Science teaching practices at the Long Island School for the Gifted emphasize hands-on experiments where children do the work and the teacher assists learning. This approach bypasses the reading/writing barrier that prevents some children from learning science. Many science experiments are described, including a first-grade lesson on using…

The planning and organization of problem-solving workshops for teachers are discussed. Suggestions for activities and anecdotes of teacher participation at workshops are provided. (CW)

The Invent America program addresses the need to provide K-8 students with opportunities to learn critical and creative thinking skills through the process of inventing. Students apply problem-solving skills as they turn their own creative ideas into inventions. It is an effort to integrate the curriculum, help students synthesize knowledge, and…

This four-part publication is designed to assist New York school personnel in designing local elementary science programs that will help students increase their scientific literacy. Part I addresses various topics related to implementing a local elementary science program, considering local planning, Regents goals, science instruction, time…

This document addresses some of the factors involved in teaching critical thinking skills in the science classroom. It contains sections that deal with: (1) pair problem solving--creating a Socratic learning environment (emphasizes the role of the teacher); (2) writing to learn science (the thought-process protocol); (3) integrating science…

This volume is divided into three sections, each focusing on an activity associated with dissemination and implementation programs for the Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES). Section I focuses on techniques for conducting USMES informational meetings to introduce administrators/teachers/parents to USMES. It is designed…

This paper proposes a teaching model for the implementation of a Science-Technology-Society (STS) curriculum. The topics of technologic literacy, STS goals, and STS instruction are included. The historical and contemporary perspective of technology is addressed. The Graham model of STS instruction is compared with the Oregon instructional model.…

The Oregon vision for transforming science education is called concept/process-based science. It is not a program but a conceptual framework which presents goals for the direction of science program development. It focuses science programs on helping students develop basic scientific understandings through the use of the key processes of human…