Laboratory Experiences and Guides, Educational Films, Teachers Guides, In-Service Materials, and Textbooks
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 053 919 SE 010 816 TITLE Course and Curriculum Improvement Projects, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences. INSTITUTION National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO NSF-70-18 PUB DATE Jun 70 NOTE 49p. AVAILABLE FROM Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 ($0.60) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF-$0.65 HC-33.29 DESCRIPTORS Curriculum, *Curriculum Development, Elementary Schools, *Mathematics, *Program Descriptions, Program Development, *Sciences, Secondary Schools, *Social Studies ABSTRACT Social studies, science and mathematics curriculum improvement projects supported by the National Science Foundation are described in this publication. Description of projects is limited to those having direct relevance to pre-college education and generally to those resulting from grants made through the Course Content Improvement Program of the Division of Pre-College Education in Science. The projects include videly diverse activities: curriculum conferences, the development of nev or improved instructional apparatus, the production of complete courses that may include nev laboratory experiences and guides, educational films, teachers guides, in-service materials, and textbooks. The projects are presented vithin these four categories: Elementary School Projects (K-6) ; Intermediate School Projects (7-9); Secondary School Projects (10-12); and General Projects (K-12). Included vith each project V description is a list of available materials and the address(es) for y obtaining same. An alphabetical list of project abbreviations and a list of project directors are provided. (PR) U S DEPARTMENT OF HEAL 'H. EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIG..' INATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPIN-t IONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY.'" r-4 REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDU CATION POSITION OR POLICY Crib "-...1.- wn *we (Pc./11471,: MMINIIM Course and Curriculum Improvement Projects iNCE fhlilyh I pi,,,.)1(:)?./Ai NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS SCIENCE e SOCIAL SCIENCES Curriculum Studies Textbooks Laboratory Guides Resource Materials for Teachers Supplementary Materials for Students Equipment Development Films U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 0-389-ni For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 60 cents Foreword In very many ways the plans and expectations fifteen years than in all previous recorded time. of Americans, and indeed of people everywhere, Powerful new insights are being gained into the depend upon a strong and growing science and fundamental structure of major areas of inquiry. technology. The increasing importance of science Moreover, traditional assumptions about what stu to our Nation and the world creates pressing edu- dents at given levels of development can learn are cational demands. Literacy in science is becoming increasingly found to be misleading in many ways. essential for all citizens who wish to comprehend Finally, society can no longer afford to wait for a the world they live and work in and to participate generation or more for new knowledge to make its in the increasing number of local and national de- gradual way into school and college programs. cisions, some of gravest import, that require an un- derstanding of science.Further, more and more In the last few years, mathematicians, scien- students must be attracted to scientific and technical tists, engineers, and educators have taken up these pursuits, and these students must be prepared to new educational challenges with great vigor. Work- work with increasingly sophisticated ideas and tech- ing together, and aided by increasing public and niques. private support for educational research and de- velopment, they have undertaken a number of fresh Very practical considerations compel us to give attention to the strengthening of science education. approaches to the improvement of school instruc- But there is another aspect of the matter, namely, tion in mathematics and science.In colleges and the principle held by those taking part in the re- universities, research scientists have been taking form of science education that more emphasis an increasing interest in undergraduate instruction. should be given to disciplined, creative, intellectual The aim has been to see that instruction presents activity as a noble enterprise and to intellectual contemporary knowledge as well as contemporary achievement as a worthy end in itself. There is a viewpoints on knowledge established earlier.In desire to allow each student to experience some of many cases it has seemed best to start anew rather the excitement, beauty, and intellectual satisfaction than merely to patch up older courses. A distinctive that scientific pursuits afford.Similar movements feature of many projects is the effort made to go also aimed at giving the student experiences and beyond the presentation of what is known and to points of view heretofore largely limited to pio- provide students with experience in the processes fessionals in a field are beginning to go forward in by which new facts, principles, and techniques are the humanities and the arts.These experiences, developed. it is hoped, will lead many to enter scholarly pro- fessions and others to adopt some of the scholarly The purpose of the present edition of this book- let, as of the earlier editions, is to provide a readily and artistic modes of thought in their work and their avocations. available guide to curriculum improvement projects supported by the National Science,Foundation. De- Good teachers and good schools have always cisions on what to teach remain, in the healthy worked individually to give students the best edu- American tradition,theexclusive responsibility cational fare they could. Nowadays, however, the of individual schools and teachers. The National task of bringing the best that has been thought to Science Foundation does not recommend the adop- all studentsin ways appropriate to their val',x1 tion of any specific book, film, piece of apparatus, interests, abilities, and future livesrequires new course, or curriculum.It is hoped, however, that strategy and tactics. We live in an age of explosive zhe products of these projects will prove to merit growth of knowledge. More scientific and tech- serious consideration by all concerned with educa- nological discoveries have been made in the past tion at the pre-college level. 4iii Contents Foreword iii Introduction vii I. Elementary School Projects (K-6) A. Mathematics 1 B. Mathematics and Science 5 C. Science 6 D. Social Studies 9 II.Intermediate School Projects (7-9) A. Mathematics 11 B. Science 13 HI.Secondary School Projects (10-12) A. Astronomy 17 B. Biology 18 C. Chemistry 20 D. Earth Sciences Meteorology 22 Oceanography 23 E. Interdisciplinary 24 F. Mathematics, Computers 25 G. Physics, Physical Science 28 H. Social Sciences 31 1. Technology 34 IV.General Projects (K-12) 35 Alphabetical List of Project Abbreviations 41 List of Project Directors 43 Introduction This publication updates and replaces in part science in challenging but comprehensible form. NSF 66-22 Course and Curriculum Improvement Other activities of the Program include support Projects. The principal difference between this and of implementation of newly developed materials the former publication isthat this one contains and studies on the fundamental aspects of learning. only descriptions of projects having direct relevance to pre-college education and, for the most part, The project descriptions as furnished by the describes the results of grants made through the project directors reflect the state of activities as of Course Content Improvement Program of the Divi- December 31, 1969. Where project materials are sion of Pre-College Education in Science.The available commercially, the name and address of Course Content Improvement Program has as its the publisher, distributor, or manufacturer is given objective the improvement of the substance of in the description. This publication, therefore, is courses in mathematics, science, and the social also intended to replace NSF 68-24 Released Text- sciences at all pre-college levels. Course improve- books, Films and Other Teaching Materials insofar ment activitiesincludewidely diverseprojects as that publication pertains to pre-college material. ranging from curriculum conferences through the Requests for further information on commercially development, including classroom trial and revision, available materials should be directed to the source of new or improved instructional apparatus to cited. A source of further information concerning the production of complete courses that may in- the project is also cited 'in most cases; inquiries clude new laboratory experiences, laboratory guides, should be directed to this source and not to the educational films, and teachers' guides and in- Foundation.It may be noted, however, that the service materials as well as textbooks. Outstand- results of many of the projects have been trans- ing scientists, social scientists and mathematicians lated or adapted fcr use in foreign countries. A in collaboration with teachers, educators and other list of such materials or other information concern- specialists take responsibility for preparing new ing translation or adaptation for foreign use can and innovative materials which present modern be obtained from the Foundation. vii I. Elementary School Projects zweragxwmr, (K-6)