Science is at heart a practical subject, but the perception of what makes good teaching and learning through practical science is often misunderstood. Through working with teachers on professional development courses at the UK's National Science Learning Centre, and drawing on work carried out by other organisations, we present some thoughts and…

Suggests that the Friedel-Crafts reaction, used for synthesizing a wide range of aromatic compounds, is an ideal vehicle for extended senior high school project work in chemistry. Provides a theoretical discussion of the reaction, suggests a number of suitable investigations, and outlines the experimental details. (JR)

Describes a series of experiments which a group of 12- to 14-year-old students developed and conducted as they attempted to design a solar panel. Includes an outline of their building procedures. (DC)

Describes a Malaysian school project which deals with tin, and extracting tin from its ore in the laboratory, as well as the economics involved and the locating and mining the ore. (HM)

Describes the British Gypsum, a school-industry science project, designed to link the school with local industry. Teaching strategy, some experiments, and evaluation of the project are also included. (HM)

Procedures used by a primary science class to build five different working solar furnaces are summarized. Diagrams, illustrations, and graphs of children's results are included. (DC)

Outlines the role of the main organisms involved in woodland decomposition and discusses some of the variables affecting the rate of nutrient cycling. Suggests practical work that may be of value to high school students either as standard practice or long-term projects. (CW)

Contains articles on digestive enzymes in grasshoppers; bird and badger observation; reactions between hydrochloric acid and sodium carbonate solutions; observing the migration of ions; pupil's heating skills (Bunsen burners); photolysis experimentation; capillary kinetics; experience with trireme; connection circuits; special relativity; a…

Details 26 experiments designed for use in secondary or college science classes. Includes activities for physical and biological sciences. Describes procedures, materials, safety, and analyses appropriate for each. (CW)