GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

United States General Accounting Office

Washington, DC 20548

October 12, 2000

The Honorable F. James Sensenbrenner

Chairman

The Honorable Vernon Ehlers

Vice-Chairman

The Honorable Ralph M. Hall

Ranking Minority Member

Committee on Science

House of Representatives

The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson

Ranking Minority Member

Subcommittee on Basic Research

Committee on Science

House of Representatives

Subject: Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

As a follow-up to our July report Math and Science Education: Comprehensive Information About

Federally Funded Materials Not Available (GAO/HEHS-00-110, July 12, 2000), you asked us to

provide additional information on each of the 61 materials identified in our report.1 Specifically,

you asked us to describe (1) the topic and/or scope of these materials, and (2) the materials’

designed duration of instruction—that is, whether the materials are designed to be used over the

course of a partial academic school year, a single academic school year, or multiple academic

school years.

The enclosure to this letter provides information about each of the materials including the topics

covered and a summary of their instructional goals. Table 1 summarizes the duration of the

instruction for which the materials were designed.

1

Materials refer to comprehensive materials sets that contain all of the components a teacher would need to

teach and a student would need to learn one or more mathematics and/or science concepts.
2 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

Table 1: Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

Designed duration of instructiona Number of materials

Partial academic school yearb 40

Single academic school year 7

Multiple academic school years 11

Other instructional durationc 2

Information not available 1

Total number of materials 61

a

Teachers may also use the materials for shorter or longer periods of instruction.

b

The design of these materials allows them to be used for instructional periods varying from a single

50-minute session up to at least half of the academic year.

c

Materials that fall within this category may be used as partial, single, or multiple academic school

year materials.

Source: GAO review of federally funded math and science materials.

To obtain the information for this correspondence, we synthesized responses to a survey of the eight

agencies that supported the development of these materials and conducted a search of Internet sites

that disseminate information about math and science materials for kindergarten through 12th grade.

We provided officials at each of the eight agencies an opportunity to review and comment on our

description of their materials. Some program officials provided technical comments on the

information, which we incorporated as appropriate. We performed our work between May 2000 and

September 2000 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.

If you have any questions about this correspondence, please call me at (202) 512-7215, or Joan

Mahagan at (617) 565-7532. Arthur T. Merriam Jr., Joseph G. Evans, and William H. Ewell were

also major contributors.

Marnie S. Shaul

Director

Education, Workforce, and

Income Security Issues

Enclosure
3 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

ENCLOSURE ENCLOSURE

Math and Science Materials Resulting from Federally Funded Projects That Became Available

During Fiscal Year 1999, by Agency

Material

name

Topic(s)

covered

Targeted

grade

level

Duration

(in

academic

years)a

Description

Department of Education

Algebra Algebra 5-8 Partialb This material is designed as an 8-week

course to teach urban middle school

educators better techniques for

teaching algebra. The material also

provides resources for use by

classroom teachers.

Calculus

Enhancement

Calculus 11-12 Partial The goal of this material is to teach

high school students calculus and

advanced-placement calculus using

distance learning technologies. The

material includes a CD-ROM, digitized

video, and an interactive website.

College of

Central

Wyoming

Mountain Plains

Distance

Learning

Partnership

General

studies

K-12 and

adult

Partial,

single, or

multiple

This material is designed as a virtual

campus and covers large rural areas in

parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and

Montana. The material is designed to

use live, interactive, full motion, and

two-way audio and visual capabilities

and includes a variety of modules and

complete courses on a range of topics

including math and science education.

Community for

Learning

General

studies

K-12 Partial The goal of this material is to improve

the capacity of schools to achieve the

educational success of increasingly

diverse student populations. This

material is designed as a researchbased comprehensive school reform

model that employs adaptive learning

environments, cooperative learning,

and school-to-family strategies along

with intensive classroom management

training.
4 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

Connections

Curriculum

Units

General

studies

5-12 Partial The goal of this material is to (1)

demonstrate the use of technology in

teaching and learning, and (2) enhance

teacher professional development and

student learning through the use of

technology. The materials include

components of math, science, social

studies, language arts, foreign language,

and other school subject areas.

Teacher units are currently available

via the World Wide Web.

Envirotackle

Box

Environmenta

l science

6-8 Partial The goal of this material is to teach

middle school students and teachers

about the environment. The material

includes five 20-minute tele-lessons,

teachers’ guides, and information

available on a Web site.

GeogWeb

Curriculum

Units

General

studies

K-12 Informatio

n not

available

The goal of this material is to develop a

World Wide Web site for learning about

communities. The material is designed

to be used by students, teachers, and

the community at large.

