Presents an activity with the objective that students apply and integrate what they learn about classification, food webs, and paleontology to the creation of a scientifically sound ecosystem. Students read and discuss literature selections during the unit. (DDR)

Details an activity in which students use their natural inquisitiveness about their personal environment to investigate the composition of cigarette smoke. Includes techniques for measuring tar and carbon monoxide content. (DDR)

Argues for attitudes that will help nurture appreciation for the sciences in young children and stresses the importance of preparing youth to address global challenges in energy resources and conservation, to advance biochemistry and medicine, and to discover frontiers in space. (DDR)

Supports the approach for young children that allows them to perform actions on objects and observe the reactions. Describes some techniques to use to encourage an inquiry approach. (DDR)

Shares some strategies for encouraging students to notice their environment in the broadest sense through using the Socratic method. Focuses on specific examples with historical significance such as exploring the period of a pendulum. (DDR)

Discusses display gardens and their development by students. Presents guidelines for construction and size consideration and describes details of an outdoor garden, volcanic garden, and shoe box dioramas. (DDR)

Presents a unit on motion that allows students to apply what they learn from doing hands-on, minds-on activities, a key component of the National Science Education Standards. Also includes examples of the assessment instrument. (DDR)

Highlights the 15th anniversary year of Newton's Apple, a hands-on science television program. Includes availability information for curriculum guides and other resources. (DDR)

Provides details of an activity designed to help students understand the relationship between astronomy and geology. Applies concepts of space research and map-making technology to the construction of a topographic map of a simulated section of Venus. (DDR)

Focuses on a method for teaching cascading natural selection that engages students in reading selections from popular and scientific literature aloud in class. An example is given of the use of one such selection about the Machupo virus. (DDR)

Investigates the five most common reasons teachers give for not involving students in hands-on classroom activities: too much work, too chaotic, lack of teacher science content knowledge, incompatibility with the curriculum, and lack of materials. Provides strategies for avoiding these excuses. (DDR)

Describes an activity in which students apply the scientific method as they explore each step of crystal growing. Students select variables, record daily observations, and participate in discussions about the differences in crystal formation. Crystal recipe and procedures are provided. (DDR)

Provides sample observation activities to accompany the nursery tale of Chicken Little. Includes five activities that involve the skills of observing, communicating, comparing, ordering, and categorizing to engage students in hands-on science. (DDR)

Describes an alternative method for exploding hydrogen balloons as a classroom demonstration. Uses the method of igniting the balloons via an electronic match. Includes necessary materials to conduct the demonstration and discusses potential hazards. (SOE)

Introduces a science activity on butterflies and their life cycles in which students keep journals of their observations. Explains how to build a butterfly observatory in the classroom. (YDS)