Conducts two studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the Wondering, Exploring, and Explaining Science (WEE Science) Program. Outlines WEE Science instruction: students choose topics based on introductory readings and formulate plans for exploring them. Finds that students participated eagerly but that there were several problems related to…

Experts who had been suggesting criteria for "considerate text"--text that facilitates understanding, learning, and remembering--were challenged to write an ideal textbook. The chapter--"Americans Develop Plans for Government"--that they wrote in response to the challenge is presented here. The rationale and strategy they used are also discussed.…

Presented are generic structures, called goal and problem/solution frames, for psychologically-based historical explanations. Although intended primarily to help authors write a history that can be easily understood and remembered, the frames can also be used by teachers to organize classroom presentations and by students for textbook study. (RM)