This study investigates the development of an understanding of scientific inquiry by preservice teachers as a result of their participation in a five-week elementary science methods class. The study was done in response to changes in state standards for teacher education in Texas and focuses on the effectiveness of a one-hour methods course in…

This study identifies the most common biological concepts presented in elementary science textbooks in Taiwan. The concepts focus on living things, animals, and plants in grades one through four. Three major areas of concern are: attributes of the three related concepts; development of the concepts focusing on content organization and their…

This paper proceeds through an interdisciplinary unit of inquiry-based instruction, using the Vietnam War combat novel or memoir as a coming of age narrative, the classic thematic structure of the "bildungsroman." The paper discusses several key inquiry activities and asks readers to focus on two other key inquiry activities to help illustrate how…

A study was initiated at the inception of the Exploring the Environment (ETE) project to look at critical factors concerning the use of problem-based learning in Earth science classes. During the 1995-96 school year, the Tropical Poison module from the ETE Project was evaluated in nine high schools across the country. The module introduced…

This document provides information on the most commonly asked science safety questions by science teachers primarily at the secondary school level. Topics include the legal responsibilities of a science teacher, a general safety checklist, proper labeling and storing of chemicals, purchasing of new chemicals and disposing of old chemicals, a…

Young children's curiosity about nature and their need to make sense of the world presents an opportunity to incorporate science as a natural and critical part of children's early learning. This guide, part of a preschool science curriculum, uses an inquiry approach to encourage young naturalists to observe life more closely, build an…

This document presents a sample of the Arkansas science curriculum and identifies the content standards for physical science systems, life science systems, and Earth science/space science systems for second grade students. Each content standard is explained and includes student learning expectations, second grade benchmarks, assessments, and…

This document presents a sample of the Arkansas science curriculum and identifies the content standards for physical science systems, life science systems, and Earth science/space science systems for third grade students. Each content standard is explained and includes student learning expectations, third grade benchmarks, assessments, and…

This document presents a sample of the Arkansas science curriculum and identifies the content standards for physical science systems, life science systems, and Earth science/space science systems for fourth grade students. Each content standard is explained and includes student learning expectations, fourth grade benchmarks, assessments, and…

This document presents a sample of the Arkansas science curriculum and identifies the content standards for physical science systems, life science systems, and Earth science/space science systems for fifth grade students. Each content standard is explained and includes student learning expectations, fifth grade benchmarks, assessments, and…

This document presents a sample of the Arkansas science curriculum and identifies the content standards for physical science systems, life science systems, and Earth science/space science systems for sixth grade students. Each content standard is explained and includes student learning expectations, sixth grade benchmarks, assessments, and…

This paper presents an integrative model for developing collaborative academic structure between education and science/mathematics content departments. The model was developed through active partnerships with selected professional development schools (PDS PreK-12), College of Science and Mathematics faculty, and teacher educators in a professional…

Learning science in today's classroom does not have to be restricted to text-based curricular resources. Web sites present learners with a wide range of science activities in various formats ranging from text-only information to providing authentic real-time data sets and interactive simulations. This paper discusses reasons for using the Internet…

This guidebook proposes a different way of teaching history: start from today and keep asking questions. The guidebook's theory is that as students investigate possible answers, they make connections across miles and centuries. It contends that, along the way, they experience that essential insight of the social studies point of view has…

This document presents a sample of grades 6-12 science curriculum on Earth resources to promote scientific literacy. This natural resource-based curriculum uses an inquiry-based, hands-on approach and allows for community partnerships during student learning processes. Lessons plans included in this curriculum are divided into 4 categories: (1)…