conclusions--that is, thinking skills essential to reasoning processes. Designed to familiarize…

A systematic study was conducted with a group of 10- to 12-year-olds using computer assisted instruction in a unit on fire which included a computer simulation of combustion. Three research questions were addressed to learn more about how the computer experience challenged the students' preconceptions: what the students thought the computer knew,…

Currently, the biological sciences' arsenal of information and knowledge is increasing at such a rate that teachers cannot expect or be expected to teach all the "facts" that are known. Instead many are suggesting that teachers should help students to develop an ability to use and apply fundamental concepts in a critical and analytical way. To…

These brochures provide simple, specific activities parents can use during the summer to enhance their children's academic and social skills. The brochure for grades K-3 provides activities in the areas of reading, writing, math, and science. The brochure for grades 4-5 provides activities in the areas of reading, writing, math, and social…

By playing with toys, children sometimes wonder how and why toys do what they do. At the moment of curiosity, interest can be captured and thinking can be influenced. This is a good time to focus on natural phenomena, provoke imagination, and promote scientific thinking. This book presents 53 classroom-tested activities to teach science with toys.…

One of the most valuable resources for obtaining exemplary instructional materials for the classroom is teachers. This booklet contains numerous laboratory activities compiled from submissions by recipients of the National Association of Biology Teachers' Outstanding Biology Teacher Award (1989-92). Topics are sorted into the following sections:…

A survey of all Kansas physical sciences (chemistry, general science, physical science, and physics) teachers (36 percent return rate) in the Spring of 1991 provided elements of a profile of physical sciences teachers and teaching. Findings are presented concerning teaching assignments, course enrollments, school demographics, teacher background…