The purpose of this safety manual is to provide a resource to help manage and minimize potential risks in science classrooms where students spend up to 60% of instructional time engaged in hands-on activities. Information on general laboratory safety, science equipment safety, safety with plants, safety with animals, safety with chemicals, field…

In July 1999, the Board of Studies in New South Wales released five new senior high school science syllabi for implementation in 2000. The study reported in this paper examines the perceptions of a small group of experienced biology teachers towards syllabus change and in particular those concerning the Stage 6 Biology syllabus for the Preliminary…

This book is based on the understanding that fostering a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world is important to the development of young children and the preservation of planet Earth. It is also based on the belief that experiences children have early in life impact the attitudes and behaviors they carry with them throughout their…

China's first national science curriculum was adopted in the 1950s from the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). With the rapid changes in science and technology over the past 50 years, an educational change became an unavoidable requirement. This document reviews reform movements in the following areas: (1) main problems in Chinese…

Though there have been many efforts to reform science teaching at the K-12 level over the past decade so that all students can engage in meaningful science activity and become scientifically literate, colleges and universities are just beginning to redesign their science curriculum and instruction. This paper examines the structures, practices,…

The Mathematics, Science, and Technology Educators and Researchers of The Ohio State University (MSaTERs-OSU) is a student organization that grew out of the former Ohio State University Council of Teachers of Mathematics (OSU-CTM). Papers from the fourth annual conference include: (1) "Technology Education Curriculum Models in Michigan…

The research is concerned with investigating children's understanding of physical, chemical, and biological changes while using an approach developed by the project Energy and Change. This project aimed to provide novel ways of teaching about the nature and direction of changes, in particular introducing ideas related to the Second Law of…

This paper examines the Merck Institute for Science Education (MISE). Begun in 1993, MISE had two stated goals: raise the interest, participation, and performance of public-school students in science; and demonstrate to other businesses that direct, focused involvement would hasten improvements in science teaching and learning in public schools.…

This bulletin features articles on real world evolutionary biology, revolutionary classroom science, a review of new curricula in evolutionary biology, and the use of case studies to illustrate points in evolutionary biology. The articles are: (1) "'Real World' Evolutionary Biology: A Pragmatic Quest. Interview with BioQUEST's John Jungck" (Harvey…

This updated curriculum guide is designed to provide teachers of elementary school science with a set of activities on recycling and waste reduction. The curriculum has three sections: (1) Grades K-3 Lessons; (2) Grades 4-5 Lessons; and (3) Teacher's Resource Guide. It is designed to take students from an introduction to natural resources and…

The application of history of science to inform the design/curriculum, implementation/instruction and learning/assessment of science education is a process full of choices. What history and whose history to select and for what purposes ultimately defines the models of curriculum, instruction and assessment employed. Three organizational approaches…

The mandate to teach the theory of evolution and evolution-related concepts in biology and other appropriate science classes in public schools is relatively clear in 31 states and the District of Columbia. In the most recent state legislative sessions, some legislators made attempts to use the legislative processes to restrict the teaching of…

This paper examines the concept of nature from the perspective of Chinese history and culture, and is partially based on personal experiences. The perspective used to understand science education in the culture is one that science itself maintains a culture-independent existence. Students in China worry about the lifestyle of the West, however…

The science teacher has a vital responsibility to provide the best science curriculum possible to guide optimal pupil progress. Educational objectives need to represent salient scientific knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Proper sequencing of objectives is also crucial. Learning opportunities based on sound educational psychology should be used in…

Using the framework of systematic functional grammar, this study compares two modes of presenting the same scientific topic: in a physics textbook and in interactive teacher talk. Three aspects of scientific meaning making are analyzed: representations of physical and mental reality, lexical packaging, and the rhetorical structure of reasoning.…