High quality science teaching builds pupils' curiosity and critical thinking, helping them to develop a coherent understanding of the world around them. Primary science teaching plays a crucial role in shaping pupils' attitudes toward the subject, nurturing participation that can support future pathways into science, technology, engineering, and…

The role of technology in educational settings has become increasingly prominent in recent years. When utilized effectively, these tools provide a higher quality of learning for students. "Optimizing STEM Education With Advanced ICTs and Simulations" is an innovative reference source for the latest scholarly research on the integration…

Instructions for reproducing two exhibits from the Exploratorium, San Francisco's science museum, are given. One shows students how white light can be made from red, blue, and green lights. The other helps children discover how small time differences allow them to perceive the origin of a sound. (MT)

Antarctica is described. Activities are suggested that include making plans for an expedition to Antarctica. Resources are listed. (MT)

Revisits the "nature fakers" controversy to reveal an approach to evaluating children's literature for appropriate use in the classroom. (JRH)

A milk processing plant is described. Starter and advanced lesson activities using milk for observation are presented. (MT)

Two task cards which are the basis for primary and intermediate science lessons are included in this article on soil, how it is formed, and what it is made of. (MT)

Describes the construction of an effective plant incubator for classroom use using a five-gallon plastic bucket. (JRH)

The Pete's Dragon float from Disney World's electric parade is used to illustrate electricity. Primary and advanced tasks involving circuits are presented. (MT)

A science unit on clocks demonstrates the need to control variables to obtain reliable results from an experiment. Two activities, one for beginners and one for advanced students, are included. Directions for making a sundial are offered. (MT)

This science unit focuses on measuring skills using students' own sneakers and the unit of measure. Two activities with differing levels of difficulty are presented. (MT)

Described is a workshop for grades 5-8 school teachers and students related to synthetic polymers. Participants become familiar with polymer theory and practice experiments they can use in class. Sources of materials used in the workshop are listed. (RH)

Orthodontic braces and how they work are discussed. A science unit and task card on teeth is provided. (MT)

The slime mold Physarum polycephalum provides an easily maintained classroom plant which can act like an animal. Directions are given for: acquiring the organism; activating it; observing its life cycle; and viewing protoplasmic streaming. (DH)

Tree frogs are small (2-5 cm) animals which not only interest students but also can be maintained in classrooms for a few days. Characteristics (species, ranges, habitat, reproductive cycle, and locomotion) and housing/care needs are described. Long-term maintenance is not recommended due to the difficulty of providing live food. (DH)