Describes a series of four experiments designed for small group involvement (each requiring 6 days) emphasizing students' scientific methodology. Topics include: feeding behavior; light/temperature effects on reproduction; effect of density on feeding; and altered male/female ratios on male behavior. Each experiment includes introduction, material…

Ferns in culture provide versatile and easily manipulated material for a wide variety of experiments and observations. Information is provided that supplements earlier reports of the vast experimental potential of these cryptogams and outlines laboratory exercises which reveal the regenerative behavior of fern tissue. (JN)

Since 1977, six different classes of Ashland High School (Ohio) biology students have been monitoring a local river for the presence of sewage treatment plant effluent. Several project results, physicochemical parameters, and data on biota collected at two stations are presented. (JN)

Describes an introductory chemistry course for nurses in which students learn basic chemical principles by performing 12 chemical analyses that are routinely conducted on body fluids and listed on a patient's clinical laboratory chart. (MLH)

What if you could build a machine that could make it's own fuel, adapt to changing conditions, and generate priceless products like air and water? Over millions of years, vascular plants have developed roots, stems and leaves that work together to perform these feats, as well as provide energy for every living thing on Earth! In Plant Structure…

This digest presents a summary discussion of the value of holding science fairs in the elementary school context. Reasons for conducting science fairs for elementary students are discussed in terms of several learning theories. Developmentally appropriate types of elementary science projects are suggested. Goals for elementary school science fairs…

Describes an interdisciplinary, month-long minicourse project focusing on the gypsy moth. The project provided students with opportunities to develop analytical and problem-solving skills while studying content from entomology, botany, chemistry, toxicology, ecology, math, art, law, political science, history, English, consumer studies, and…

Advocates use of Waters Associates Radial Compression Separation System for high performance liquid chromatography. Discusses instrumentation and reagents, outlining procedure for analyzing various foods and discussing typical student data. Points out potential problems due to impurities and pump seal life. Suggests use of ribose as internal…

Provides an outline of course content for acid precipitation and two acid rain activities (introduction to pH and effects of acid rain on an organism). Information for obtaining 20 additional activities as well as an information packet containing booklets, pamphlets, and articles are also provided. (JN)

Suggestions are provided for demonstrating vector cross product and vector dot product using manipulatives. Also provides a method for producing quick and inexpensive diffraction slits and ideas for demonstrating two-dimensional diffraction. (JM)

To assist in designing/implementing qualitative analysis courses, examines reliability/accuracy of several published separation schemes, notes methods where particular difficulties arise (focusing on Groups II/III), and presents alternative schemes for the separation of these groups. Only cation analyses are reviewed. Figures are presented in…

Describes laboratory procedures, demonstrations, and classroom activities/materials, including use of dwarf cichlids (fishes) in secondary school biology, teaching edge effects on stomatal diffusion, computer program on effects of selection on gene frequencies, biological oxidation/reduction reactions, short cuts with Drosophila, computer program…

Techniques for examining terrestrial and aquatic microorganisms using flattened glass capillaries are described. Capillaries can be left in natural or artificial environments for appropriate periods of time and removed for direct microscopic examination. Examples of organisms observed using the technique are given and suggestions made for wider…

Outlines a variety of laboratory procedures, techniques, and materials including construction of a survey frame for field biology, a simple tidal system, isolation and applications of plant protoplasts, tropisms, teaching lung structure, and a key to statistical methods for biologists. (DS)

Outlines several laboratory procedures and demonstrations including electric fields using sawdust, experiments with capacitors, particle spacing in a vapor and a liquid, metrology, momentum, Moire patterns and interference fringes, equipping for practical electronics, and using programmable calculators for rapid plotting of graphs. (DS)