Examines the impact of one unit of a curriculum module for sixth grade from the Model-based Analysis and Reasoning in Science (MARS) project. Provides an overview of this unit on mass and discusses three aspects of the evaluation of the unit. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

Recommends the use of seed beetles for studying animal behavior and provides suggestions for practical and project assignments. Sources for obtaining the beetles and a list of the equipment needed for their study and maintenance are provided. Answers to common concerns are addressed. (DDR)

Examines science education in the United Kingdom for young children with special needs in science, and the theoretical underpinnings to children's early scientific experiences. Discusses methods of identifying young children with scientific aptitude. Examines use of children's early descriptions and explanations as emergent theorizing and use of…

Argues that a well-planned science lesson is also a language lesson and that many of the skills cited in Science in the National Curriculum can also be regarded as language skills. Discusses the acquisition of scientific language by children. (DDR)

Provides an example that focuses on temperature and illustrates how in-depth study can meet multiple content standards for middle school science and mathematics in the subjects of measurement and data analysis. (DDR)

Presents suggestions for a schoolwide Olympic curriculum that uses an interdisciplinary approach and takes advantage of student interest in the Olympic games. (JRH)

Describes four hands-on and inexpensive activities science teachers can employ to demonstrate, encourage, develop, and teach students the physical properties of light, heat, and sound waves, utilizing a coffee can. Details the basic experiments and provides additional information for tailoring the activities to elementary through middle…

Discusses the ninth-grade trial implementation of the Scope, Sequence, and Coordination (SS&C) project and compares this class with the non-SS&C class that preceded it. Reports that the project helped teachers create a more inquiry-oriented learning environment and helped students perform at least as well as non-SS&C students on…

Describes an undergraduate chemistry curriculum, designed to capitalize on the strengths of mechanistic organic chemistry, that enables students to grasp the powerful conceptual unity that allows professional chemists to understand unfamiliar results according to a few well-defined principles. Discusses the philosophy, curriculum, and the nature…

Points out that outdoor education in the United Kingdom is long on practice and short on theory and begins to address this issue by drawing on secondary sources that address environmental philosophy. (Contains 66 references.) (DDR)

Details a study of students' text usage that used observations and interviews. Concludes that retrieval strategies are not transferred to learning from texts during science lessons. (Contains 41 references.) (DDR)

Explores the reasons why data logging is still not an integral part of the science curriculum in the majority of British schools. Suggests some strategies to assist science teachers in taking the initial steps towards utilizing this technology. (DDR)

Explains how controlling student access to data can be used as a strategy enabling students to take the role of a research geologist. Students develop models based on limited data and conduct field tests by comparing their predictions with the additional data. (DDR)

Describes an instructional approach that provides students the opportunity to experiment with the format of their final writing assignment. Poetry, prose, artwork, and short stories have all been made acceptable substitutes for the standard format. (DDR)

Presents an alternative approach to teaching laboratory chemistry that considers issues such as safety, waste disposal, and cost. Focuses on the micro-scale approach and discusses a number of positive benefits that can be gained from adopting this approach. (DDR)