Head Start on

Science

Natural

science

K-2 Multiple The goal of this material is to provide a

program of professional development

and technical assistance for preschool

educators that explores the scientific

approach to learning. The material is

designed to strengthen children’s

communication skills and to foster an

early interest in science literacy. The

material also provides resources for use

by classroom teachers.

Journeys to

Alaska

Science,

national

parks

6-8 Partial The goal of this material is to teach

middle school students a range of

science topics, including geology and

weather, through the use of electronic

field trips to national parks in Alaska.

Trips are available live via satellite

downlinks, on videotape, and through a

Web site.

K-12

Curriculum

Database with

Correlated

Resources

General math,

science, and

language

studies

K-12 Single The goal for the use of these materials

is to provide instructional tools and

technology training for teachers,

students, and parents. The tools

include an instructional Web site, a

core curriculum database, and lesson

plans in math, science, and language

arts.
5 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

KID SCIENCE Oceanograph

y, electricity,

environmenta

l and physical

science

5-6 Single This material is designed to be a live,

interactive program for the delivery of

learning materials to elementary

schools. The goal of the material is to

teach science concepts and

methodologies relating to

oceanography, electricity,

environmental issues, and physical

science through a variety of hands-on

activities, on-line resources, and

projects integrated with the televised

programs.

Math Wings General math

and problem

solving

K-5 Multiple The goal of this comprehensive math

curriculum is to teach students the

conceptual development and practical

application of math skills including

problem solving, calculator use,

alternative assessments, writing, and

connections to literature and other

disciplines.

Nature Scene Natural

science

5-8 Partial This material is designed to teach

science using 80 Nature Scene shows.

The shows are based on key scientific

terms and concepts that are identified

along four major science education

themes. The material includes lesson

guides with teaching suggestions for

elementary, middle, secondary, and

parent audiences.

Pacific Algebra

Network

Algebra 8-10 Single The goal of this material is to support

the professional development of

algebra teachers. The material includes

distance-learning technologies to

enhance professional development

opportunities using the standardsbased algebra curriculum developed by

the Curriculum Research and

Development Group. The material

includes videotaped classroom

instruction combined with online

communication for continued year-long

discussion and follow-up support for

algebra teachers. The material also

provides resources for classroom use.
6 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

Parent Flash

Cards

Physical

science

K, 4-10 Partial This material is part of a larger project

developed at the Museum of Science

and Industry in Chicago called the

Parent Network. The goal of Parent

Flash Cards (or IDEA CARDS) is to

help students from inner-city

neighborhoods learn scientific and

technological themes including water,

light, color, force, motion, air, and

balance. On each flash card is an

activity for parents to do with the

student, the supplies needed, an

extension activity, and recommended

books on the theme.

Practical Math/

Pre-GED

(General

Educational

Development)

Quantitative

analysis and

reasoning,

and

communicati

on

High

school

equivalenc

y program

Partial The goal of this material is to help

students develop problem-solving skills

in real-life situations. Designed around

the findings and recommendations of

the 1991 report of the Secretary of

Labor’s Commission on Achieving

Necessary Skills, the course targets

skills that employers want with an

emphasis on work place and everyday

uses of math.

Project Focus

on Achieving

Standards in

Teaching

Mathematics

Basic

concepts in

mathematics

7-9 Multiple This material is designed to teach basic

concepts in mathematics to students

with limited English proficiency.

Supporting

Young

Children’s

Readiness for

School

Mathematics

through PreKindergarten

Classroom and

Family Math

Curriculum

Enumeration

and number

sense,

arithmetic

reasoning,

spatial sense

and

geometric

reasoning,

measurement,

and computer

math

Pre-K, K Partial The goal of this material is to enhance

young children’s readiness to learn

mathematics. The material includes

eight topical units, each with a range of

informal math activities and concrete

materials. Teachers are instructed in

the classroom-based component of the

material through workshops and a

functioning model classroom. Parents

are taught the home-based component

of the material by attending family

mathematics classes with their

children. After class, it is hoped that

parents will take home and use math

kits containing sets of hands-on math

activities with their children.
7 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

Teams

Distance

Learning

Program

General

studies

1-8 Partial The goal of the material is to deliver,

via satellite and the Internet,

instructional activities that cover the

areas of math, science, reading,

language arts, history, social sciences,

and technology. The material consists

of month-long interactive instructional

modules, each containing eight student

programs, preceded by a 1-hour

professional development program.

Each student program includes lesson

guides, classroom kits, and an

orientation and staff development

program.

