Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Science Notes - "Excellence In Polymer Education" Award, Amy L. Wall

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

To recognize the efforts of secondary and junior high school chemistry teachers who help students meet the challenges and responsibilities of living in a technological age, the Polymer Education Committee (POLYED) of the American Chemical Society sponsors the "Award for Excellence in Polymer

Science Notes - Environmental Issues Instruction (Eii) Workshops, Stephanie A. Althof

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

A Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP) grant has been awarded for the 1992-93 continuation of eii. The program, designed to teach responsible environmental action, is appropriate for elementary and junior and senior high school students in all disciplines.

Science Notes - Field Testers Needed For Biology Education Project, Jonna M. Higgins

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) is seeking 40 life science and biology teachers to field test hands-on laboratory activities that require little or no money to implement. Field testers will receive a consulting fee of $450 plus $25 to implement the materials into their classrooms.

Astronomy Resources - Taking A Meteor Shower, Stephanie A. Althof

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The summer months are often the most popular for skygazing. Mild weather combined with a host of appealing astronomical events tends to attract both amateur and professional astronomers to look skyward. One of the more brilliant and "flashy" events to observe is a meteor shower. As children, many of us remember watching a "falling" star shoot across the sky. Little did we know that what we were actually observing was a piece of space debris known as a' 'meteor.'' Meteors may appear at any time and from any direction, but most of the visible meteors viewed each year are parts …

Science Calendar

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Cover - Front Matter - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Teaching Chemistry Safety: A Personal Issue, Judith Lemons

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

As chemistry teachers, it is our moral and legal duty to make the laboratory a safe and healthy place for our students. However, safety policies will be most effective if the students share the responsibilities for promoting safety and preventing accidents. We can help to motivate our students to remember and apply safety principles if we make safety a personal issue for each student. I have found that a student will more readily comply with laboratory rules on a regular basis if the rules are important for that student, and that student has actively participated in the safety learning process.

An Inexpensive Indicator For Acids And Baths, Susan Christensen, Yvonne Smith

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Is your shampoo acidic, neutral or basic? Put more simply: what is the pH level of your shampoo? Have you ever wished to find the correct answer to that question? If so, you can repeat the experiment that we did to find the pH, not only of your shampoo, but of many other things as well.

This project was completed for GB 303, Field and Lab Biology for Elementary Teachers, at Emporia State University. While looking through a book on teaching science to elementary children (Schmidt and Rockcastle 1982), one of us developed the idea of using red cabbage juice …

The Pessimist And The Optimist, John D. White

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Suppose that in 1945 a respected sage had been asked, "What do you see for the future?" and he had replied, "Rust, sand and soot." He would have been considered a pessimist. An optimistic sage might have replied instead: "The future will be powered entirely by atomic energy. Contagious disease will be eliminated by antibiotics such as penicillin. Harmful insects will be eradicated by DDT and similar chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides."

Science Notes - Catalyst Awards, Amy L. Wall

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The Chemical Manufacturers Association will honor 24 outstanding teachers of science, chemistry and chemical engineering through its Catalyst Awards program in 1993.

Science Notes - Nsf Sponsors Anthropology Summer Program, Paul D. Jones

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Are you interested in an NSF-sponsored anthropology summer program in Nebraska combining one week in the classroom with 11 days of intensive field study? If you are, "Trek of the Mammoth" could be for you. Classroom study takes place at Chadron State College, while the high plains of Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota provide the setting for field study.

Science Notes - Book News: Cry Of The Kalahari, Jonna M. Higgins

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Cry of the Kalahari, written by the husband and wife research team of Delia and Mark Owens, offers the basis for a variety of innovative science and cross-curricular activities at the high school level.

Cover - Front Matter - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Teaching The Logic Of Falsification: A Classroom Excercise, David Lopatto

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Every science teacher soon discovers that the intuitions students use to solve problems are frequently at variance with the critical thinking skills required by science. 1be exercise presented here focuses on the value of making scientific hypotheses and then attempting to falsify rather than confirm them. When challenged to test a hypothesis, intuitive thinkers tend to show a confirmation bias, i.e., they will propose a test in which the results will be a positive instance of the hypothesis (Einhorn and Hogarth, 1978; Wason, 1960). Scientists, on the other hand, know that tests are specific instances that cannot inductively ''prove" the …

Reach-Ing For Our Dreams!, Sharon Kaufman, Tom Buckley

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

More than half a decade ago, several individuals and agency and organization representatives decided it was time to act upon the belief that conservation and the environment in Iowa needed a more generous and reliable funding source. Representatives of two dozen agencies and organizations, coordinated by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, worked with several key legislators to draft the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program. The program itself passed the Iowa House and Senate unanimously and, after a little haggling over funding, was signed by Governor Branstad in May 1989.

