This paper presents the observations and findings from case studies and projects with the theme of mosaic-making, which were conducted over a period of 10 years, 1987-1997, with young children ages 3 to 6. Emphasis is placed on the cultural heritage of the city of Thessaloniki as a center for the art of mosaic-making during the Early Christian and…

This paper reports on a case study that was part of a 3-year longitudinal study about classroom discourse during a learning sequence related to environmental values and concepts. The lesson was planned and enacted by students in a fourth grade classroom during a field study. Whole class and small group classroom conversations and a field trip to a…

Field studies are a primary means of obtaining scientific knowledge about earth science concepts. This paper discusses why a teacher might choose a field trip as an educational strategy important to the teaching and learning of earth science. Reasons to choose field trips as a teaching strategy, factors that influence learning on a field trip, and…

The section on personnel preparation contains two articles--"Teachers-in-Training Conduct Field Trips for Special Class Students" by S. Squires and "A State-Wide, Inservice Project for Special Needs Personnel" by G. Markel and others. (SB)

Describes a three-week summer program in environmental education and field botany for inservice and prospective teachers at the University of North Carolina. Stressing that the aesthetic viewpoint is one often overlooked by educators and scientists, this article reasons that self-awareness is a positive outcome of this approach. (CS)

Social studies in the 1980s must shift from a focus on citizenship and career education to an emphasis on conceptual knowledge, skills, and active learning. Student investigations of the urban environment would be an effective means of achieving this transition. (DC)

Describes methods for enriching an A-level chemistry course with a series of chemical company visits. The rationale is discussed for an emphasis of the visits on the industrial reduction of aromatic nitro compounds. (CS)

Describes a number of locally based initiatives that foster active links between aspects of industry and all levels of education. (CS)

The article briefly explains three stages of small group development and suggests ways to apply existing knowledge of group dynamics to outdoor education settings. The article explains the role of expectation, conflict, and stress in behavior change that occurs in the context of extended field excursions. (SB)

A series of ten secondary-level, winter ecology experiences developed to accompany the BSCS Green Version is discussed. Results from a review by a panel of experts and ratings from experimental teachers are presented. (SA)

Describes a San Francisco, California, science museum whose design is based on the exploration of perception. The museum is arranged in sections on patterns, light color, eye logic, third dimension, sound, hearing, electricity, and the tactile gallery. Programs include teacher training, student learning experience, field trips and study projects,…

Describes an easy-to-use, inexpensive field trip/laboratory exercise designed to delineate the home ranges of small animals. Students participate in the design of the exercise; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the presentation of results. Contains 19 references. (DDR)

An astronomer gives teachers tips on learning how to look at the night sky then on passing along personal instruction to students. Presents ideas for finding information through astronomers at colleges, science museums, planetariums, research observatories, and on the World Wide Web. Contains a resource list and foldout poster of galaxies with…

A study examined the objectives of outdoor education teachers and park staff involved in secondary school visits to Victoria (Australia) national parks. Interviews with teachers and park staff, observations, and document analysis indicate that outdoor education teachers needed training in socially critical environmental education, ecology, and…

Discusses strategies to make life science classes more fun by planning activities that include preserved and live specimens. Discusses field trips and collections. (JRH)