Fundamental concepts in biochemistry important for drug design often lack connection to the macroscopic world and can be difficult for students to grasp, particularly those in introductory science courses at the high school and college level. Educational research has shown that multisensory teaching facilitates learning, but teaching at the high…

This article provides readers with details concerning the implementation of four active learning techniques used to help undergraduate students critically discuss primary literature. On the basis of undergraduate and graduate student perceptions and experiences, the authors suggest techniques to enhance the quality of dual-listed courses and…

Provides instructions for constructing an Ames window tunnel, a device that illustrates illusion and perception. (CS)

Describes perceptual activities which involve children in questioning perceptions of size and distance that typically appear obvious but that are not accurate. Activities are designed to help the child consider variables that do not always stand out visually but which are important. (BR)

Explains that motor oils can be reused and recycled. Educates students about environmental hazards and oil management and includes classroom activities. Addresses the National Science Education Standards. (YDS)

Economics should be taught at the vital core of environmental education. Discusses common economic fallacies shared by educators. Presents activities on ecological limits and external cost or benefits not captured in market pricing. (YDS)

The purpose of this article is to outline some of the characteristics of children's notions of physical causality and to relate this to how one might expect the typical five-year-old, eight-year-old, and twelve-year-old to approach a problem in science. (Author)

Describes a number of simple experiments and demonstrations useful in secondary school science teaching. (AL)

This family activity book provides information for discovering and demonstrating the science of fire--how firefighters decide which fires to let burn and which to put out, how fires start and spread, and what to do when they flare up. Chapters include: (1) "A Game about Wildfire"; (2) "Create a Fire Safety Commercial"; (3)…

Suggests an activity designed to stimulate student interest in optical illusions. By preparing posters of a number of optical illusions and mounting them on the classroom wall, many students will be motivated to seek an explanation for these phenomena. (JR)

Describes activities for the elementary school classroom to increase observational accuracy of children. (CP)

This student guide contains part one of the first year in the Portland Project, a three-year high school integrated science curriculum sequence. Part one, the first of four parts, involves the student in a series of activities intended to increase his understanding of his perceptual abilities and their limitations. Organization and classification…

Characterizes students' understanding of the rock cycle system. Examines effects of a knowledge integration activity on their system thinking. Interprets answers to an open-ended test using a systems thinking continuum ranging from a completely static view of the system to an understanding of the system's cyclic nature. Reports meaningful…

Summarizes research into how children perceive three-dimensional objects. Focuses on the difficulty that students have in appreciating how the orientation of the semicircular canals affects balance and space perception. (DDR)

Describes a mystery tunnel, constructed by teachers, which provides a variety of non-visual, sensory experiences for children as they crawl through it. It is designed to help primary children develop basic abilities to use their own senses to better observe, discriminate among observations, and describe their own perceptions accurately. (JR)