The newly-published Atlas of Science Literacy is so popular that by mid-March all 1500 copies of the first run had been sold. Its publishers -- AAASs Project 2061 and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) -- have ordered another printing. This time there will be 3,000 copies available to educators around the country.

Through a series of 49 strand maps, the atlas offers teachers a visual depiction of the key scientific, mathematical and technological ideas and skills that students should learn at each educational stage from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

If there is something students dont seem to understand in sixth grade, the teacher can take a look at one of the maps and see what ideas might have been missed at an earlier stage in elementary school, says Ted Willard, senior program associate for Project 2061, the long-term AAAS initiative to help improve science, mathematics, and technology education for all students.

The maps in the Atlas of Science Literacy reflect connections among the learning goals established in Project 2061's publication Benchmarks for Science Literacy (1993). Willard is currently developing a second set of maps that will cover topics not now included in the current Atlas.

Atlas of Science Literacy is available for $49.95, either from AAAS (1-800-222-7809) or from NSTA (1-800-722-NSTA).