Activities in which students build their own simulations of fossils, using seashells, chicken bones, toy dinosaurs, or leaves as models and plaster of paris, sand, mud, clay, or a mixture of gravel and clay as a matrix are presented. Curriculum extensions are included. (KR)

A game used for test review based on the television game show "Jeopardy" is described. Sample categories, rules, models for category cards, answer pockets, and answer cards are included. (KR)

Two easy student activities that demonstrate physical weathering by expansion are described. The first demonstrates ice wedging and the second root wedging. A list of the needed materials, procedure, and observations are included. (KR)

Describes geography activities for elementary students. In the first activity, students learn how to understand coordinates and use them to read maps. In the second activity, students learn the concepts of the legend as well as how to use it to find their way around on a map. (PR)

Presents a series of investigations focusing on the biodegradable packing materials ("peanuts"), which provide a method for exploring science through experimentation. These activities can help fourth through sixth graders sharpen their critical thinking and science process skills. (PR)

Thirteen suggestions for student research projects are presented. Project topics include birds, fish, frogs or toads, insects, spiders, crustaceans, mammals, predators, and ecology. The teacher's role in managing student projects is discussed. A list of middle school textbook resources is provided. (KR)

Presented is a lesson in which students learn about characteristic traits of a species and variations within a species. Background information for teaching and assessing the lesson and topics for possible class discussions are provided. An activity in which students learn about traits and variations of themselves is included. (KR)

Offers useful tips for teachers engaging students in classroom science activities. Emphasis is placed on creating and maintaining a learning environment that is conducive to all students learning. (ZWH)

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)

Describes an activity where students with dirty hands and students with clean hands handle boiled potatoes to observe and compare the growth of mold on the potatoes. (PR)

Presents a reproducible page for students dealing with the following topics: plate tectonics, magma, crust, and earthquakes. Provides a plate tectonics activity that uses cardboard and clay. (PR)

Describes an approach of two elementary school teachers in combining instruction in reading and science. Students brainstorm a list of things they know about a topic; then they generate a list of things they wish to find out. Students read and conduct science activities to find out what they wish to know. Then students summarize what was learned.…

Describes activities with organisms from freshwater ponds and ditches. Several experiments involve predation, some involve habitat choices, and one addressees the role of sunlight in supporting plant-eating animals. (PR)

Describes a drama where students play the parts of NASA employees in charge of planning a space mission to one of the planets. (PR)

Explains how electrical conductivity (EC) can be used to measure ion concentration in solutions. Describes instrumentation for the measurement, temperature dependence and EC, and the EC of common substances. (PR)