Based on five years of research about "Science Talks," this book provides a window into elementary children's thinking about the world and presents a view of how students build complex theories, identify important questions, and begin to enter the world of science, all within the naturalistic setting of the classroom. It is proposed that classroom…

The CHEM (Chemicals, Health, Environment, and Me) Project is a series of 10 units designed to provide experiences for fifth and sixth graders that help them to accomplish an understanding of: (1) the nature of chemicals and how they interact with the environment; (2) how to collect, process, and analyze information; (3) how to use scientific…

This booklet describes 14 student art projects to be used in science classes. Creative skills involved in the process of artistic expression seem to translate very well into the problem solving world of technology. Even in the elementary level it can help build confidence, as well as the development of abstract skills that so often lead to…

This paper attempts to make the case for incorporating writing into the science curriculum. Suggestions are offered on how to organize writing activities in the classroom, assess a student's writing skills, use writing experience charts in science, outline content in science, write results from science experiments, write book reports, perform…

The data presented in this document provide information about those individuals and organizations that received funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in 1997. Following a description of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute programs, details on the funding of graduate science education, undergraduate biological sciences education,…

This document tackles issues in science education through the perspective of classroom practitioners and the philosophy of constructivism to attempt to provide a reasonable, positive rationale and description of current science education reform. Case studies are presented to provide an account of the ways that some primary classrooms function and…

A computer-assisted instruction (CAI) module on polymers was used to introduce chemistry teachers (n=64) to the variety of possibilities and benefits of using courseware in the current chemistry curriculum in Israel. From an analysis of a pre-and post-attitude questionnaire regarding the use of computers in chemistry teaching, it was concluded…

The world faces two converging crises, a lack of biological literacy and a rapid increase in environmental degradation. In order to insure a secure and safe environment for future generations of organisms, all humans must be taught the basic biological and physical processes that sustain life. This project seeks to fill the chasm in the general…

This report presents the State of South Carolina's vision and plan for coordinating special programs in mathematics and science education. The report is divided into two sections. The first section identifies four critical needs and lists systemic responses to those needs. The second section presents the criteria recommended for the State Plan for…

The Comprehensive Instructional Management System (CIMS)-Science program is designed to support teachers in teaching the "New York State Elementary Science Syllabus." The curriculum emphasizes a hands-on inquiry approach to learning and includes an assessment component comprised of written tests and performance-based tests, designed to…

To determine the current status of science education within special education school programs for students with mild disabilities, survey data were collected from over 300 teachers. Analyses focused on whether science was in fact being taught and, if so, the amount of instructional time devoted to it, the curricular basis and teaching approaches…

This paper deals with one aspect of technical change in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): the production of scientific and technical knowledge. Part I presents a quantitative view of the scientific output in SSA based on data from the Science Citation Index that provides information on scientific publications and citations by field and by country. Science…

This document contains materials for a 10-day teaching unit on solid waste recycling for grades K-6. Included are: (1) "The Scrap Map," which shows recycling cycles for metals and paper, and a cryptic word puzzle; (2) three pamphlets on recycling paper, nonferrous scrap metals, and scrap iron and steel; (3) a list of the chapters of the Institute…

This supplement to the Chicago public schools' science curriculum guide is for use with Vietnamese-speaking students and is designed to help students make the transition to science learning in English. English-Vietnamese vocabulary lists, independent learning activities (in Vietnamese), and teaching aids (cultural activities such as songs,…

As a major part of their science methods course, preservice elementary teachers start with a tested science unit and assemble a box of related manipulatives, audio visuals, worksheets, vocabulary cards, and other materials to be used in implementing the unit. The unit is then (ideally) used in practice teaching. (SD)