In this article, the authors provide an overview of engineering and the engineering design process, and describe the steps they took to develop a fifth grade-level, standards-based engineering design task titled "Getting the Dirt on Decomposition." Their main goal was to focus more on modeling the discrete steps they took to create and…

The People Learning Urban Science (PLUS) program creates partnerships and coordinates efforts involving a local zoo, university, and school district, seeking to instill within students a sense of the natural environment. Even though the majority of students live among concrete and metal structures, their eyes and ears can be trained to make…

One of the biggest challenges in the early weeks of the new school year is to keep learning interesting and the students engaged as routines and procedures are established and reinforced. How can a classroom teacher make the routines and procedures engaging and educational, while building a community of learners? The answer is simple... build a…

Having taught K-12 students and preservice teachers for almost 20 years, the author knows the problems that arise when students are asked to generate an investigation of their own design. Therefore, she developed some lessons that significantly increased the diversity and quality of the investigations students generated. This article describes…

At the authors' school, as in many places, she struggles with making science a meaningful part of her students' lives. The teachers are working under state mandates to prepare students for reading and mathematics tests in third, fourth, and fifth grades. Often, this relegates science and social studies to a distant back burner. In an effort to…

When Gary Hamilton became principal of Monongahela Elementary Center (MEC) over 10 years ago, he wanted to establish a nature trail on the four acres of wooded area on the east side of the school. "Children today are into so many structured activities they are denied opportunities to learn about nature firsthand," he said. "I want kids to…

Describes the use of science-related activities to celebrate holidays. (PEB)

Through Bucket Buddies--a collaborative online project developed and administered by The Center for Improved Engineering Science and Education (CIESE) at Stevens Institute of Technology, in Hoboken, New Jersey--elementary students from more than 150 schools in 33 states and 6 countries have taken samples from local ponds and teamed up to answer…

Briefly describes an instructional program based on the individual needs of students that was designed for grades K-8. (EB)

Suggestions for organizing a science book fair are provided, focusing on planning activities, book displays, publications/publicity, and evaluation. Factors discussed related to book displays include: size and scope of selection, where to obtain books, and how they will be displayed. (JN)

Suggests science programs that are based on gifted students' individual patterns, abilities, and interests. Briefly discusses problems encountered by scientifically gifted girls. (MA)

Describes the activities, goals, resource materials, and ways to participate in National Science and Technology Week. (MDH)

Describes a program which focuses on the care and study of animals. The program, part of a grades K-6 science curriculum, emphasizes science process skills and encourages students to develop a questioning attitude about the world while they gain a sizable amount of background information about the animal world. (JN)

Describes a teacher education program involving preparation in elementary school science and emphasizing the humanistic approach and student responsibility. (CP)