Suggests gardening to help middle school students improve their problem solving and mental abilities. Focuses on the benefits of having a school nutrition garden, and indicates that students can learn about the importance of a healthy diet and share their peers' cultural heritage by growing ethnic foods. Recommends an animal garden to observe…

Introduces the Soda Bottle City project which meets Content Standard C of the National Science Education Standards. Involves design and construction of the city with appropriate energy sources. (YDS)

Describes how a teacher can give their students the challenge of designing and building model balloons or blimps. The project helps students learn the basics of balloon flight and what it really means to be "lighter than air." (PR)

Describes the use of journal writing in science classes. Uses excerpts from student journals to highlight the role of journal writing in allowing students to discover ideas for themselves and use language to piece them together, determining the level of understanding of concepts taught, and identifying exactly what areas need more clarification.…

Presents a student project in which students in groups of three or four study an animal type using different learning styles and methods, including electronic media. (YDS)

At the beginning of each year, teachers have the daunting task of deciding which concepts and skills to teach their students. Many teachers feel the pressure to teach "the whole book". This pressure comes in multiple forms. There is ever-increasing pressure to perform well on state, national, and international exams. An added pressure is the…

Lichens, small and unobtrusive organisms, are seldom noticed as they cling to rocks, trees, and soil in fragile veils or crusts of splendid color and ornate textures. Their beauty is captivating and fascinating, and their purpose and origins are thought-provoking. Lichens make particularly good "bioindicators". They are bioindicators of sulfur…

Presents an activity from the track and field unit of the Science of Sporting Events program in which teachers and students experiment with four broad jump techniques in order to determine which method will allow them to jump the farthest. Enables students to use a variety of math and science skills including observing, predicting, measuring, and…

Discusses the use of games in the science classroom as a productive, motivating tool. Presents games that require abstract thinking and that change potentially boring exercises into challenging competitions. (JRH)

Discusses the importance of laboratory safety in science classrooms. Urges middle school teachers to address class size in an effort to establish and maintain a safe working environment. Answers a teacher's question related to having newts and salamanders in the classroom. (SOE)

Explains the design of a planetarium that can be used by middle school teachers to teach earth science concepts such as the solar system, the lunar cycle, and seasons. Includes materials and procedures for making the planetarium. (SOE)

Explains the design and implementation of a student research project called Project SunSHINE. Explores the relationships between ultraviolet light and humidity, temperature, cloud type, and cloud cover. (SOE)

Describes portable scientific laboratories that allow students to go beyond the classroom to do field work. Presents examples of a curriculum that incorporates portable technology and discusses its advantages in inquiry-based science programs. Includes handheld probes and peripherals. (KHR)

Describes alternative instructional resources such as media to provide up-to-date scientific information to students to prevent misinformation. Uses cartoons, videos, and newspaper headlines to develop critical thinking and science process skills. (YDS)

Describes an activity designed to teach students geology vocabulary while challenging them to solve the case of the missing marble. Can be adapted to teach vocabulary for different topics. (JRH)