This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of integrated art-science curricula upon remediation of the misconception held by elementary students that humans are not animals. Quantitative instruments were designed to measure and assess: (1) the existence of the misconception within the test population; (2) the degree to which the misconception existed within grade levels and treatment groups within grade levels; (3) the degree to which any positive level of remediation is achieved; and (4) evaluation of the experimental curricula by participating faculty. Qualitative instruments were applied to measure and assess the reasoning process applied by students for the formation of and any degree of change in the targeted misconception.Two hundred and forty-two students, in grades one, three and five, from a rural elementary school in east central Indiana participated. Enrolllment of students in individual classrooms was accomplished by administration policy of random assignment. Classrooms, by grade level, were randomly assigned to treatment groups by the researcher.Students in control groups at each grade level were instructed according to established curricula of the school. Students in experimental animal science groups were instructed through specifically designed hands-on science activities with the art component being the school's established curriculum. Students in experimental animal art groups were instructed according to specifically designed art activities incorporating observations made during science lessons, with the science component being the school's established curriculum. Students in the both treatment groups received instruction combining the experimental animal science and experimental animal art curricula.Results indicated that students instructed from the experimental curricula demonstrated remediation of the misconception, with students in the both treatment groups of each grade level demonstrating the highest degree of remediation. Students in control groups failed to demonstrate any level of significant remediation while actually demonstrating an increase in the degree to which the misconception was held.Implications presented by the data indicate interdisciplinary approaches to learning to be far more effective in establishing higher levels of comprehension and understanding. Through the combination of the innate behaviorial characteristics of elementary students and the connecting relationships of academic disciplines, presentation of instructional materials will generate higher levels of interest and enthusiasm within both students and teachers. The resultant effect being a more positive learning environment and an increase in achievement. / Department of Biology

There is no abstract available for this dissertation.

There is no abstract available for this dissertation.

No description available.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current methods of teaching and the available science material for the teaching of elementary science in order to prepare a proposed plan of instruction for the seventh and eighth grades of Jefferson School for the 1941-1942 school year.

The Surrey School District has sponsored a District elementary schools science fair (grades 4-7) for 21 years and voluntary participation has increased throughout this time. Despite this popularity, no studies have been conducted regarding the science fair. A survey of the elementary schools in the Surrey School District was conducted. The four areas identified for investigation were: (a) participation in school and district science fairs (b) organization of school science fairs (c) relationship between science instruction and science fair participation, (d) teacher participation in science fairs. Two questionnaires were developed. One was distributed to all elementary teachers in Surrey and the other was distributed to all elementary principals in Surrey. Response rates were 77% (teacher's questionnaire, n=346) and 88% (principal's questionnaire, n=59). Data analysis was in the form of frequencies of response expressed in percentages. Some crosstabulatons were calculated. The major findings of the study were: (a) most schools (95%) participate in the science fair, (b) most schools (85%) Include primary students in the science fair, (c) 4 827 Intermediate students (83%) completed a science fair project, (d) all schools encourage public viewing of their science fair, (e) teachers do not vary their science Instructional activities, lnstructonal materials, or their instructonal time, from the fall to the spring, (f) teachers provide extra instructional time and extra-curricular time to assist students with preparation of science fair projects, (g) teachers evaluate science fair product and not the process of completing a science fair project, (h) most teachers (75%) reported a willingness to attend science fair inservice, (i) teachers and principals have very similar attitudes toward science fair, (j) many teachers (n=89) and principals (n=39) made general comments about the science fair. The study recommends that the Surrey Elementary Schools Science Fair be continued and that further study be conducted regarding the type and amount of assistance that elementary students require to complete a science fair project satisfactorily. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

This clinical study aimed at exploring the following issues: 1) whether English Primary Language and English Second Language students have similar ideas on the Life-Cycle of the Mealworm Beetle; 2) which words and phrases these two groups use to convey key aspects of that Life-Cycle 3) to what extent does the type and frequency of words and phrases used, vary with the student1 ability to communicate orally in English. Two Interview Conditions were used, the Verbal Con dition and the Verbal Manipulative Condition. Results indicated that the ideas of students fell into four patterns regardless of whether subjects were-English Second Language or English Primary Language. A list of words and phrases used by the subject has bee identified, according to the language background of the sample and this list suggests that the type and frequency of nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs varied according to the language sub-group (ESL/EPL) and Interview Condition (Verbal/Verbal Manipulative). / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study is to give the results of a science experiment in an elementary grade in raising silkworms. The purpose of the experiment was not to learn the laws and principles of science, but to determine whether the life cycle of the silkworm would create a greater interest in the field of science.

It is the purpose of this thesis to show as nearly as possible how a course in elementary science was worked out and carried on to meet the interests and needs of the pupils in a small rural school.

No description available.