The American Nature Study Society's 75-year history is related. Its original purpose was to make science education relevant to children's lives by using materials at hand, thus "putting new force and enthusiasm into the school and the child." (MH)

Just as high school science is more complex than it is at lower grade levels, so are the safety issues teachers face in their classes and labs. Reduce the risks to people and place with Investigating Safely, the third and most advanced and detailed volume in NSTA's unique series of safety guidebooks for science teachers. Some of the guides 11…

This curriculum packet contains two teacher-developed lesson plans for upper elementary students focusing on the built environment. The first lesson plan, "The Built Environment--An Integrating Theme" (Liesa Schroeder), offers suggestions for developing a walking tour around the school neighborhood, a historic area, or a city square. It…

The program for artistically talented in the Jersey City Public Schools primarily serves a disadvantaged population. Among its activities are field trips to the countryside and to local neighborhoods. Students get new visual experiences which they can compare to familiar ones and are encouraged to use in their artwork. (CS)

Determined relationships between college/secondary earth science teachers' confidence in ability to teach field-based earth science cognitive objectives and perceived sources of that confidence, discussing objectives teachers felt confident/unconfident in teaching. Indicates that inservice education ranked behind preservice education or teaching…

Determined the effect of using previsit instructional materials on student learning for a museum field trip experience. Ten earth science classes were assigned to experimental (instruction over field trip) and control (normal class instruction) groups. Found previsit instructional materials significantly increased student test scores. (DS)

In Bossier Parish, Louisiana, a part of the bayou country is used as a classroom and laboratory for the district's schools. Through collecting live specimens and asking questions of the tour guide instructor, students (grades K-12) learn about science and the environment and enjoy the nature center's recreation facilities. (CT)

Presents and integrates findings from selected research and evaluation studies of informal science learning in different settings such as school-based field trips, student projects, community-based science programs, visits to museums and zoos, the press, and electronic media. Contains 91 references. (DDR)

Describes examples of electronic field trips for elementary and secondary school students taking place during the 1996-97 school year. Topics include Mayan civilization, wildlife migration, geothermal hot spots, Antarctica, sailboat voyages, baseball and math, viruses, Hong Kong, and offerings from National Geographic. (LRW)

A Research Experience for Undergraduates is an extracurricular opportunity for science and engineering undergraduate students to participate in academic research like graduate students. Describes an effort to incorporate professional ethics into such an experience. The basic premise--integrating explicit discussion of ethical considerations…

Discusses the present state of networked technology in K-12 education and gives examples of Internet use in student research and projects. Lists and describes educational meta-sites on the World Wide Web, including school directories; distance learning directories; company-sponsored sets of links; sites for children, parents, and teachers; virtual…

Environmental education is enhanced through day-long field trips that integrate children's literature, science, environmental awareness, and sketching. Literature sets the context of the learning, and sketching encourages children to carefully observe a natural area. After the field trip, children create community displays featuring writing and…

Provides suggestions for continuing library instruction while the school library media center is indefinitely closed. Discusses planning, gathering materials on a rolling cart, loaning materials to teachers, keeping records, "filler" activities, field trips to the public library, and meeting with the principal. Presents solutions to two potential…

Argues that, although social studies classes should be exciting and interesting, students frequently rate them as among the most boring and irrelevant. Asserts that living history programs, including history theater, history immersion, and living history museums can improve history instruction and student attitudes. (CFR)

Though America's students are increasingly diverse, most preservice educators have white, middle-class perspectives and cannot imagine teaching in multicultural urban schools. Six preservice teachers describe their experiences visiting a Harlem school, demonstrating that even brief visits can prompt students to critically examine their implicit…