Matter is an essential science topic that is often challenging to teach at the early elementary levels. Learning about matter helps students develop a solid foundation for more complex concepts that are taught in later years. Make this abstract concept developmentally appropriate for children by engaging them in investigations that focus on…

Introduces some activities to help children develop their processing and inquiry skills with a substitute teacher as well as regular teachers. Illustrates 25 kinds of skills. (YP)

Presents several teaching suggestions associated with the raising of monarch butterflies in classrooms. Emphasizes how this endeavor can be used to enhance the use of science process skills. (TW)

Describes a two-day field trip, along with follow-up classroom activities and experiments which relate to water resources and water quality. Discusses how trips to a lake and water treatment facilities can enhance appreciation of water. (TW)

Describes a hands-on lesson in magnetism designed to be used with upper elementary grade students. Emphasizes structured experiences which involve the student in measuring, data collecting, graphing, and extrapolating information. (TW)

Describes the use of a microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) in teaching the concepts of heat and temperature to eighth grade students. Discusses the advantages of being able to instantly display the results of their experimentation with the use of temperature and light probes, and heat pulsors. (TW)

Discusses some of the ways that a cabbage can be used to produce a universal indicator of pH. Describes the methods for producing the indicator, experiments students can do on ordinary household chemicals, and a student take-home assignment for producing pH indicators. (TW)

Describes a lesson in which fifth graders made observations of candles. Discusses the progress of the lesson and the necessity of instructing students in what and how to watch and measure. Stresses that this can be easily accomplished inexpensively with imagination. (CW)

Describes a lesson designed to help young students conceptualize cholesterol and its effects on the body. Provides young students with a concrete way to understand how cholesterol builds up in blood vessels and restricts blood flow. Includes a simple illustrative experiment for children to perform themselves. (CW)

Reviews the space classroom that would have been conducted by Christa McAuliffe during the space shuttle flight. Includes lab activities, word puzzles, vocabulary lists, and graph reading exercises for elementary science students. (ML)

Suggestions are given for encouraging parents to participate in their children's science studies, at home and at school. Several sample lessons illustrate the kinds of experiments that require only inexpensive supplies which parents can provide. (SA)

Discusses methodology for several activities which use Alka Seltzer tablets as a source of carbon dioxide gas. (CS)

A science and social studies unit developed around rosin is described. Students develop an understanding of the processing of raw material from a plant source into a commercial product and how to protect wood from weathering by preparing, testing, and evaluating varnish and shellac for their wood protective qualities. (Author/DS)

Described are several activities to be used to help students grasp the concept of floating. The activities include the use of a spring scale to measure the weight of the objects in air, in water, and in salt water, and a discussion of why there are differences in these weights. (DS)

Presents a set of activities for testing consumer products to encourage students to learn how to use scientific investigations in their everyday lives. Describes the penny flip experiment and testing a detergent. Students learn in a hands-on manner the importance of completing accurate laboratory reports, which allows them to analyze results and…