A teacher of environmental studies at a magnet Montessori school for gifted children, ages 3 to 9, describes the development of Our Green Classroom, an outdoor garden featuring 100 species of plants, a pond, a birdbath, a bird and butterfly feeding station, a composting demonstration site, and a recycling center. Program emphasis is on hands-on…

Although the gypsy moth defoliates over 2 million trees annually, it can serve as an extremely valuable tool for promoting environmental awareness. The gypsy moth can illustrate insect life cycles, sexual dimorphism, scent attraction, many stimulus response experiments, evolution, natural controls, and pesticide uses and dangers. (SB)

School gardens can teach kids about cooperation, nature, science, creativity, and community service. Gardens also help teachers address students' diverse needs and interests. Tips for school gardeners include: make it easy to use, keep groups small, be inclusive, build partnerships, have clear rules, think year-round, have fun, and celebrate…

Field trips don't have to be grueling. This practical guide helps teachers work together with science educators in the community to avoid common pitfalls that interfere with the many science-learning opportunities that exist in museums, parks, and science centers. The book offers tips and strategies on selecting community resources for field…

Research shows that hands-on science education is more effective than a textbook and lecture approach. This suggests that the "new curriculum" introduced in science classes in the seventies was more effective than was thought. (JM)

Strategies for developing hands-on learning activities for a camp nature program include working with themes, establishing goals, structuring time, providing a "hook," keeping instructions simple, and appropriately supervising campers. Includes ideas for nature themes, a sample learning activity, and suggestions for linking projects to…

Describes "Challenge of Materials," a gallery where visitors can experience a wide variety of materials in different ways. Materials include familiar structural items such as steel and glass, and new materials that can change form and color. The gallery also provides opportunities for work with schools in materials science and…

The article explains the value to young children of skill development in the areas of observation, classification, communication, and measurement. It suggests specific science-related activities to help develop each skill. (SB)

Asserts that children in science education must have hands-on experience to discover and make sense of their world. Emphasizes that there is a need for teachers who enjoy both language and science. Argues that children need to discover that they use science, like language, daily. (MM)

Described are the composition, design, administration, and evaluation of practical examinations. A table of the composition of biochemical unknowns for analysis in practical examinations is included. (CW)

Suggests ways parents can help steer their children toward the field of science, noting the current decrease in the proportion of students in science and engineering. Some of the ideas are to take children to museums, watch science specials on television, and buy toys and tools that teach. (SM)

Presents a practical model for planning and implementing a field trip as an integral part of the science curriculum. Reviews the literature related to the role of field trips in the learning process; describes the model; and provides an example implementing the learning cycle method. (Contains 17 references.) (MDH)

This book examines everything having to do with the triangle. It begins with a basic definition of the triangle and continues with discussions on tetrahedrons, triangular prisms, and pyramid shapes. Some ideas addressed include how triangles are used to measure heights and distances, the importance of triangles to builders, Alexander Graham Bell's…

This paper identifies five types of learning experiences which are relevant to understanding students' grasp of concepts and principles. These include exploring existing concepts, honing and clustering concepts, developing analytical and reasoning skills, developing problem solving skills, and structuring knowledge in memory. Each of these…

Good science education depends on solid content and active learning. Effective teaching in all the physical sciences should have a similar focus on important concepts and effective learning experiences. Students of all ages benefit from experiential learning. Inquiry, which combines hands-on and minds-on learning, engages students in a process…