Transition to

Advanced

Math

High school

standardsbased math

9 Partial The goal of this material is to teach

high school standards-based

mathematics to students who enter the

ninth grade significantly below grade

level, with poor prior preparation and

weak motivation. The material is

designed to provide students with

intensive support through monthly

workshops and weekly in-class

coaching for at least 2 years.

WebQuest

Units

General

studies

K-12 Multiple The goal of this material is to provide

teachers with templates and instruction

in developing, implementing, and

assessing curriculum units. The units

are designed as inquiry-oriented

activities that each typically take 3-6

weeks to complete. The material also

provides resources for use by

classroom teachers.

World Lab Science and

social studies

K-5 Multiple This material is a thematic science and

social studies program that integrates

reading, writing, math, and the fine arts.

The goal of Worldlab is to teach

students about the world by having

them investigate real-world problems

and topics, including economic,

political, biological, and physical

systems. This material incorporates

field studies, community resources,

computer technology, and

telecommunications as means to obtain

information about the world. In

addition, this material utilizes

simulation, group investigation, and
8 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

cooperative learning to accomplish its

learning objectives.

Young

Astronauts I

and II

Astronomy,

flight, and

rocketry

4-6 Single These materials are designed to

encourage students to develop

knowledge, skills, and a positive

attitude toward science, technology,

and math. The materials use a learn-bydoing approach to integrate facts with

scientific processes, and enhance

higher-order thinking skills and

competence in problem solving. The

Young Astronauts I and II course

materials may be used separately or

together, as they are complementary

but independent.

Department of Energy

Lesson Plans

Describing

Fossil Energy

and

Technology

Fossil fuel

energy

7-12 Single This material is designed to describe

the formation and uses of fossil fuels.

Its goal is a discussion of energy as one

of the basic necessities.

Environmental Protection Agency

National

Drinking Water

Week Kit

Water quality K-12 Partial This material is designed to

complement an existing school

drinking water curriculum. The

material’s goal is to raise students’

awareness of environmental drinking

water issues.

The Water

Drop Patch

Project:

Making a

Difference

Watershed

protection

1-12 Single The goal of this material is to educate

students in the need to protect water

resources. This material consists of 20

different activities and is designed to

encourage students to become

watershed and wetlands stewards.

Federal Aviation Administration

Lesson Plans

That Fly—

Aviation in a

Bag

Aviation

science

3-6 Partial This material consists of an aviation

science kit and lesson plan designed to

teach science with aviation as a

motivator. The lesson plans explore

the principles of flight including

Bernoulli’s principle, creating lift,

gravity, thrust, control surfaces, and

aircraft design.

Take-Off

Series Kit

Aviation

science, and

history

7-8 Partial This material is designed to allow

students to investigate the concepts of

aeronautics and aviation science as part

of cooperative learning groups. The

material contains a five part video

series called “Take-Off!” based on live
9 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

interactive broadcasts of the same

name; a Web supplement that provides

access to collections of online aviation

resources; and a teacher’s guide to

support teachers who use the series in

the classroom.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Astronomy

Village

Astronomy 9-12 Partial The goal of this material is to provide

schools with a multimedia curriculum

resource. Astronomy Village is a CDROM-based multimedia program

designed to provide opportunities for

students to engage in scientific inquiry,

learn about stars and stellar evolution,

and make use of NASA resources and

data.

Bioblast Biology 9-11 Partial This material is designed as a

multimedia curriculum supplement for

high school biology classes. Its goal is

to encourage students to conduct

scientific research based on the actual

research now being conducted by

NASA’s Advanced Life Support

Research program.

CERES Astronomy K-12 Partial The goal of this material is to teach

students about astronomy using online

NASA resources, data, and images. In

addition to classroom-ready materials,

CERES has developed several online

NASA data search engines and two

graduate-level distance learning

courses that are available over the

Internet to K-12 teachers. The material

is accessed through NASA’s Web site.

NASA Connect Math,

science, and

technology

4-8 Partial The goal of this material is to teach

students math, science and technology.

The material consists of five 30-minute

television programs available via public

and cable access stations, and an

accompanying Web-based component

with online projects.

National Institutes of Health

Estrogen

Receptors

Hormones 9-12 Partial This material was designed as a tutorial

for teachers to teach students about the

hormone estrogen and its receptors,

and to explain the relationship of

estrogen and its receptors to breast

cancer and the risks and benefits of

reducing cancer risk with drugs called
10 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

antiestrogens and selective estrogen

receptor molecules. This material is

available from the Internet.

