Presents a hands-on activity on the phenomenon of genetic drift in populations that reinforces the random nature of drift and demonstrates the effect of the population size on the mean frequency of an allele over a few generations. Includes materials for the demonstration, procedures, and discussion topics. (KHR)

Introduces a science activity on the environment that uses a large canvas floor map and riddles. (YDS)

Presents an activity in which students create their own bumper stickers and cartoons to develop environmental awareness among other people. Uses the 5E instructional approach which includes engagement, exploration, explanation, extension, and evaluation. (YDS)

Describes a week-long activity for general to honors-level students that addresses Hubble's law and the universal expansion theory. Uses a discrepant event-type activity to lead up to the abstract principles of the universal expansion theory. (JRH)

Investigates students' mental models of chemical equilibrium using dynamic science assessments. Reports that students at various levels have misconceptions about chemical equilibrium. Involves 10th grade students (n=30) in the study doing a series of hands-on chemical experiments. Focuses on the process of constructing mental models, dynamic…

Describes the Cornell University Garden Mosaics program in which youth learn about ethnic gardening practices in urban community gardens using research methods adapted from the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). Conducts a study to determine whether youth could effectively facilitate PRA activities with gardeners and to document any social and…

Describes the working of an exhibit in the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum in which separated water drops from two nozzles collide to make interesting shapes. Discusses the calculation of the vibration frequency after the drop breaks away from the nozzle and the effect of drop size and surface tension on this frequency. (JRH)

Presents an activity to construct DNA and RNA models consisting of hundreds of nucleotide units. Provides students with insight into the composition and use of the DNA code. (JRH)

Performed a variance analysis of the relation between the amount of time students spend experiencing hands-on science and science achievement. Reports that students who engaged in hands-on activities frequently scored significantly higher on a standardized test of science achievement than students who did not. (Author/JRH)

Offers a simple experiment that tests the effectiveness of cleaners that inhibit bacterial growth. Outlines a step-by-step method for preparing culture media that can be used for isolation and propagation of microorganisms. Concludes that kitchen medium is as efficient as the professionally-made medium in supporting colony growth. (CCM)

Discusses barriers to environmental education. Middle school students completed a science-activity-preference scale and a disgust-sensitivity scale. Respondents who expressed the lowest interest in activities that required manipulation of organic substances also had the highest disgust-sensitivity scores. (Author/CCM)

Describes a bubble activity related to the concepts of force and motion. Uses soap solutions for the task and evaluates students according to their performance in the problem solving process and garnering investigation results, which are conceptually based. Promotes and assesses science process skills. (Contains 20 references.) (YDS)

Identifies misconceptions concerning the effect of gravity on planetary motion and attempts to foster conceptual change through the hands-on, informal environment of a science museum. (Author/CCM)

Presents a series of simple and inexpensive hands-on activities with a host of extension lesson ideas that can be used to actively introduce students to the scientific theory of evolution. Lessons are designed to thwart common student difficulties. Classes are structured around a predator-prey simulation game that creates a springboard for…

Documents the process of building an area at a school that allows students to gain an appreciation of biology outside the classroom. Discusses several issues that should be considered before undertaking such a project. (DDR)