Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries and is showing no signs of abating. The causes of obesity in adolescence are extremely complex, and therefore approaches to prevention and treatments must be multifaceted. Early adolescence is a developmental period when youth are becoming more independent, are influenced by…

Developing and implementing curriculum that is relevant, challenging, integrative, and exploratory is central to successful middle grades education (Erb, 2005; Jackson & Davis, 2000; National Middle School Association [NMSA], 2003, 2010). However, as one language arts teacher suggests, it can be difficult to create curricula that meet these…

Gannon University, located in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, created a middle level teacher preparation curriculum focused on sustainability. After reviewing the literature about learning, teacher preparation, and barriers to campus greening, the article describes how Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) was integrated into the middle level…

This paper tells the story of the multi-layered translational process of the Drug Resistance Strategies Project. The Drug Resistance Strategies Project provides an exemplar of translational scholarship, translating adolescent narratives about their substance use experiences into an efficacious, substance abuse prevention middle school curriculum.…

Describes how the Comprehension and Cognitive Development Program (CCD) has evolved in the middle and high schools of the Kansas City, Missouri, school district. Provides a rationale for including specific components of the program. Demonstrates (with selections from teacher portfolios) the effect that the program has had on teachers' thinking and…

This article describes the initial steps taken to mainstream students classified as "educable mentally retarded" and then presents a twelve step curriculum development procedure for totally mainstreaming such students at a middle school. (Author/RK)

It is especially important that junior high and middle school teachers recognize the importance of interrelating curriculum areas. Details how this goal was achieved at one junior high school. (Editor/RK)

This curriculum guide describes the instructional program at the Ada H. H. Lewis Middle School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In brief, the goals of the program are to provide the schools' fifth-grade through eighth-grade students with educational opportunities based on an eclectic team-teaching approach. Four separate "houses" accommodate…

"Viewing and Representing in the Middle Years" was a 2-year project to investigate the development of visual literacy in the classrooms of 3 Canadian middle school teachers. These teachers tried a large variety of approaches and were generally optimistic about the increased use of visual materials to make classrooms more inclusive. They…

Project World of Work took place in Contoocook Valley School District, New Hampshire, over a three-year period, 1970-1973, with the objective of increasing the student's foundation of information, activities, and observations which would help them understand the American world of work. It was also hoped the project would assist them in securing…

Middle schools embrace exploration as a guiding principle across the school curriculum. Noting that the research on exploratory courses is sparse, this digest discusses what is known about exploratory curriculum in middle schools. The digest first looks at the role of exploratory curriculum, pointing out that the purpose of exploratory courses is…

Describes the development and field-testing of Insight to Science, a science program for ages 11-13 developed by the Inner London Education Authority and published by Addison-Wesley. The program includes physical and life sciences and is intended as an introductory science experience. (CP)

The Irving, Texas, Independent School District developed and implemented Project Eureka, a 1 year program, with Elementary Secondary Education Act Title IV, Part C monies, for grade 5 middle school gifted students. Of the 1,750 students tested on the School and College Aptitude Test and the Scientific Research Associates Achievement Test, and…

This publication contains approximately 275 brief abstracted descriptions of ongoing instructional programs in Pennsylvania public schools. Some of the program activities include art, basic skills, business, compensatory education, computers, developmental guidance, ecology, English, languages, guidance, humanities, industrial art, math, science,…