Special class activities for September are suggested. Historical events that took place during the month, observance of holidays and other special days, and the change in the seasons can provide ideas for launching class projects. (PP)

Examines materials in the ERIC database that deal with the use of creative drama as a language arts teaching tool. Discusses the nature of creative drama and activities for the classroom. (HTH)

Described is a "joke center" where elementary school students not only learned about various kinds of humor and practiced language skills but had a terrific week of laughter as they shared favorite jokes and made up new ones. (Author/KC)

Fifteen teaching suggestions are offered for elementary language skills activities. The focus is on developing proficiency in sentence completion, alphabetizing, story telling, writing, describing, listening creatively, spelling, and expanding language comprehension. (JD)

A teacher of gifted elementary students discusses her class's annual Shakespeare project which involves studying his life, reviewing familiar passages, and finally presenting one of his plays. (CL)

Building a railroad or writing about it in class takes a lot of organization. (Editor)

Describes a career awareness unit for middle school language arts students which focuses on the special uses of language found in different professions. (SR)

This article discusses how a social studies teacher taught her middle school students about the components of an opera and prepared her students for putting on an opera. The development of the opera and how the opera training related to the social studies, language arts, and music curriculum are addressed. (Contains 1 reference.) (CR)

Notes that teachers at every grade level have discovered that engaging children in book making has the power to motivate even the most reluctant writers. Notes that most curricula for teaching writing ignore the role of visual images in the writing process. Contends that by creating a combination of graphics and written text, children engage in a…

This article suggests ways of teaching critical thinking skills that won't strain crowded schedules. Several curriculum-related ideas and brain teasers are listed. A number of activities are appropriate for odd moments in the school day, such as while students line up for lunch or as they come in from recess. (IAH)

Argues that unique collaborative learning possibilities exist in classes with both regular and academically talented or gifted students. Notes that research indicates that students of all ability levels learn more and have better attitudes when they work together as a group. Presents eight suggestions for group activities in the language arts. (RS)

Uses proverbs to facilitate the development of inferential reading skills. Provides examples of proverbs which children have finished with their own original endings. (MG)

Describes how to introduce a Shakespeare play by having students act out and discuss an edited, pivotal scene from the play. Suggests various scenes which are well-suited to this activity. (MM)

Presents 17 classroom activities with an environmental theme. Activities are divided by grade level (grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12) and by subject matter (science, social studies, language arts, mathematics, and fine arts). Contains 15 suggestions for celebrating Earth Day. (LZ)

Explains how elementary teachers can help students understand onomatopoeia, suggesting that they define onomatopoeia, share examples of it, read poems and have students discuss onomatopoeic words, act out common household sounds, write about sound effects, and create choral readings of onomatopoeic poems. Two appropriate poems are included. (SM)