Describes an activity designed to comply with the National Science Education Standards that introduces the principles of buoyancy and density by using plastic soda bottles, ketchup packets, and other simple materials. Laboratory activity is included. (DKM)

Reports on a project sponsored by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) that engages students in building solar cars in groups with kits that include a three volt panel. The design and engineering decisions are made by the students using pertinent information. (DDR)

Describes activities that use Froot Loops breakfast cereal to help students master the concepts of valence electrons and chemical bonding and the implications of the duet and octet rules. Involves students working in groups to create electron dot structures for various compounds. (JRH)

Describes the construction of a marshmallow catapult to investigate trajectory concepts. (MKR)

Describes a project that uses a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving in analyzing a crime scene and suspect evidence. Requires each student to work effectively in a team, communicate in both written and oral forms, perform hands-on laboratory manipulations, and realize that the entire class was depending on their individual contributions…

Explains that the focus of National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) is to engage students in science and engineering activities that explore the world of communication technology. Provides a description of some hands-on exploration materials available for activities related to the theme of NSTW 1997, and includes a sample activity, The Binary…

Presents activities for elementary students that lay the conceptual foundation for developing an understanding of heredity and identification. Uses analogies and firsthand experiences to demystify the science of DNA. (JRH)

Presents activities that teach elementary students how light works by having them make rainbows. A primary-/intermediate- level activity involves conducting a rainbow color survey, and a student page provides a copy of the rainbow color survey. A primary-level activity has students create rainbows using water and a mirror. (SM)

Describes a project in which students collect native seeds and build a greenhouse to propagate native plants in a desert laboratory. (DDR)

Describes cooperation with the Saint Louis Zoo to provide opportunities for elementary school students to learn about bones, how animals move, what they eat, and how much they grow. Uses biofacts which include bones, skulls, and other parts to make the laboratory a hands-on experience for students. (YDS)

Describes a science activity that promotes science process skills while investigating the properties of packing peanuts. (YDS)

Discusses the potential contribution of GPS and related Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to education. Provides resources for teachers to plan a lesson on exploring with the help of a GPS device in order to increase students' awareness of their surroundings and broaden understanding of their place in the world. (KHR)

Reports on a two-year study designed to investigate how a Web-Based Integrated Science Environment (WISE) project called "Plants in Space" featuring classroom investigations enabled 5th grade students to increase their understanding of plant growth and development. Investigates two versions of the curriculum and considers how understanding of the…

Describes a project in which 5th grade students study eastern bluebirds, their habits, habitats, and interactions with other species over the course of the school year. Includes the project schedule, a student field journal sample, and resources. (KHR)