This study investigated the use of a contextually sensitive instrument to assess the effect of invasive species monitoring training on the scientific literacy of citizen volunteers. The authors measured scientific literacy scores before and after 57 citizens participated in a 2-day event to learn to monitor invasive species with an instrument…

The authors have developed a successful approach to teaching and inspiring undergraduate science and nonscience majors to complete creditable, semester-long, hands-on science research projects. This approach utilizes a carefully developed scaffolding consisting of in-class exercises and discussions, preparatory homework and lab events, and three…

This guided inquiry activity was developed to help students "view" an equilibrium system from the particulate level and make connections to their macroscopic observations. Part I helps students observe a physical equilibrium system in which water is transferred between two larger containers. In Part II, students examine what happens to a chemical…

How can educators provide children with a genuine experience of carrying out an extended scientific investigation? And can teachers change the perception of what it means to be a scientist? These were key questions that lay behind "The Human Condition" project, an initiative funded by the Primary Science Teaching Trust to explore a new…

Current research shows that the number of science fairs and science fair participants is increasing. However, other than the growth of participant numbers, there is very little research investigating the benefits of these science fairs and assessing whether science fair projects are worth the time, effort, and money spent on them. The purpose of…

Considers the ways in which students' activities during project work are influenced by their images of science. Finds that the concept of "epistemic demand" may help in anticipating difficulties students might have during science project work, and that students' images of science are developed as a result of implicit and explicit…

Discusses a teaching method using investigational skills for Nuffield A-level Physics including assessment technique, change of the assessment criteria, advice for choosing the topic, and future development. (YP)

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) has assembled this collection of reprints to assist teachers in organizing a science fair, working with students and establishing equitable judging procedures. The NSTA position statement on science fairs is included. The 19 reprints in this volume are geared toward secondary school students and are…

Presents three articles that describe different ways of teaching the scientific method using cookies ("The One-Hour Science Fair"), cola ("Are All Medium Colas the Same Size"), and television ("Timing Televiewing"). (PR)

Describes a multidisciplinary unit which uses 12 varieties of apples. Explains activities for observing, predicting decay, art and science, the process of fermentation, and group and individual projects. Information on description of apples and labeled diagrams are included. (RT)

Bumble bees are valuable pollinators of native and cultivated flora. Despite our knowledge of bumble bee nest site selection, most efforts to attract bumble bees to artificial domiciles have been met with limited success. Creating and evaluating artificial domiciles provides students an opportunity to investigate a real problem. In this lesson,…

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) has assembled this collection of reprints to assist teachers in organizing a science fair, working with students and establishing equitable judging procedures. The NSTA position statement on science fairs is included. The 24 reprints in this volume are geared toward elementary and middle school…

Describes an approach to introductory geology that requires students to go into the field to make observations, collect and analyze data, synthesize those data, and hypothesize about inferred geologic relationships. The product of these laboratories is a paper that requires students to test their hypothesis using specific examples from the data.…

Describes a contest where sixth-grade students observe the results of a week of planning, folding, testing, and comparing their best paper frog designs and hopping techniques. This integrated unit helps children unleash their imaginations and develop problem-solving skills. (PR)

Follows an experimental program where 30 trained high school science teachers used 6 to 10 students each to produce an original experimental environmental research project. Offers suggestions to improve science in high schools. Lists methodology of several of the projects and describes others. (ML)