Describes a study designed to determine whether the Biology Critical Thinking (BCT) project (which incorporates activities for developing specific critical thinking skills into the biology curriculum) enhances critical thinking skills and how it affects students' biological knowledge and classroom learning environment. Results indicate that BCT…

Describes a project where students build a motorized car that can perform well in two distinctly different competitions: traveling 20 meters in the shortest time and pulling a 500-gram mass the farthest distance in 20 seconds. Enables students to apply physics principles to a real problem and to discover the importance of teamwork on large…

Describes how the protocol to extend the Japanese-U.S. Science and Technology Agreement for five more years will alter the shape of Japan-U.S. relations. (MDH)

Provides the electronic circuit schematic for the construction of a green vegetation sensor, the directions for its use, and suggestions for student projects. (JJK)

Describes a Lexington, Kentucky, kindergarten science project that employed the Reggio Emilia approach of long-term open-ended projects steered by children's interests and group discussions. The children's investigation of how caterpillars make cocoons included direct observation of the metamorphosis process, construction of child-sized cocoons,…

A brief overview of LabNet, a project aimed at enhancing physics education, is provided. The article focuses on a description of LabNetwork which is one of several mechanisms designed to offer LabNet participants opportunities to give and receive peer support. (ZWH)

Discussed is a method for judging science fair projects considered to be more accurate than just an averaging of scores. The use of many categories so that the number of projects in each is relatively small is proposed. The advantages of using the consensus method are described. (KR)

A physics and chemistry teacher from rural Elmira High School (Oregon) describes his own and his students' experiences with the LabNet teacher telecommunications network and related project-based science instruction; the reactions of teacher colleagues and administrators to LabNet; and technological, psychological, and resource-related barriers to…

Presents activities on the science of garbage to help elementary students learn to save the earth. A rotting experiment teaches students what happens to apple slices sealed in plastic or buried in damp soil. Other activities include reading stories on the subject and conducting classroom composting or toxic materials projects. (SM)

The article evaluates student science projects encouraged by a South African Science Exposition using the criteria of secondary science educator, J.R. Campbell, and the task descriptors of the educator of the gifted, J.S. Renzulli. It is concluded the preparation of such projects meets the educational standards cited. (DB)

Describes problems with teaching embryology in the traditional manner. Presents a new approach where students prepare presentations, questions, and discussion topics. During laboratory periods, students conducted their own long-term research projects. (PR)

Describes a student project to build a car powered by the energy in a mousetrap as part of a unit on simple machines. (PR)

Describes a program at Drew University, in which retired scientists receive offices, research space, and equipment in exchange for directing the research of advanced undergraduates. (PR)

Asserts that science instruction should have students behaving as real scientists. Discusses benefits of high school science research programs for precocious youths. (PR)

Contends that an established collaboration with a local resource--whether it be a university or trained professionals from local industry--can enhance the enthusiasm, resources, and experimental design of science fair projects. Describes the nature of some interactions related to a high school science fair and details some successful student…