Presented is a method of constructing a wide variety of molecular models from inexpensive, durable materials. Equipment, supplies, atomic sizes, bond lengths and bond angles, assembly, and painting are discussed. (CW)

Develops an exercise in which students use magnetic-profile data gathered in the South Pacific to test the Vine-Matthews-Morley hypothesis. Uses the Eltanin 19N and 20N profiles. Relates the exercise to 20 current geology texts. (MVL)

Describes two oscillating reactions: the Briggs-Raucher reaction using H202, KIO3, malonic acid, and MnSO4 which changes from yellow to blue, and the Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction uses NaBrO3, NaBr, malonic acid, and ferroin solution and changes from red to blue. Includes a third color demonstration on the six oxidation states of manganese. (MVL)

Described is a workstation equipped with a personal computer and a research-quality data-acquisition interface for instrumental data acquisition and analysis for chemistry and physics courses. Hardware, software, and functions of the apparatus are discussed. (CW)

Discusses the design of introductory physics course for elementary education majors and nonscience majors. Describes the learning cycle used for constructing hands-on activities. Provides an example of a week's activity on energy. Presents an evaluation of the course based on examinations and the teacher's impressions. (YP)

Describes examples of force in daily living. Discusses some examples of gravitational, internal, external, and centrifugal forces in various situations by using force vectors with diagrams. (YP)

Presented are two chemistry demonstrations: (1) an alternative method for the demonstration of the properties of alkali metals, water is added to small amounts of metal; (2) an exploration of the properties of hydrogen, helium, propane, and carbon dioxide using an open trough and candle. (MVL)

Described is an activity for grades kindergarten through three called "Let's Slide Down the Slope." Shows how to apply mathematics and scientific skills to the sliding demonstration. Provided are the procedures, a list of materials, key concepts, background, and extension of the activity. (YP)

Discusses the making of a light engine powered by sunlight or a lamp. Describes the materials and construction method with detailed specifications and diagrams. (YP)

Discusses some historically important reference systems including those by Newton, Leibniz, and Galileo. Provides models illustrating space-time relationship of the reference systems. Describes building models. (YP)

Discusses the use of saline solutions for demonstrations of buoyancy showing oscillations of the Cartesian diver. Describes the physical principles, preparation, and instructional uses for the demonstration. (YP)

Examines 11 elementary science texts in terms of conceptual structure and reasoning demands using concept maps. Reports that (1) the conceptual structures vary widely across texts; (2) most of the structures are well defined; and (3) the reasoning demands are above the developmental capabilities of most of primary-level children. (Author/YP)

Explains a teaching strategy in which students engage in hands-on activities before being introduced to new terms or reading text material. Outlines the learning cycle phases: exploration, concept introduction, and concept application using example activities. Provides guidelines and checklist for modifying lessons into this format. (RT)

Evaluates 16 commercially available courseware packages covering topics for introductory physics. Discusses the price, sub-topics, program type, interaction, time, calculus required, graphics, and comments of each program. Recommends two packages in measurement and vectors, and one-dimensional motion respectively. (YP)

Presented are 126 reviews. Categories include amateur astronomy, children's books, computers and astronomy, cosmic rays, cosmology, education in astronomy, galaxies, general astronomy, history of astronomy, life in the universe, physics and astronomy, pseudoscience, quasars and active galaxies, reference, solar system, space exploration, stars and…