This educational brief discusses observatory stations built by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for looking at the universe. This activity for grades 5-12 has students build paper models of the observatories and study their history, features, and functions. Templates for the observatories are included. (MVL)

This brief discusses the basics of flight using a model of the first supersonic aircraft. This activity for grades 5-12 has students build a glider and learn how to change the flight characteristics of the glider. A template for the glider is included. (MVL)

This book describes the nature and extent of science learning in America with particular attention to the innumerable sources of science education existing outside the formal education system. Examples are provided from research and practice on how to better understand, facilitate, and communicate about free-choice science learning including…

This book gives elementary and middle school teachers a set of physical science activities to help teach major concepts in the study of matter. The activities were developed to lend themselves to a guided inquiry approach for use with grades 3-8. To be effective over such a wide grade range, activities are designed to cover basic concepts but have…

This document reviews the Pacific Region Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (PJSHS) program for 2003-2004 which is a 10-month, precollege student research program held in Japan. The theme is AtmosphereThe Other Ocean. The program includes a one-week symposium of student delegates who have completed research projects in the sciences or have…

Article is a demonstration lesson on Archimedes' Principle for Elementary school students. (GB)

Article probes the procedure for uncovering scientific and unscientific attitudes manifested by students. (Author/RK)

Discusses the nature of curiosity in students and ways to stimulate it. Includes a checklist to help collect information about student curiosity levels and offers suggestions to develop a high degree of curiosity in students. Suggestions include using variety, novelty, change, and discrepant events. (Author/JN)

Provides suggestions for science teachers, reading teachers, and librarians on how to share their knowledge and come up with interesting books for science students to read. Includes an inventory to determine students' science interests, with an appropriate book suggested for each item. (MKM)

Describes a variety of science resources on the World Wide Web that can be used to enhance the science classroom. Provides a synopsis of each of the 17 websites. (Author/MVL)

Discusses a research project of testing detergents that resulted from students' classroom observations of and questions about water pollution and suds. Outlines procedures and responsibilities necessary for conducting the experiment. A sample student data sheet is included. (RT)

Finding ways to demonstrate microscopic phenomena and contending with life science students' lack of interest in physical principles are two problems in laboratory courses. Describes a clinical laboratory test for parasite infection that can be used to effectively solve both of them. (RT)

Suggests a way of teaching science to young children that is consistent with Piaget's interpretation of the child's spontaneous animism and that elicits a personal and in-depth response to knowledge. Describes construction and use of an environmental bubble to enhance children's interest in the night sky. (SW)

A major goal of science education reform is to produce curricula that improve the learning of all students. In this study, the authors explore the use of design-based learning (DBL) to achieve this end. They examined two middle school science classes taught by a teacher who switched for the first time from a standard, scripted inquiry approach to…

Discusses building memory ability, Agatha Christie's and Sherlock Holmes' chemical abilities, and excerpts from now unpublished laboratory manuals. (SL)