Presents the perspectives of a number of students on science, society, and the future. Focuses on the benefits of scientific knowledge and associated changes. (DDR)

This illustrated leader's guide to exploring trees and forests provides activities which emphasize careful observation of trees and the living things associated with them for youths age 9 and older. Introductory information for leaders explains the uses for trees and the role of trees in the ecosystem. It also gives suggestions for leaders to…

Based on the tenets of Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance, five preconditions for dissonance arousal were operationalized in a counterattitudinal essay writing task. The five preconditions were: perceived choice, irrevocable commitment, minimum incentive, perceived responsibility for consequences, and foreseeability of negative…

This activity guide, developed to provide environmental education through a series of hands-on activities geared to Medoc Mountain State Park in North Carolina, is targeted for grades 4, 5, and 6 and meets curriculum objectives of the standard course of study established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Three types of…

In an attempt to determine the level of questioning according to Bloom's taxonomy, generated by test items that accompany selected fifth-grade science textbooks, an analysis of the tests provided by three of the most commonly used elementary science textbooks was completed. Additionally this analysis examined the extent to which each series…

In the context of Phase Four of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Science Attribute Study, this report includes a discussion of item attributes, an overview of the item attributes used in the study, some psychometric characteristics of the blocks analyzed, a general description of the rule-space methodology, the results…

The purpose of this community study unit is to help fifth grade students understand the pathways energy takes as it flows through several communities. Each of these communities are examined as working systems. The energy pathways are similar, but slightly different as the energy flows through the members of each community. The unit involves many…

This paper: (1) briefly reviews the existing literature which supports that female adolescents possess significantly more negative attitudes toward middle school science than do males; (2) examines the process of gender socialization in the United States to establish the socio-cultural and social psychological framework within which an attitudinal…

This six-lesson unit is designed to familiarize sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students with air traffic safety and the individuals who make air traffic safety possible. Each lesson consists of a statement of the concept fostered, a list of objectives, a brief discussion on the focus of the unit, and instructional strategies for lesson topics…

Background information, lists of materials needed and procedures used are provided for 16 simple experiments on electricity and magnetism. These experiments are organized into sections dealing with: (1) Edison's carbon experiments (building a galvanometer, investigating the variable conductivity of carbon, and examining the carbon transmitter…

The author proposes methods and content for science instruction in the middle years and comments on teacher qualifications and pupil differences which need consideration. (SJL)

Presents the Human Sciences Program (HSP) developed by the Biological Sciences Curriculum (BSCS) staff. The program is described as modular, activity-centered, personalized, interdisciplinary, and flexible. The article also presents the HSP classroom trial schools and the dissemination centers. (HM)

Compares teacher predictions with student-use data for nine teacher-selected activities during field testing of the Human Sciences Program (HSP). The comparison reveals that in six of the nine activities, a large discrepancy exists between teacher predictions and actual student-use data. (HM)

Teachers may introduce students to anamorphic art (images designed to be looked at with conical mirrors or with mirrors diagonal to the image) with inexpensive cylindrical mirrors. By using polar graph paper, images can be made "correctly distorted" and will appear normal when viewed with a cylindrical mirror. (DH)

Sensory development, activities in language arts, problem solving, science, health, physical education, and art are listed along with resources for making students more aware of their senses and of visual impairments. (CB)