Frontiers in

Physiology

Physiology 6-12 Partial The goal of this material is to improve

education in the science of physiology

in such areas as neural reactions and

reflexes and cardiovascular response to

exercise. The instructional activities

include individual labs/lessons

designed to help students explore and

learn topics in physiology.

Health Science

Curriculum

Online

Health

science

7-12 Partial This material was designed to teach

students about diabetes, cardiovascular

disease, and cancer, using both Internet

technology and in-classroom

experiments. Resources include a

database of public health clinics across

the country and scientific vocabulary in

both Spanish and English.

Mind Over

Matter: The

Brain’s

Response to

Drugs

Effect of drug

use

5-9 Partial The goal of this material is to provide

students and teachers with sciencebased information about drugs,

improve science education and literacy,

and discourage drug use by students.

The material is designed to explain to

students the effects of marijuana,

opiates, inhalants, anabolic steroids,

stimulants, nicotine,

methamphetamine, and hallucinogens

on the brain.

My Health My

World

Health and

nutrition

2-4 Partial This material is designed as one in a

series of individual health learning

units. The instructional activities

include an adventure storybook, a

language arts supplement, an activities

guide for teachers, and a take-home

mini-magazine.

Mystery of the

Crooked Cell

Biotechnolog

y

7-12 Partial This material is designed to teach

molecular biology using one mobile and

two stationary laboratories that

accommodate 24 students each. The

Mystery of the Crooked Cell is a single

module used in conjunction with the

biotechnology learning laboratory at

Boston University School of Medicine.

Positively

Aging

Gerontology

and health

6-8 Partial The goal of this material is to teach middle

school students about geriatrics and

gerontology while incorporating math and

science curricular elements. The material is
11 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

also designed to show the association of

aging with specific diseases, and to teach

health promotion and disease prevention to

enhance healthy habits. The material

consists of 12 thematic interdisciplinary

units with 276 separate learning activities.

Understanding

Cancer

Cancer 9-12 Partial This material was designed as a tutorial

for teachers to teach students what

cancer is, to explain the link between

genes and cancer, and to discuss what

is known about the causes, detection,

and diagnosis of the disease. The

material also provides resource support

for classroom teachers. This material is

available from the Internet.

Understanding

Gene Testing

Gene testing 9-12 Partial This material was designed as a tutorial

for teachers to teach students what

genes are and how mutations occur and

are identified within genes; it discusses

the benefits and limitations of gene

testing for cancer and other disorders.

The material also provides resource

support for classroom teachers. This

material is available from the Internet.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

A Resource

Guide for

Oceanography

and Coastal

Processes

Developed for

Elementary,

Middle and

High School

Teachers

Marine

science

K-12 Multiple This material is designed to teach

oceanographic and coastal process

science through a range of activities

including a 14-day in-residence teachertraining program; teachers-to-sea

experiences aboard Navy survey

vessels; and an Internet site that

contains data visualization tools,

interactive curricular materials,

communication resources, and related

materials to support and provide

classroom-based follow-up activities for

education and training programs.

Beach

Explorations:

Pacific

Information

Cards

Marine

ecology and

conservation

5-9 Partial This material is designed to teach

students about basic marine ecology

concepts such as habitat, tidal cycle,

predator and prey, microscopic

plankton, life cycles, food relationships,

adaptations, and conservation.

Biofilms and

Biodiversity

Marine

biology

6-12,

Undergraduate,

and

graduate

Partial This material is designed to teach

middle school, high school, college, and

graduate students aspects of aquatic

microbial ecology and biotechnology

research. The primary focus is on the
12 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

levels study of bacterial biofilms and the

aquatic organisms that colonize them.

Students are given access to an

interactive Web site. Visiting school

groups use research laboratories that

are designated for student use and

staffed with experienced educators at

the University of Maryland

Biotechnology Institute’s Center of

Marine Biotechnology.

Estuary Live Estuarine

ecology

K-12 and

Undergraduate

level

Partial This material is a series of live,

interactive Internet field trips and

support materials designed to explore

the general ecology of different

estuarine areas. A general video,

activities, field guides, and project

building materials such as film clips,

graphics, and press releases are

available online as well.

Estuary Net Water quality 9-12 Single or

multiple

The goal of this material is to assist

classroom teachers, students, and

citizen volunteer water quality monitors

in understanding regional water quality

issues. The curriculum is available

online and is designed to encourage

communication between schools and

the National Estuarine Research

Reserves about water quality.

From Whaling

to Watching

Marine life

studies

6-8 Partial The goal of this material is to teach

middle school students about the

Northern Right Whale, its natural

history, and conservation efforts.

