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This document features 10 science activity packets developed for elementary students by science teachers in a graduate seminar. The activity packets were designed to cover existing commercial children's books on specific content areas. The 10 activity packets are: (1) "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain," which explains the water cycle; (2) "Hurricane City," which explains the different levels of hurricanes; (3) "Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me," which includes activities on the moon; (4) "The Seabreeze Hotel," which features activities about the wind; (5) "The Sleeping Porch," which includes activities on environmental changes; (6) "Welcome to the Sea of Sand," which features lesson plans on deserts and their habitats; (7) "Tops and Bottoms," which concerns plant growth, problem solving, and decision making; (8) "Verdi," which includes activities on animal life cycles and the ecosystem; (9) "Spring Snowman," which features activities on the states of matter and seasons; and (10) "Water Dance," which includes activities describing the forms of water. (YDS)

These teaching guides are meant to supplement the eighth season (1997-98) of the PBS Series "Scientific American Frontiers". Episode 801 is entitled "Expedition Panama: Science at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute" and the teaching guide contains information and activities on the ultrasonic communication of bats, communication among Panama's stingless bees, problems with the watershed of the Panama Canal, the role of leafcutter ants in the rainforest, and the impact Panama has had on the earth's climate and animals. The teaching guide for Episode 802, entitled "Beyond Science? Investigations into Pseudoscience," includes information and activities on dowsing to detect underground water, handwriting analysis, the debate over aliens landing at Roswell, New Mexico, perpetual motion and zero-point energy, and therapeutic touch. Episode 803 is entitled "Nordic Sagas: Science in Scandinavia" and features information and activities on Viking ships, the birth of an island from a volcano (Surtsey), the contamination of Lapland reindeer resulting from the Chernobyl disaster, studying genetics through Iceland's unique population, and the use of technology to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. Episode 804 is entitled "The Art of Science: Enhancing Creativity through Science and Technology" and contains information and activities on a 20th-century version of Ben Franklin's glass harmonica, the creation of a digital character for a speaking part, restoration of the Shaw Memorial, a robot programmed to conceive and create paintings, and an interactive opera performed by hyperinstruments. Episode 805 is entitled "The New Zoos: Enriching the Minds and Lives of Animals" and presents information and activities on polar bear enrichment at the San Diego Zoo, the study of orangutan psychology at Toronto's Metro Zoo, the medical center at the New England Aquarium, high-tech tracking of giant bluefin tuna, captive breeding programs, and a jungle boot camp for golden lion tamarins. (WRM)

Discusses learning environments for informal science learning and points out the importance of an environment on student learning. Suggests several tips for field trip organization and accessing learning materials. (YDS)

Describes the care and breeding of zebra fish, suggests various experiments and observations easily performed in a classroom setting, and provides some ideas to further student interest and exploration of these organisms. (DDR)

Describes two methods for rearing small aquatic invertebrates using submerged surfaces in an unfiltered current of water where fish are present. Presents suggestions on how to use the invertebrate communities in the classroom. (JRH)

Describes a sequence of activities in which students set up a classroom aquarium to learn about aquaculture. Discusses the aquarium system, filtration and maintenance, adding organisms to the system, technological considerations, aquaculture economics, and political and social aspects of aquaculture. (MDH)

Describes the design and implementation of an activity to teach electrocommunication in animals using scientific inquiry and engineering design to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions in understanding electrocommunication in electric fish; develop explanations of natural phenomena as a creative process; and help understand that organisms, such as electric fish maintain a dynamic equilibrium that sustains life. (Author/SOE)

Describes the program Chemistry in an Aquarium which focuses on introducing the fundamental concepts and principles of chemistry in interaction with the ecosystem. (Contains 17 references.) (YDS)

Explains the process of developing the unit "Building an Aquarium" and introduces four hands-on activities which include teaching students how to read a metric ruler, observing and illustrating an aquatic plant, learning fish anatomy, and learning animal behavior. (YDS)

