Science Education In Our Elementary and Secondary Schools A Guide for Technical Professionals Who Want to Help Education Outreach Department Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque, NM 87185 Livermore, CA 94551 Copyright: This material may be freely published, reproduced, or distributed provided it carries the acknowledgment that it has been produced by Sandia National Laboratories and is being distributed with their permission. Acknowledgment: This work was performed at Sandia National Laboratories, which is operated for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.   Contents Introduction: How to Use This Guide Science Education: Things You Need to Know Before Getting Involved You Can Make a Difference  Take Advantage of Available Help; Don't Try to Invent Everything Yourself Integrate Your Effort With the Science Education Reform Movement Adopt a Positive Attitude Things You Should Know About Schools and Teachers Things You Should Know About Students Options for Involvement Taking the First Steps Structuring for Success Getting on With It Key Organizations, Publications, and Resources in Science Education Reform Working Effectively With Students Social, Emotional and Intellectual Development of Children Principles for Maximized Learning Coordinating With the Teacher -- The Foundation for Success Working Effectively With Students (cont'd) Planning and Preparing Successful Activities Presenting Your Activity Following Up Working Effectively With Teachers Things You Should Know About Teachers Ways You Can Help Getting Started and Interacting Effectively Conducting a Tour of Your Worksite Engaging Participants in Activities Being Age Appropriate Other Suggestions Sources of Hands-on Science and Math Activity Ideas Fully Developed Single Session Activities Briefer Demonstrations and Activities Multiple Session Activities Hands-on Science Curricula and Information for Teachers Introduction: How to Use This Guide This guide has been prepared to help technical professionals become productively involved in enhancing K-12 science education. It has been prepared by scientists and engineers at Sandia National Laboratories who have been extensively involved in the K-12 science education effort for several years. These individuals relate what they have found to be key principles for conducting effective education outreach activities. Many of these principles are illustrated with examples of activities that proved successful (or less than successful) in the Sandia program. The guide is organized in a way that will help you access the material which is most pertinent to your particular interests and needs, as shown below. We suggest that everyone read chapter one, which provides general information on science education, students and teachers. You should then proceed to the chapter(s) which are of greatest interest to you. As you read these chapters you will likely see points you will want to expand upon based on your own experiences, ideas for initiatives you might like to pursue, or thoughts about particular activities you might like to conduct. Jot down these ideas in the margins or on separate note sheets as they come to you, or by tomorrow a good number of them will be forever lost . We hope that you will find the information contained here to be helpful in your educational outreach efforts.