Describes the Merck Institute for Science Education whose goals are to communicate the excitement and relevance of science to students through science teaching, and to work with teachers and instill in them an understanding and appreciation of science. Involves industry volunteers contributing to the professional development of teachers and…

Describes a partnership project in which sixth-grade students researched the controversial topic of how the feral horses at Cumberland Island National Seashore are affecting the island's natural habitats. The students met actual scientists, and made the research topic one of local concern. (JRH)

Describes a three-day classroom activity combining criminal investigations and scientific skills, especially observation skills. Provides detailed classroom procedures with an illustration of eight basic fingerprint patterns and a classification chart. (YP)

Describes the multifaceted challenge of future and present teachers in a multicultural classroom. Equipped with specific strategies and activities, the author suggests that teachers can become more effective science educators. Provides numerous tips for the middle level science teacher. (ZWH)

Describes the preparation and importance of a project where junior high school students stenciled "No Dumping! Flows to the Bay!" on storm drains in the area of their school. (PR)

Presents and discusses a contract to encourage students to get involved in cleaning up the environment. (PR)

Describes an activity where students find the locations and elevations of their homes, school, favorite parks and lakes, and other significant places as they learn topographic skills and unique features of the community. (PR)

Describes combining the simple activity of collecting monthly student height measurements with the technology of using a computer spreadsheet for a year-long activity that teaches measurement and data manipulation. (PR)

Presents three articles that describe different ways of teaching the scientific method using cookies ("The One-Hour Science Fair"), cola ("Are All Medium Colas the Same Size"), and television ("Timing Televiewing"). (PR)

Recently, the authors engaged in a collaborative inquiry with a sixth grade science class to explore mind mapping, a graphic organizer that can be used to generate ideas, take notes, develop concepts and ideas, and improve memory (Buzan 1979). With a very limited body of research available on how to best use mind maps in the classroom, the authors…

The integration of science with social science and literature captures the spirit of inquiry and pedagogy embodied in the "National Science Education Standards". Multiple instructional approaches--group and individual work, small and large group work, at-home activities, hands-on and virtual instruction, extension into literature, writing and…

The interactive science notebook (ISN) is a perfect opportunity for science educators to encapsulate and promote the most cutting-edge constructivist teaching strategies while simultaneously addressing standards, differentiation of instruction, literacy development, and maintenance of an organized notebook as laboratory and field scientists do.…

Any science teacher who wants his or her students to be engaged in real science is going to engage them in real science writing. Writing in science should begin with clear, imaginative writing purposes and stimuli that are then scaffolded in such a way that students are able to find an organizational structure for their writing. Writing fluency is…

Describes a partnership between a teacher and a bus design engineer for the Flexible Corporation and the innovative, multidisciplinary unit on changes in invention and transportation that grew out of it. (JRH)

Engages middle school students and preservice teachers in a long-term (16 weeks) investigation of the moon and provides an opportunity to share, via the internet, their observations with other students around the world. Explains the design of the study including multicultural connections, student observations, internet discussions, and…