Introduces The Traveling Scientist program which can be used as an extension to the science curriculum. Targets 1st and 2nd grade students. (YDS)

Discusses teaching techniques for teaching about rocks, minerals, and the differences between them. Presents a model-building activity that uses plastic building blocks to build crystal and rock models. (YDS)

Introduces the Science Education Leadership Fellows (SELF) program which is an innovative cooperation program between teachers and scientists. Engages teachers in subject areas such as microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, and other professional development activities. Presents an activity in which students observe bacteria cultures and…

Reports on a school college partnership through which elementary school children learned how to use newspapers to rebuild slopes on their schoolgrounds that had been eroded by runoffs. The project showed the benefits of such partnerships and the importance of environmental education. (MM)

Makes the case for the kitchen as a natural source of science exploration. Shares tried and tested activities and offers teaching suggestions such as the use of journals. Relates activities to the National Science Education Standards. (MM)

Reports on teacher candidates' interviews of children to learn about students' everyday science understandings. Concludes that teachers must go through a process of asking, leading, interacting, and guiding in order to facilitate student learning. (MM)

Lists the awardees from the Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program and relates the stories behind the inventions. (MM)

Reports on the use of 3D topographic models to teach Earth Science. Relates how students at a middle school made cardboard cut-out models to illustrate plateaus, a volcanic mountain, and other landforms. Provides teaching suggestions for the activity and a grading rubric. (MM)

Provides teaching suggestions for metric units incorporating humor. Includes teaching suggestions and rubrics. Also includes connections to other subject areas in literature, science, and mathematics. (MM)

Describes a sledding project for kindergarten students that engages them in designing, building, and testing miniature sleds. Uses a computer program to create blueprints and uses tools at a construction center in the classroom to build the sleds. Completed sleds were described by groups to the full class, then tested. Identifies connections…

Describes a garden project by elementary students in an urban school. Students chose to rehabilitate a courtyard area and have since created three separate gardens including a butterfly garden. The project was a collaborative endeavor involving parents and other community members working with students and their teachers. (DLH)

Describes use of the "Teaching With Analogies" (TWA) model to enhance science learning. The model includes six operations: (1) Introduce the target concept; (2) Review the analog concept; (3) Identify relevant features of target and analog; (4) Map similarities; (5) Indicate where the analog breaks down; and (6) Draw conclusions. (Contains 13…

Describes the action research approach taken by seven teachers from four rural schools who teamed up to create their own professional development program. Describes the phases of action research which include formulating a question, reflective interviews, data collection, data analysis, and taking action. Briefly discusses the beneficial outcomes…

Presents the Massachusetts Parent Involvement Project (MassPIP) comprising 59 local community coalitions of businesses, service organizations, school personnel, parents, and children. Describes steps coalitions follow in planning events and presents community success stories. The project developed a set of activities that parents can do at home…

Recommends using Amaryllis hippeastrum to teach young children about plant reproduction. Provides tips for growing these plants, discusses the fast growing rate of the plant, and explains the anatomy. (YDS)