Provides references and addresses to obtain information to help in the purchase, care, and showing of guinea pigs (cavies). Includes line drawings of six common guinea pigs suitable for class use. (JM)

Discusses use of a concept map in developing, teaching, and assessing the concept of "away" (as indicated by physical/chemical changes or changes in energy/human perception). A copy of the map and an activity (using a flashbulb) to get children thinking about what it means to throw something away are included. (JM)

Discusses paper chromatographic techniques and provides examples of typical classroom activities. Includes description of retardation values obtained during chromatography exercises and suggests using them for math lessons. (JN)

Guidelines for parents whose children may be involved in preparing a science fair project are outlined and discussed. Suggests that this article (or a teacher prepared letter) be sent home with students when they are assigned a science project. (JN)

Marine hermit crabs are a simple and exciting way to introduce landlocked students to the ocean. Tips for keeping the crabs in the classroom, crab anatomy/behavior, and student activities (including a challenge to students to race their crabs) are discussed. (Author/JN)

Investigated attitudes and learning of students (N=816) in 31 museum tours. Concluded that students (grades 5-7) had greater cognitive learning when participating in structured tours (led by museum docent). However, more positive attitudes were found when students participated in less structured tours lead by their classroom teacher. (JN)

Discusses shell classification exercises. Through keying students advanced from the "I know what a shell looks like" stage to become involved in the classification process: observing, labeling, making decisions about categories, and identifying marine animals. (Author/JN)

Discusses problems which act against adoption of systematic science study in elementary schools. Also discusses a research project aimed at developing a model of in-service training and curriculum development in elementary science on a catchment area basis which attempts to address the problems and issues cited. (Author/JN)

Discusses activities related to the Elementary Science Study (ESS) unit "Growing Seeds." The unit teaches students to manipulate, observe, and record the growth of seeds. Activities foster classifying, hypothesizing, and predicting skills. Enrichment activities and a culminating activity for the unit are suggested. (JN)

Discusses and provides questions for use in "Energy Flow in a Wetland," a game in which energy is examined as it passes through a wetland's food chain. Includes full-color, poster-size game board, rules, and an energy loss chart which lists calorie-consuming events organisms encounter during their lives. (JN)

In an interview, David Hawkins, director of the Mountain View Center for Environmental Education, discusses the approach to elementary science teaching he developed through participating in the Elementary Science Study, observing a similar project in England, working directly with other teachers, and working with children. (PGD)

Provides rationale for and description of an acid rain game (designed for two players), a problem-solving model for elementary students. Although complete instructions are provided, including a copy of the game board, the game is also available for Apple II microcomputers. Information for the computer program is available from the author.…

The effects of a five-day science workshop on the attitudes of elementary school teachers towards science and teaching science were assessed. The study adds evidence to a growing body of knowledge supporting the notion that attitudes can be changed over short periods of time. (MP)

A science lesson (observing yeast) was taught demonstrating that when a guided inquiry instructional method is encountered there is a change from subjective to objective thinking. Describes steps in the lesson and analysis of pupils' responses and behavior. Suggests an instructional model to increase perceptive level of thinking in biology…

Provides a 30-item checklist to help preschool and primary educators identify children who exhibit interest and potential in science based upon interactions, language development, thinking skills, style of learning, and personal interests. (DC)