First graders who had been exposed to the Child-Structured Learning in Science curriculum (CSLS) were compared according to their achievement on a cognitive test instrument to two groups who had not had the CSLS treatment. Results revealed that a greater percentage of children in the CSLS treatment group performed on a concrete-operational level,…

Reports a study comparing direct instruction with discovery teaching on learning disabled (n=10), behaviorally disordered (n=6), and nonhandicapped (n=91) students' science achievement. No significant differences were found in the immediate posttest scores for mode of instruction. Discovery learning students outperformed others on a retention test…

This study was concerned with student transition from concrete to formal cognitive functioning. Results of training 32 fifth-grade and 32 seventh-grade students indicated that instruction can effect the desired transition of ability to isolate and control variables. (SL)

Forty-five children, ages nine through eleven, were divided into control group and experimental groups that read or wrote hunches concerning a discrepant event involving sliding blocks. Those who generated hunches were shown to learn more in subsequent inquiry behaviors designed to explain the discrepant event. (MLH)

Findings indicate that students whose teachers support their competence to make classroom decisions, compared to students whose teachers do not, are confident and more committed to making classroom decisions. Students in a cooperative learning structure, compared to those in a competitive one, expect enjoyable and productive decision-making…

Seventeen structure-of-intellect (SI) abilities were tested as predictors of success in a Conceptually Oriented Program in Elementary Science (COPES) unit. Three SI abilities involving convergent productive thinking and one involving divergent productive thinking were shown to be significant predictors. (MLH)

Two British elementary classes were taught chemistry by either Scheme A, involving the idea of chemical reactions as combination or decomposition, or Scheme B, the Nuffield inductive method utilizing heat and weight changes. Test results showed that Class A performed significantly better. (MLH)

This article reports on a study that was designed to describe prospective elementary teachers' prior verbal and diagrammatic knowledge about various aspects of light, seeing, shadows, and mirror images. Data were collected through individual interviews using simple apparatus. Included are some inferences about how students' ideas may have emerged…

Reports on a replication study to determine the relative effectiveness of two methods of instruction in teaching classificatory concepts and to determine whether maturity of children was related to level of understanding. (GS)

This study investigated whether the familiarity of an object observed by an individual influences his responses on observation and comparison tasks. Results indicated no significant differences between the number of observations of ordinary objects and the number of observations of novel objects. (MLH)

A group of third graders trained in the proportional reasoning associated with converting distance and elapsed time into speed scored significantly higher on an immediate retention test than the control group (no instruction), but there was no difference between groups on a delayed retention test. (MLH)

Evaluates the use of mass media to create awareness of the concept, action science, and of a facility, resource services. Results indicate that this project was not superior in creating awareness of the designated curricula during its period of activity, although it did effect an increased awareness overall. (MA)

Examines strategies used by first grade children in performing a seriation task, using materials varying in length or weight. Most first-grade children employed a concept-task-strategy in serially ordering objects by length and weight. In addition Piaget's observation that length can be serially ordered before weight was upheld. (CP)

Investigated were relationships between student self perception and actual classroom behavior in problem solving situations of 201 elementary students. Results indicated students with positive self concept were more independent from teachers and peers. Dependance upon others by low self esteem students is more evident in higher grades. (SL)