Materials include a teacher’s manual, a

video, and a two-part poster on the

anatomy of the Northern Right Whale.

GLOBE

Teacher’s

Guide, Video

and Web

Materials

Earth’s

environment

K-12 Partial The goal of this material is to teach

students about the earth’s environment

using 20 scientific data-sharing

protocols in the areas of atmosphere,

hydrology, land cover biology, soil, and

Global Positioning Systems.

Gulf of

Farallones

National

Marine

Sanctuary

Habitats,

species

groups, and

issues

surrounding

the Gulf of

Farallones

National

K-12 Multiple The goal of this material is to teach

students about habitats and species

groups by studying the issues that

surround the Gulf of Farallones

National Marine Sanctuary.
13 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

Marine

Sanctuary

Island

Explorers

Program

Marine

science

4-7 Single This material is designed as a science

curriculum that contains hands-on,

real-life marine science activities. It

focuses on Southern California and

Catalina Island where students

participate in field trips to local

beaches and aquaria, and on a research

vessel marine laboratory.

Long-term

Ecosystem

Observatory

Internet

Curriculum

Marine

science

5-12 Multiple This material is a series of five Internetbased activities that focus on real-time

research currently being conducted at

the Jacques Cousteau National

Estuarine Research Reserves in New

Jersey. The activities focus on physical

and biological data associated with the

Gulf Stream current.

MARE (Marine

Activities,

Resources and

Education)

East Coast

Supplementary

Modules

Marine

science

K-12 Partial The goal of this material is to

incorporate current marine science

research into the classroom. The

material is designed to provide

precollege educators in New Jersey

access to the Institute of Marine and

Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University

through such means as workshops for

educators, seminars on current

research topics, Internet-based

applications, outreach activities, and

resources for use by classroom

teachers.

Oceans,

Coastal

Hazards:

Hurricanes,

Tsunamis,

Coastal

Erosion

Coastal

hazards

K-12 Multiple The goal of this material is to assist

states and educate citizens to employ

the most effective means to reduce loss

of life due to coastal hazards and to

mitigate the economic impacts of these

hazards. The material also provides

resources for use by classroom

teachers.

The St. Jones

Delaware

National

Estuarine

Research

Reserve

Curriculum

Estuary

conservation

5-12 Partial The goal of this material is to make

students aware of environmental

management issues related to the St.

Jones estuary and watershed. The

material is designed to be correlated

with the science, math, social studies,

and language arts standards and

performance indicators for grades 5-12.

In addition, information is given where

applicable about whether the program
14 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

contains opportunities to use visual,

creative, or technological arts.

United States Geological Survey

Africa GISBased ProjectGeography 9-12 Partial The goal of this project is to teach high

school students African geography

through the exploration of Africa’s

physical environment. The project

includes a Geographic Information

Systems component.

County School

Patterns

Geography

and sociology

9-12 Partial The goal of this material is to teach

high school students geography and

sociology by examining demographic

and educational statistics within a

county.

Earthquakes

Everyday

Seismology 3-12 and

Undergraduate

level

Partial The goal of this material is to explore

earthquake activity and its patterns

globally through the use of past and

current earthquake epicenter data. The

material includes Geographic

Information Systems software.

Echo the Bat

or Imagers

Light and

sound

5-8 Partial The goal of the project is to introduce

students to the topics of remote sensing

and biodiversity. Student instructional

activities include a Web-based site

featuring an interactive adventure and a

teacher’s guide.

GLOBE:

Satellite

Imagery

Packets

Earth’s

environment

K-12 Multiple The goal of this material is to teach

students about geography and global

environmental issues through the use of

satellite data from the U.S. Geological

Survey EROS Data Center.

Water Matters,

Vol. 3

Water

resource

education

2-8 Multiple This material is one part of a larger

material set entitled the Water

Resource Education Initiative. This

material is designed to act as a

curriculum guide for teachers on the

topics of oceans, watersheds, and

hazardous waste.

74,796 Readyto-Go Map

Mysteries

Topography 4-12 and

Undergraduate

level

Partial The goal of this material is to teach

students about the world’s physical and

cultural environment through the use of

topographic and thematic maps.

a

Materials are designed for partial, single, or multiple academic years. Teachers may use the

materials for shorter or longer periods of instruction.

b

The design of these materials allows them to be used for single instructional periods for up to

at least half of the academic school year.
15 GAO-01-81R Federally Funded Math and Science Materials

Source: GAO review of the material descriptions provided by each agency and a search of Internet sites

that disseminate information about math and science materials for kindergarten through 12th grade.

(102006)