This monograph summarizes selected major activities, trends, issues, and recommendations related to curriculum, instructional materials and instruction related in science education that have been documented in the literature. The technique used for selecting trends, issues, and recommendations was to identify relevant literature that had published during recent years and selected documents referenced in these sources; determine the agreement or disagreement regarding trends, issues, and recommendations; select those that appeared most frequently and/or those that were indicated as possibly most influential; and select examples of curricula, programs, materials, and instruction to illustrate trends, issues, and recommendations cited. Sections include: (1) "What Are the Conditions Creating a Demand for Change?"; (2) "What Is the Status of Science Education in Elementary and Secondary Schools?"; (3) "Curricular Frameworks: Goals, Content, and Experiences for Precollege Science Education"; (4) "Research Related to Learning, Curriculum, Instructional Materials, and Instruction"; (5) "Development and Implementation of Curricula and Instructional Materials for Precollege Science"; and (6) "Summary and Recommendations for the Reform of K-12 Science Curriculum, Instructional Materials, and Instruction." A list of 136 references is included. (KR)