Describes a curriculum design for preparing teachers to teach new elementary science courses. Presents a curriculum matrix" with three dimensions: intellectual skills, ordering schemes and aspects of the scientific enterprise. Key concepts taught in new elementary science courses are listed. (EB)

Elementary school teachers exposed to a workshop preparing them to use Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) increased the number of higher level (analysis) questions asked in the classroom, although no specific instruction in questioning techniques was given. The older teachers tended to ask lower level (recall) questions. (AL)

Reports study of achievement differences among second grade children through use of visual perception training for introfactor transfer prior to study of the "Relativity of Position and Motion" Unit, Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS). Achievement is attributed to perceptual training in identical elements and to stimulating…

Presents basic physical theory for movement of electric charges in clouds, earth, and air during production of lightning and thunder. Amount of electrical energy produced and heating effects during typical thunderstorms is described. Generalized safety practices are given. (JM)

Reports study of children in grades two through six to determine concept formation achievement about chemical and physical change. Performance of three tasks by two groups at each grade level after thirty-minute lessons on five consecutive days are used for evaluation. Researcher concludes that these concepts are attainable by sixth graders and…

Indicates that the use of verbal rewards which are not congruent with behavior will result in less efficient problem-solving than either a neutral, no-reward situation, or the use of rewards which are congruent with the problem-solving behavior. The giving of congruent rewards improved the problem-solving efficiency of girls but not of boys. (LS)

Discusses the atmosphere, the lithosphere, and the hydrosphere and how each of these affects the life of man and how man affects them. Of particular concern is the effect of each upon the weather. The author concludes that there is infinite variety in the earth's scenery, yet there is unit within this diversity; there is constant change; and there…

Presents the procedures, results, and conclusions of a study designed to investigate and analyze the teaching procedures of two groups of elementary science teachers. Observations of science lessons taught by 15 SCIS-trained teachers and 15 non-SCIS-trained teachers revealed significant differences in the number of "science experiences …

Suggests recording student science experiments on videotape for class analysis. Analysis includes examining the experiment's purpose, its components, and students' techniques in performing it. Furnishing students with a checklist of things to look for while viewing experiments is recommended. (Author/JN)