For years, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in New Mexico has led an outreach effort called "Mission to Mars" to engage fifth grade students in applying science and mathematics concepts related to building a colony on Mars. Many organizations across the US canceled similar events due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.…

The Chemistry Science Investigation: Dognapping Workshop was designed to (i) target and inspire fourth grade students to view themselves as "Junior Scientists" before their career decisions are solidified; (ii) enable hands-on experience in fundamental scientific concepts; (iii) increase public interaction with science, technology,…

This article traces Karen Gallas' experience as a teacher engaged in teacher research beginning in September of 1989 when she joined a weekly seminar in which teachers looked together at children's talk and while learning about methods of conducting classroom research on language. Gallas became very involved in what she now calls "Science…

Business leaders in New Mexico cannot find the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent they need to stay competitive. Students' lagging performance in K-12 is a critical reason why. The good news is that the nation's most effective STEM education programs can help turn the tide. New Mexico students have made progress in math…

Guided by a new framework, the NAEP science assessment was updated in 2009 to keep the content current with key developments in science, curriculum standards, assessments, and research. The 2009 framework organizes science content into three broad content areas. Physical science includes concepts related to properties and changes of matter, forms…

In order to demonstrate how plants remove water from the soil and release it to the atmosphere, students compared open- and closed-growing systems using drought-tolerant and higher water requirement plants. Then, students designed a drought-tolerant garden demonstrating what they had learned. Through this experience, students not only learned…

Describes the New Mexico Rural Science Education Project, a school-university-museum cooperative effort that seeks to improve rural elementary science education through teacher workshops, teacher-developed materials on local themes, individualized support services, and natural history field schools for teachers and students. (SV)

A science process skill project was developed to help elementary teachers meet competency standards in New Mexico for teaching the process approach in their science classes. An outline of the process skills along with recommended activities are presented in this document. Performance objectives are identified and a sample activity form is…

Rural elementary school teachers interested in improving science instruction are frequently hampered by inadequate training in science, lack of information on local natural history resources, and time and curriculum constraints. On the other hand, rural schools are usually located near meadows, forests, or undeveloped land, and rural students…

A science process skill project was implemented to help elementary teachers in New Mexico meet the competencies for teaching the process approach in science classes. This is the final report of the project and includes information on: (1) the scope of the program (delineating the program's major objectives and tasks); (2) the project's…

A science process skill project was developed to help elementary teachers meet competency standards in New Mexico for teaching the process approach in their science classes. This document consists of the inservice workshop kit manual that could be used by a teacher to provide an inservice program to a small group of other teachers. This manual…

This volume presents suggested curriculum guidelines for an effective bilingual program, with specific focus on instruction in health, science, social studies, New Mexico history, English as a second language, and multiculturalism, at the second grade level. The philosophy of the program views bilingual education as a vehicle and pedagogical tool…

This volume presents suggested curriculum guidelines for an effective bilingual program, with specific focus on instruction in health, science, social studies, New Mexico history, English as a second language, and multiculturalism, at the third grade level. The philosophy of the program views bilingual education as a vehicle and pedagogical tool…

This volume presents suggested curriculum guidelines for an effective bilingual program, with specific focus on instruction in health, science, social studies, New Mexico history, English as a second language, and multiculturalism, at the fourth grade level. The philosophy of the program views bilingual education as a vehicle and pedagogical tool…

This volume presents suggested curriculum guidelines for an effective bilingual program, with specific focus on instruction in health, science, social studies, New Mexico history, English as a second language, and multiculturalism, at the first grade level. The philosophy of the program views bilingual education as a vehicle and pedagogical tool…