This study explored how mathematics content and methods courses for preservice elementary and middle school teachers could be improved through the integration of a set of instructional materials based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). A set of eight instructional modules was developed and tested. The study involved 7…

Textbooks are a key part of curriculum materials used for guiding students' acquisition of certain culturally valued concepts, procedures, intellectual dispositions, and ways of reasoning (Battista & Clements, 2000). There are many contextual and social factors that influence the ways teachers engage with and use curriculum materials in their…

This article investigates the effectiveness of improvising locally available materials for teaching chemistry in Nigeria, as a case for a culture of improvisation for teaching the sciences in developing countries. The scarcity and cost of imported materials for teaching science has remained a major challenge to teaching sciences in developing…

An important goal of mathematics education reform is to support teacher learning. Toward this end, researchers and teacher educators have investigated ways in which teachers learn about mathematical content, pedagogical strategies, and student thinking as they implement reform. This study extends such work by examining how one elementary school…

Presents a study of the content and organization of teacher manuals for elementary school mathematics from Japan and the United States. Indicates that there are significant differences in the way Japanese teacher manuals are prepared compared to those from the U.S. series. Concludes that curriculum developers should critically reflect on how to…

Describes seven creative laboratory activities appropriate at any grade level (K-12) that stress the method and spirit of scientific inquiry. (CS)

Describes several activities involving a total eclipse of the moon. Included are observations with binoculars, naked eye, and telescope; timing activities and observations of color changes during penumbral and umbral phases; and photography activities. (CS)

Directions are given for an activity in which students are introduced to infinite geometric series. (DT)

Boyle's Law and basic relationships between volume and pressure of a gas at constant temperature are presented. Suggests two laboratory activities for demonstrating the effect of temperature on the volume of a gas or liquid. (CS)

Results of a questionnaire given to junior high students for evaluating ISCS science courses and teachers are reported. Findings showed that opinions tended to be generally positive. (DT)

A worksheet is provided for helping students compute the distance a stewardess walks while serving meals to passengers. (DT)

A mathematics problem is presented and solved which concerns determining the approximate speed of an automobile involved in an accident. Extensions of the problem are suggested. (DT)