Presents activities designed to allow students with backgrounds in states of matter and measurement to have a very concrete hands-on, minds-on experience with both physical and chemical changes and to compare and contrast the end products of each type of change in a concrete way. (PR)

Discusses need for precollegiate intervention programs to attract minority female students to fields of science and mathematics. Considers benefits for colleges that sponsor such programs. Describes types and components of intervention programs for minority females at middle school level. (NB)

Reports on a study in which a teacher used the collaborative development of a format-free computer database to facilitate knowledge construction in a group of three Year 6 students during a science project. Contains 28 references. (Author/ASK)

Grade five students' (n=58) conceptual understanding of plate tectonics was measured by analysis of student-generated summaries and diagrams, and by posttest assessment of both the spatial/static and causal/dynamic aspects of the domain. The diagram group outperformed the summary and text-only groups on the posttest measures. Discusses the effects…

Examines effects of deductive versus inductive learning strategies on performance, comprehension monitoring, and response confidence, using combinations of computer-based tutorials and simulations of Newton's laws of motion. Participants were 353 fifth graders. Deductive learning was defined as the tutorial combined with the structured or…

This pocket folder of materials is designed to provide children aged 9 to 12 with an opportunity to explore and observe aquatic environments. The package includes a 4-H Leader's guide, member's guide, and supplementary materials. The leader's guide contains safety considerations, tips and techniques, and additional activities for getting started…

A basic understanding of the potential of solar energy is increasingly relevant given the pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuel, health problems associated with that pollution, the possibility of global warming, and the complex issues raised by the dependence of industrialized nations on oil and natural gas. This teacher's guide presents…

The American public continues to be perplexed by the substandard reading, math, and science skills of students. Science information alone is growing at a rate that will make it very difficult for many, especially students with feeble science knowledge and skills, to become scientifically literate. This research describes the development,…

Science Curriculum Assistance Program (Science CAP(TM)) is a multimedia package developed to create a model for preserving classroom science activities that can be shared and customized by teachers. This program is designed to assist teachers in preparing classroom science activities for grades five through eight, and to foster an environment of…

This activity guide, developed to provide hands-on environmental education activities geared to South Mountains State Park in North Carolina, is targeted for grades 4 and 5 and meets curriculum objectives of the standard course of study established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Three types of activities are included:…

Jill Paton Walsh's "The Green Book," the story of a group of humans and their life on a new planet, captures the imagination of learners and provides a compelling context for learning. Several groups of learners including fifth graders and adult teacher practitioners responded to the book in unique and interesting ways. As the setting,…

The approach to finding a solution to underachievement in the area of problem solving has been of a fundamental psychological basis. Contrary to such a trend, this study takes into account the sociological processes of learning and transmission by both the family and the school. The research is based on Bernstein's theory in the sociology of…

This module (recommended for grades 5 or 6) provides information on water in the community. Topics considered include: safe water (showing how clear water may be unsafe to drink); water sources; drinking water and wells; clean water underground; how water gets from the ground to the faucet inside a home; the groundwater of seaside and inland…

Background information, lists of materials needed, and procedures are provided for 12 electrochemistry experiments. The experiments involve investigating: (1) a simple electrical circuit; (2) how a doorbell works; (3) how a two-way switch works; (4) conductors and insulators; (5) controlling current with a pencil; (6) what an electrolyte is; (7)…

Examples of explanations students give during science lessons are used to demonstrate that there are a number of very different modes of explaining. In addition, it is suggested that the peculiarly scientific method of explanation is fraught with difficulties, some of which current learning theories may just be able to describe. Areas discussed…