Describes applications of bar coding technology that will help teachers to organize and energize their classrooms. Explains how bar codes--the black-and-white lines used for identification--are read and produced. Educational applications include their use in testing, equipment inventory, specimen identification, time keeping in experiments,…

Describes a demonstration of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to provide an interesting, quantitative illustration of the stoichiometric relationship between the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and the formation of oxygen gas. This 10-minute demonstration uses ordinary hydrogen peroxide and yeast that can be purchased in a supermarket.…

Describes how teachers and students can conduct a schoolwide hazardous waste survey. The activity is an introduction to hazardous waste management and is useful in general physical science, chemistry, and environmental science classes. Two activity worksheets are provided. Explains how schools can clean up hazardous waste problems. (PR)

Describes activities for helping students learn the metric system. Suggests teachers use metric units in ordinary conversation. Describes a homework assignment for students to make 20 metric measurements. Provides instructions on conducting a "TV studio" style game that is played on Metric Day (October 10th). (PR)

Author argues that the only way to move science education progressively forward is by teachers respecting the pedagogical research reports. Asserts that only a research-based rationale for teaching science separates the professional science teacher from those who simply have a strong science background. Urges authors and editors to present…

Suggests strategies for addressing cases of student conscientious objections to the use of animals or animal parts in science teaching. Advises departments to have a written policy and philosophical statement, to use an Animal Care and Use Committee and to explore student motives. (PR)

Presents arguments against lab dissection in the science classroom. Author discusses adult negative memories associated with earlier school dissections. Asserts that, for the early adolescent, dissection may be mingled with messages pertaining to sex, excretion, identity, and privacy. Suggests that dissection arouses a feeling of "defilement": a…

Describes introducing archaeoastronomical concepts into science courses ranging from eighth grade to introductory college level. Archaeoastronomers attempt to reconstruct the astronomical techniques, religion, and lifestyle of ancient civilizations by connecting studies of their agriculture, folklore, architecture, and art. (PR)

Authors discuss "the scientific method" and assert that laboratory scientists ask questions but seldom state formal hypotheses to be answered by controlled experiments. Authors suggest that experimental results should not be viewed as fact, and students should not be required to memorize the steps of the scientific method. (PR)

Describes simple, inexpensive activities for teaching students about mutants and mutations in bacteria. Explains how to isolate bacteria from soil and leaves and how to grow bacteria on agar or in broth. Describes how to construct a gradient plate for finding the minimum inhibitory concentration of a substance and how to use this set up to find…

Suggests techniques to help eliminate students' misconceptions involving Newton's Third Law. Approaches suggested include teaching physics from a historical perspective, using computer programs with simulations, rewording the law, drawing free-body diagrams, and using demonstrations and examples. (PR)

Describes a school district's refocusing of lesson plans in the natural sciences to teach students about the structure and function of the earth--a focus all but abandoned in many school programs. Details of the curriculum; the resources used; leadership initiatives; and obstacles to implementation are discussed. (PR)

Discusses the general advantages of role playing in education. Presents role-play activities in chemistry for teaching the properties of chemical elements. Activities follow an initial student project of presenting an element's description and picture into the "Element High" Yearbook. A copy of a worksheet for this project is included. (PR)

Suggests that teachers should consider which questions to ask as a part of instructional preparation. To ensure that diversity and critical thinking are involved, a teacher should use a taxonomy for a template when writing questions. Presents and discusses Bloom's taxonomy, Gagne's levels of learning, and a taxonomy for general science process…

An activity in which students describe the worldwide geographic distribution of petroleum, identify and locate the countries that make up the Middle East, and name the countries that import oil to meet their domestic needs is presented. Discussion questions and answers are included. (KR)