Presented are 75 suggestions for investigating in grades K-6 such common urban resources as trees, seeds, polluted air, rocks, and insects. The manual is designed for use with the Urban Discovery Box which contains samples collected from eight urban resources along with some objects helpful to investigate these. A section in the manual for each of…

This unit emphasizes concept-learning through the discovery approach and child-centered activities. "Discovering Matter" is treated in the kindergarten, "Matter Around Us" in grade 1, "Changes in Matter" in grade 4 and "Atoms and Molecules" in grade 6. The unit for each grade contains (1) understandings to…

With the aim of revitalizing conservation education, a conceptual framework for natural resource education was constructed, and a procedure established for integrating this curriculum with existing courses of study in the elementary school. A basic theme was chosen, expressed as "man + natural resources = survival + development." Twelve…

Teaching suggestions for environmental education in intermediate grades are grouped under four general headings: "Geology,""Soil Conservation and Land Use,""Trees, Woodlots, and Forests," and "Wild-life and Fishes." Listed under each heading are attitudes and understandings to develop, topics for discussion, and many suggested activities.…

Reported is a study designed to investigate three cognitive style dimensions exhibited by third-, sixth-, and ninth-grade children as they viewed, categorized, and organized biological phenomena. Subproblems were related to the effects of the independent variables of grade, sex, and IQ on these cognitive style dimensions. A stratified random…

Studied was the effect of community of residence on the science interests, science attitudes, and science achievement of children from grades four through six randomly selected from two urban, two suburban, and two rural community elementary schools. Three instruments were administered: (1) a Science Interest Checklist constructed by the…

Based upon the relationship of the child's ability to conserve, as measured by Piaget tasks, to his success in beginning reading, this study compared the reading readiness of two groups of first-grade students. One group used Material Objects (Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS)) and the other, Harper and Row's Reading Readiness Program.…

This paper presents a study of direct teacher involvement during an inservice time in an attempt to produce a significant change in the nature of science teaching materials. Self-generated materials were designed to emphasize a necessary change in teaching strategy. The investigator attempted to determine whether or not teachers were capable of…

This issue of the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) newsletter is entitled "Progress Report" and includes articles on the BSCS program, "The Life of a Curriculum Study" by Wm. V. Mayer; a brief report on the sixth-grade trials of the BSCS Human Sciences Program; a discussion of minicourses, with emphasis on cooperative efforts of Dr. S.…

Under the auspices of the Massachusetts Advisory Council on Education, the status of science teaching in Massachusetts elementary schools was studied by the project staff of the Office of Tests at Harvard University. The quality and use of the National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported programs were analyzed through a historical discussion of…

The material in this unit is designed to provide upper elementary students with information and experiences to develop a better understanding and appreciation of the variety of animals living today. Unit goals include fostering a better understanding of animals' roles in nature, developing observational skills, facilitating understanding of man's…

This teacher's handbook provides information about the philosophy, rationale, and teaching strategies of the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) program, as well as information about the SCIS physical and life science sequences to provide teachers with an understanding of the program's overall content and structure. Much of the material in…

Presented is a final report designed to analyze factors successful in the implementation of innovative science programs in elementary and secondary rural schools in Missouri. Thirty elementary schools in a 25 county area were studied and data gathered via multiple choice questionnaires and personal interviews. Thirty-one secondary schools were…

This newsletter presents a progress report for the 1973-74 year for the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS). The program for the Educable Mentally Handicapped is reviewed and a new series of Animal Behavior films is described. Other articles in the newsletter include information on the Human Sciences Program with emphasis on the…

This document presents the lesson plans and tests used in the research study reported in Technical Report 173 (ED 070 658), together with descriptions of models and films developed for the teaching program. Thirty-one lessons are included, covering the topics of matter and energy; making interferences; particles; a model for matter; particles and…