Many new teacher professional development programs in museums are begun with external funding from government or private foundations. At some point the museum must develop a plan for sustainability when the original grant support is no longer available. Some programs are able to find long term support but many end due to lack of funding,…

"Sustainable" development refers to development that meets our needs, while making it possible for future generations to meet their needs. Societal and personal choices will dictate if sustainable development will be possible, or, rather, if the environmental, economic and social impact of our continual lifestyle demands will lead to…

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…

Guided by a new framework, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (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…

A representative sample of 122,000 eighth-graders participated in the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science assessment, which is designed to measure students' knowledge and abilities in the areas of physical science, life science, and Earth and space sciences. This report covers the overall results, achievement level…

We analyse two narratives of teacher-facilitator teams producing elementary science curricula and disseminating them to their peers. We draw on these stories to interpret how teacher-facilitators position themselves with respect to other educators (e.g. peer teachers and development-team members), to real and imagined students and parents, to…

This article describes a research study in which a biologist and his research on Antarctic seabirds became part of an integrated science course for prospective elementary teachers. Students used the scientist's database on seabird chick growth rates for an experimental design investigation while the "regular" classes had a single science…

Twenty-eight outstanding elementary/middle school teachers of science were selected to participate in an honors program being conducted over a three-year period (1985-87) on the campus of Illinois State University. The project, based on the belief that the teacher is the key to addressing the present crisis in science education, was funded by the…

Presented are the results of a survey of elementary school teachers in the state of Illinois. Results are compared to a previous survey conducted 10 years earlier. Discussed are obstacles to science instruction, teacher training, teacher attitudes, student evaluation, and school and community support. (CW)

Analyzes efforts by school districts reorganizing science curricula in Illinois. Describes state goals for Illinois: Knowledge and Vocabulary; Science-Technology-Society; Scientific Enterprise; and Science Process. Discusses how school districts emphasize the 4 state goals for grades 3, 6, 8, and 11. (YP)

One in a series of publications on Illinois' State Goals for Learning, this report identifies what students are expected to know in the biological and physical sciences by the time they complete their elementary and secondary education. A sample set of learning objectives is provided to assist districts in the development of their own objectives.…

These materials are for use by elementary and middle school teachers in the state of Illinois. This document contains five modules for teaching water conservation. Topics include: (1) "Life Depends on Water,""What is Water?" and "The Hydrologic Cycle"; (2) "The Treatment of Drinking Water"; (3)…

The birds of Illinois and their particular habitats are explored in this guide which is a part of a series of Nature Discovery publications. The materials are designed to directly supplement the natural science curricula and to complement other subject areas including social studies, language arts, music, and art. The program is formated for…

Inverness Research studied the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Seminars on Science program for eight years, from its inception in 1998 to 2006. This paper presents teacher survey ratings for "Genetics, Genomics, Genethics", along with profiles of three teachers who took the course. Course takers report on the annual follow-up…

These materials are for use by elementary and middle school teachers in the state of Illinois. This document contains five modules for teaching land use and solid waste concepts. Topics include: (1) "Earth's Closed System"; (2) "Waste Alert"; (3) "Solid Waste/Litter"; (4) "Hazardous Waste"; and (5)…