Astronomy Bulletin - The Night Sky: April 19 To May 15, 1993, P. Steven Leiker, Darrel B. Hoff

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Science Notes - Office Of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Offers New Curriculum, Elizabeth B. Sharpe

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

To meet the need for citizen awareness of the impact of nuclear waste on science and society, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (DOF/OCRWM) has developed a four-unit resource curriculum. This curriculum, Science, Society and America's Nuclear Waste, is available to educators without charge.

Science Notes - Iowa Students Named Exploravision Semifinalists, Amy L. Wall

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

A team from Maharishi Middle School, Fairfield, Iowa, has been named regional semifinalists in the Toshiba/NSTA Explora Vision science competition. Team members are Kathryn Bettis, Mikaila Maidment, Jessica Hawthorne and Sarah Vigmostad. Their project, Making Life Better with Virtual Reality, was judged based on their storyboard. Criteria were creativity in vision and communication, historical perspective, scientific accuracy and feasibility.

Science Notes - Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award, Amy L. Wall

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Sherman Lundy, Burlington High School, has been recognized by the Central Section of the National Association of Geology Teachers as its 1992 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher. Lundy has taught earth science at Burlington for 23 years. He also serves as a field geologist for Basic Materials Corporation in Waterloo.

Science Notes - Relationships In Physical Science Text Book Available

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Project RAMPS (Relationships and Mathematics in Physical Science) has developed Relationships in Physical Science, a textbook based on the idea that mathematics and laboratory activities should be an integral part of science education. The mathematical exercises included in the text are intended to help students gain a better understanding of the scientific concepts they are studying. Most of the materials necessary for the activities are already in the classroom or can be obtained from a supermarket.

Science Notes - Summer Workshop For High School Biology Teachers, Amy L. Wall

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The biological sciences faculty at Iowa State University will sponsor its first annual summer workshop for Iowa high school biology teachers. 'The workshop, funded by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, will provide opportunities for high school biology teachers and university faculty to work together to develop and exchange new technical and educational tools for use in high school laboratories and research projects.

Science Notes - Natural History Potpourri Workshops

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Natural History workshops are scheduled at the Conservation Education Center (Springbrook) for the weeks of June 13-18 and 20-25, 1993. The potpourri of topics includes: birds, trees, rocks, prairie plants and pond life. The week-long sessions will include field trips, lecture/discussions, slide talks and participation in activities which link the content topics to classroom activities.

Science Notes - Article Submission Requirements

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In an attempt to standardize the format for all articles, the Iowa Science Teachers Journal has established a set of author's guidelines.

Science Calendar

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Index To Volume 29

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Editorial Office & Staff; Officers, Iowa Academy Of Science; Executive Board & Regional Directors, Iowa Science Teachers Section

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

The Mystery Of The Paha: Constructive Landforms Of Northeast Iowa, Georgia Quirk

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Paha are distinctive landforms of Iowa which could provide the focus for a fascinating earth science instructional unit and even a field trip opportunity for teachers in the northeast part of Iowa. Slides, transparencies and text for a 15-minute introduction are available from the author.

Science Notes - Toshiba/Nsta Exploravision Awards, Amy L. Wall

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The National Science Teachers Association is offering the first annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards program for students in grades K-12.

Cover - Front Matter - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

An Epa Water Quality Test For Middle Schools: Filterable Residue, Charles Englund

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

One part of the Clean Water Act requires monitoring the quantity of suspended particles in water. Water is tested before and after being used by industries. The quantity of suspended particles is measured by weighing the residue filtered from the water. This experiment, appropriate for use with upper elementary and junior high students, provides an opportunity to participate in a water quality test used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Minimal equipment is needed; no hazardous material is involved and the experiment gives interesting results on local water. The results are recorded in milligrams per liter, which is parts per …