A group of scientists and science educators at Washington State University has developed and pilot tested an integrated physical science program designed for preservice elementary school teachers. This document is a comprehensive guide to be provided to students in a physical science teaching methods course. Chapters include: (1) "Science as a…

A group of scientists and science educators at Washington State University (WSU) has developed and pilot tested an integrated physical science program designed for preservice elementary school teachers. Courses developed were: (1) fundamentals of astronomy and physics, (2) fundamentals of chemistry and earth sciences, and (3) methods for teaching…

Science process skills are the skills that scientists use to study and investigate the world. They are the vehicle for generating content and a means by which concepts are formed. This book is presented in three parts. Part 1 attends to the kinds of science skills appropriate for preschool and the lower elementary grades including observation,…

Many students, even after formal science instruction, have not developed a scientifically acceptable concept of "living,""animal," or "plant." Therefore, as part of the action-research phase of the Learning in Science Project, a working group was formed to explore (with teachers) some possible strategies aimed at…

In the action-research phase of the Learning in Science Project, four groups of people worked on problems identified in the project's second (in-depth) phase. The Chemistry Action-Research Group considered problems related to the teaching and learning of ideas associated with particles and physical/chemical changes. Based on findings during the…

This unit of study is designed to teach the science of flight to students in the intermediate grades. Included are a list of materials for the unit, a discussion of the use of process skills, a list of unit objectives, vocabulary, teacher background information, 12 lessons, 5 quizzes, math problems, and a unit test. Lessons are oriented toward…

The concept of the density of a material has an important role in elementary and secondary school science curricula, but it is a difficult concept to grasp. This project explores why this should be and whether there are some simpler, more accessible notions which can serve as the basis for building a concept of density in students' minds during…

There is always the possibility that educational research does not result in developments within the classroom. This yearbook attempts to address that situation by making teachers more aware of what research exists. It contains a collection of articles which deal with such topics as: (1) new teaching strategies; (2) the theoretical background of…

During the period 1984-1986, over 30 teachers from the Yorkshire (England) region have worked in collaboration with the Children's Learning in Science Project (CLIS) developing and testing teaching schemes in the areas of energy, particle theory, and plant nutrition. The project is based upon the constructivist approach to teaching. The purpose of…

This book provides activities designed to meet the needs of new and practicing elementary and middle school science teachers. The activities, which focus on science and society, are arranged in four major sections: environmental biology activities; health and nutrition activities; physical science activities; and earth and environmental science…

An international conference was held: (1) to determine what can be done to make science (particularly physics) and technology more attractive to girls; (2) to examine how girls who study science and technology can have the same opportunities as boys have; and (3) to see that girls have the same results in science and technology as boys have. These…

THIS IS THE FIFTH IN A SERIES OF GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHIES WHICH ARE BEING DEVELOPED TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION CONCERNING DOCUMENTS ANALYZED AT THE ERIC INFORMATION ANALYSIS CENTER FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION. REPORTED ARE OVER 85 CITATIONS TO SELECTED DOCUMENTS ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN SCIENCE. THE DOCUMENTS INCLUDED REPRESENT RESEARCH REPORTS, RESEARCH…

THE PURPOSE OF THIS BULLETIN IS TO PRESENT AND CLARIFY SELECTED CONCEPTS IN OUTDOOR CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND TO ORGANIZE GUIDELINES FOR DIRECTORS, TEACHERS, NATURALISTS, AND ADMINISTRATORS OF OUTDOOR FACILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO USE THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT AS AN EFFECTIVE CLASSROOM. THE OUTDOOR EDUCATION TOPICS INCLUDE (1) A PERSPECTIVE AND…

The Design Lab Manual provides a detailed description of various types of Design Labs used in the USMES program. Chapters cover the USMES Design Lab concept; tone of Design Lab activities; in-class Design Lab; portable Design Lab; the Design Lab room; cost/scrounging; staffing and scheduling a Design Lab; Design Lab training for teachers; Design…

This is the fifth in the second series of general bibliographies developed to disseminate information on documents analyzed at the ERIC Information Analysis Center for Science Education. Reported are some 76 citations of selected documents related to student achievement in science. The documents included represent research reports, research…