While the 1960s and 1970s came to be known as the era of curriculum development in science, it appears that the 1980s and the 1990s will be known as the time of curriculum development with strengthened attention to implementation and evaluation. This book examines the assessment of elementary school science and provides numerous examples of assessment items. Sections in Chapter 1, "Assessing Science in the Elementary School," include "Reasons for Assessing Science Learning,""Basic Kinds of Information Teachers Need,""Methods of Collecting Information for Assessment," and "Using Information to Find Answers That Fit the Original Purpose." Sections in Chapter 2, "Assessing Science Process Skills," include The Department of Processing Abilities; Assessing the Processes of Science; Using Scientific Equipment; Observing; Classifying; Using Symbols; and Predicting. Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 present detailed information on assessing concepts and problem solving. Chapter 5 is entitled "Methods of Collecting Information: How to Develop Your Own Assessment Instrument" and Chapter 6 addresses "Using the Information Gathered." (Contains 37 references.) (PR)