The school site for the study had a population which included 31.7% Hispanic students, 26.7% African-American students, and 6.0% other minorities. Eighteen
Journal of Elementary Science Education • Winter 2009 • 21(1) 5
percent of the students were non-native English speakers. Eighty percent of students received free or reduced-price lunches. The two 4th-grade classes chosen were representative of the school’s population