To aid teachers and students in their quest for information, an education specialist at an aquarium offers tips for organizing field trips, discusses home pages and search engines on the Internet, and gives detailed instructions for writing letters to institutions for information. Suggestions include writing joint letters if many students have the same questions and requesting free publications and brochures. (PVD)

Presents an activity in which students in grades 5-8 learn about snail reproduction by observing and charting the activities of land snails, freshwater snails, and slugs. Instructions to implement and extend the activity are provided. (MDH)

The guide and the project record book included in this document are designed for 4-H members who would like to start a salt-water aquarium project. The guide includes the following topics: (1) general requirements for salt-water aquariums; (2) directions for making an aquarium; (3) suggestions for where to locate it; (4) pros and cons of using artificial sea water versus natural sea water; (5) types of material to use in the bottom of the aquarium along with instructions for cleaning it; (6) a discussion of filters, subsand filters, pumps, power filters, decorations, lighting, and heating that could or should be used; (7) recommendations on how to fill the aquarium with water; (8) guidelines for purchasing animals for the aquarium; (9) drawings of seven hardy tropical fish; (10) suggestions for collecting marine animals from natural environments; (11) procedures for introducing newly purchased or collected animals to the aquarium; (12) tips on feeding and water maintenance; (13) solutions for two common problems associated with salt-water aquariums; and (14) a 15-item bibliography of books and pamphlets on maintaining aquariums. The project record book contains a checklist, an activity sheet, charts, and record sheets to be filled out during the project. (JW)

The New England Aquarium Education Department offers a series of curriculum units and field trip guides for teachers of all grade levels on aquatic biology and ecology topics. Fish characteristics and behaviors are explained in this packet for secondary science teachers. Pre-trip materials include factsheets and worksheets on fish: (1) characteristics; (2) general anatomy; (3) senses; (4) coloration patterns; (5) shapes; (6) survival behaviors; and (7) external and internal anatomy. Forms for recording observations on fish behaviors and characteristics during an excursion are provided. Suggestions for post-trip activities are also given. This particular guide contains a floor plan of the New England Aquarium, a listing of aquatically oriented curriculum packets, and an explanation of the facility's teacher resources. (ML)

This pocket folder of materials is designed to provide children aged 9 to 12 with an opportunity to explore and observe aquatic environments. The package includes a 4-H Leader's guide, member's guide, and supplementary materials. The leader's guide contains safety considerations, tips and techniques, and additional activities for getting started with the Water Worlds project. The member's guide describes activities for exploring the physical and biological environments of water worlds. The section on the physical environment gives background information, provides instructions for measuring water temperature, water depth, current speed, and turbidity and lists materials needed for activities. The section on the biological environment provides similar information for activities involving the observation and collection of aquatic plants and animals. The member's guide also contains: (1) a list of other activities; (2) reproducible water world activity records; and (3) references consisting of books, field guides, and activity sources. Supplementary materials in the folder include instructions for establishing freshwater acquariums and for creating saltwater aquariums in a jar, specialized aquariums, and breeding fish. An activity sheet explains the technique of Japanese fish printing. Water world activity record sheets are also enclosed. (KS)

Introduces two activities for science projects on convection currents. (YDS)

Describes the construction of an inexpensive recirculating aquaculture system that can hold up to 46 pounds of fish, invertebrates, and mussels for classroom use. The system is versatile, requires little maintenance, and can be used for both teaching and research purposes. (WRM)

Introduces a class project on oceans, fishes, and fishing industries around the world. Groups of students make a mural of the world, filling the oceans with accurate drawings of fish, fishing boats, and fishing equipment. Students learn about the importance of fish in various cultures and about the migration routes of fish. Includes a resource list of major aquariums. (PVD)

Describes the use of simple terraria and aquaria to illustrate basic ecosystem processes and the interrelationships between them. Involves an inquiry-based format which helps students come to an intuitive understanding of how ecosystems are put together and how they function. (JRH)