Introduces a science demonstration that illustrates the effects of pressure and gravity on humans using a marshmallow man and a vacuum pump. Demonstrates the same concept with shaving cream, balloons, and boiling water without raising temperature. (YDS)

Discusses collaboration between school librarians and teachers and describes teacher inquiry groups, based on those at Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The focus of the inquiry group is to examine individual lessons and use them as points of entry for understanding teaching methods and improving instructional practices.…

Investigates an interesting application of probability in the world of sports. Considers the role of permutations in the lottery system used by the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States to determine the order in which nonplayoff teams select players from the college ranks. Presents a lesson on this topic in which students work…

Presents an activity, "Lisa's Lemonade Stand," that actively engages students in algebraic thinking as they analyze change by investigating relationships between variables and gain experience describing and representing these relationships graphically. (YDS)

Presents a mathematics activity that teaches binary code. (YDS)

Explains the basics of spherical geometry and describes a series of activities developed for grade 6 middle school students. (YDS)

Describes a lesson plan in which students design scale models of kitchens using proportional reasoning and measuring skills. (YDS)

A model of skills needed by a student to understand a mathematics lesson taught by a good teacher is presented. The model contains a variety of cognitive competencies. Functioning of the model during a two-day lesson sequence is described. (TJH)

Presents four lesson plans designed to teach K-12 students about ceramics and the artists using the medium. Each lesson is centered around one ceramic piece: (1) "Wall Clock," by the Chantilly Porcelain Factory; (2) "Poppy Vase," by Adelaide Robineau; (3) "Laughing Eyes," by Pablo Picasso; and (4) "Ceramic Drum Jar," by Tsayutitsa. (GEA)

Describes a lesson designed to teach a computer programming construct, the "if-then" statement, and to help students gain insight into computing concepts, stimulate students' creativity, and develop their higher order thinking skills. (JKP)

Presents a laboratory exercise in which students test the pH of different substances, study the effect of a buffer on acidic solutions by comparing the behavior of buffered and unbuffered solutions upon the addition of acid, and compare common over-the-counter antacid remedies. (MKR)

Presents key features of good science lessons. (MKR)

Presents lessons and reproducible student worksheets for grades three to four and grades five to six to investigate large numbers and comprehend their magnitude. (MKR)

Examines ways to integrate a discussion of lotteries into a lesson on combinatorics and probability to enhance the teaching and learning of number sense. (Author/MKR)

Discusses the importance of teacher planning for effective second language instruction, focusing on preplanning analysis, textbook adaptation, and lesson planning. Teachers need to be aware of what their students already know and what they need to know in order to understand the new material. (two references) (MDM)