Surveys factors which may contribute to problems in elementary school science, including among others, teacher attitudes, teacher preparation, learning styles, and inaccessibility of most scientific literature to individuals without formal training in science. Offers possible solutions to these problems. (JN)

Argues that research for teacher use would be more effective if it were: (1) of the form referred to as naturalistic case studies and (2) oriented toward discovering cognitive and social interaction mechanisms underlying the learning processes in classrooms. (Author/SK)

The methods and funding of environmental education in the international setting and the status of environmental education at the preschool, elementary, secondary, college, and postgraduate levels are described. The contributions of society, professional associations, and public information agencies are discussed. (CW)

The status of science education in the United States from the point of view of the National Association of Biology Teachers is discussed. International comparisons, and the results of education at these levels is described. Suggestions for the improvement of science education are provided. (CW)

Discussed is the importance of marine education and experience with the seashore in helping children to adopt positive attitudes about nature. (CW)

Examines the importance of learning environments as sites for change in science education, describing work with elementary teachers in which researchers are designing learning environments featuring guided inquiry. After explaining how to plan and enact guided inquiry instruction in science, the paper reflects on experiences implementing it in…

Discussion of science education reform focuses on elementary school science. Highlights include integrating science instruction with other curricular areas; children's trade books; and an annotated bibliography of 36 items that suggest teaching strategies for integrating science and language arts curricula using children's literature and trade…

Describes the use of expert systems in elementary school classes that focused on developing thinking skills and independent learning. Expert systems as tools, tutors, and tutees are discussed; differences in learning styles are considered; problem-solving skills are addressed; and uses of expert systems in science and social studies are described.…

Reviews the historical, social, and political context of women's experiences in science and math, challenging stereotypes that girls historically have had difficulties and suggesting that treating such difficulties as historical and personal in the absence of careful analyses of the social and political dimensions of women's experiences only…

The purpose of this article is to present findings from a case study of two urban elementary teachers' classroom management practices and students' interactions during science instruction. The two teachers had antithetical (i.e., one intrinsic, the other authoritarian) classroom management styles, yet substantial negative student classroom…

A literature-based survey gathered 331 final-year preservice teachers' perceptions of their mentoring in primary science education from nine Australian universities. Data were analysed within five factors proposed for mentoring (i.e., Personal Attributes, System Requirements, Pedagogical Knowledge, Modelling, and Feedback). Results indicated that…

This article argues that an important source of the difficulties posed by particular concepts and theories is the narrow range of "types of causal models" with which most learners are familiar. Most learners are familiar with relatively simple styles of causal models, but many concepts and theories in science depend on styles…

This report discusses the purposes and nature of various forms of assessment that can be used to enhance, support, and monitor the progress of science learning in elementary school classrooms. Chapters included are: (1) "Introduction" (describing assessment priorities); (2) "Issues in Assessment" (discussing validity, correspondence between…

Scientific literacy seems to be one of those recurring preoccupations in the scene of science education in the United States. As usual, the science education community is not unanimous about there being a crisis. There is either a healthy pluralism and ongoing discussion or a complete lack of orientation in science education on this topic.…

The use of the inquiry approach in the teaching of elementary science is examined and advocated in this publication. The position that an inquiry approach is the best way to teach and learn science is upheld and its influence on the development of positive attitudes towards science is stressed. Section titles include: (1) "A Tale of Two Teachers"…