Contains the text of the Presidential Address to the Association for Science Education and answers the two questions: why does education matter? and why does science education matter? (MKR)

Describes the development of a modified spherometer in which the position of the central leg is measured electrically. (MKR)

The authors provide an introduction to the inheritance of coat colors in cats and suggest strategies designed to integrate the domestic cat (Felis domesticus or catus) into the teaching of genetics. Provides examples to illustrate dominance, recessiveness, epistasis, multiple allelism, environmental effect of phenotype, incomplete dominance,…

Argues for including the concepts of "twentieth-century physics"--relativity, quantum mechanics, and chaos theory--within the National Curriculum in science for England and Wales, which almost entirely ignores them. (Contains 16 references.) (Author/ASK)

Describes an activity which presents the reactivity of metals series as a football pool with more reactive metals at the top of the table and unreactive metals at the bottom. Describes how the activity can be applied in different ways for different ability groups. (Author/MM)

Outlines one way in which a nuclear chain reaction may be modeled in the classroom using matches. Illustrations and safety notes are included. (Author/MM)

Discusses the importance of reading in science lessons, and offers practical solutions to the problems of structuring shared reading, making reading active, encouraging note-taking, and locating potential sources of reading material. (Author/MM)

Reports effectiveness of team teaching methods in chemistry for mixed ability groups using worksheets, time flexibility, and staff involvement for evaluation of individual student progress. (CS)

Addresses several issues related to humanizing science teaching, noting that in theory, such humanizing could cover any aspect of the changing relationship between man and science. Suggests that aims and objectives are needed so that materials for humanizing science can be adequately evaluated. (JN)

There are three contexts in which issues of science and religion may arise: (1) the nature of science; (2) the data of science; and (3) the applications of science. These contexts, typical misunderstandings, the status of science, scientific methodology, limitations of science, explanations in science, and other topics are explored. (JN)

Presents methods commonly used for investigating enzyme activity using catalase and presents a new method for measuring catalase activity that is more reliable and accurate. Provides results that are readily reproduced and quantified. Can also be used for investigations of enzyme properties such as the effects of temperature, pH, inhibitors,…

Describes Irish secondary science and discusses the management of science in schools. Identifies two key features of Irish school science, the collegiate nature of science departments and the difficulties in carrying out practical work. (MM)

Describes an activity to demonstrate the freeze thaw cycle which can cause rocks to break apart due to the expansion of freezing water. (Author/MM)

Presents a practical introduction to the phenomenon of static electricity. (Author/MKR)

Describes some observations of novice students during a data-logging activity and draws on recent relevant research. Discusses aspects of students' talk about real-time graphs and reports on their perceptions of using IT in science. Suggests that such talk may help develop students' appreciation of the meaning in their data and their skills in…