Discusses development of an integrated curricular approach that combines several related units from separate curricular areas and uses theme cycles instead of text books. Uses illustration to describe the process of developing engaging and productive theme cycles and related learning experiences. Summarizes characteristics of an integrated…

Describes a three-week summer course on humor for gifted high school students. Outlines 10 reasons for studying humor and describes the development of the course and activities during each of the three weeks. (DB)

This study compared the efficacy of 3 approaches to professional development in middle school Earth science organized around the principles of Understanding by Design (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) in a sample of 53 teachers from a large urban district. Teachers were randomly assigned to a control group or to 1 of 3 conditions that varied with…

This paper describes and analyses an innovative experience carried out by a group of lecturers from the Psychopedagogy Faculty of the University of Alcala, involved in an action research process with the purpose of reflecting about our own practice and constructing alternative teaching strategies to facilitate students' reflective, autonomous and…

Piagetian stages of cognitive development are reviewed, and what teachers of geography skills, particularly map skills, can do to make use of Piaget's theory of child development is discussed. Piaget describes children at four different stages: (1) sensorimotor stage--birth to 2 years, (2) preoperational stage--ages 2-7, (3) concrete operational…

The project was designed to develop a multisensory, language-oriented curriculum to introduce the letters of the alphabet to six hearing impaired preschoolers. Every week a new letter is introduced via such tasks as art and cooking activities, snacks, beginning sound picture cards, yarn and lacing letters, sandpaper letters, alphabet string beads,…

An early childhood specialist teaching kindergarten classes in a small city in the northeast designed this practicum to improve the science instruction provided kindedrgarten children. Practicum goals were to: (1) increase the effectiveness of the kindergarten science program by providing science experiences based on the recognition of the…

Ideas, suggestions and activities for preschool through the early primary grades. This issue focuses on the use of fairy tales and folktales to stimulate student learning. (Editor/RK)

Presents both an argument and a suggestion for making the teaching of "thought" a visible and substantial component of the English curriculum. (Author/RK)

Presents eight exercises which involve budgeting skills. These can be incorporated into political science courses to illustrate the way in which city governments raise, allocate, and manage their financial resources. (Author/AV)

The author explains what the teacher must know and prepare for when implementing vocational instruction developed by the Curriculum Delivery System (CDS) Project. Preparation of the learning activity packages are discussed, and the major points to remember when utilizing the total system are summarized. (BM)

Offers guidelines for the development of a sequential college consumer education curriculum designed to help students develop competencies needed to assume roles of leadership as consumer advocates. Included are five recommended topics of study, six cognitive learner behaviors, and guidelines for the selection of activities. (SH)

A general framework consisting of four curricular dimensions (content, process, product, learning environment) and criteria for developing and judging appropriate curricula for gifted students are presented with adaptations for gifted preschoolers. Examples of teaching activities and techniques appropriate for gifted preschool students can be…

Reports on the findings of the Algorithms working group at the Ware, England, conference. Examines methods of introducing the algorithmic approach to mathematics via computer programing and using problems arising from content areas. Considers programing language and presents support for programming in mathematics curricula. (JM)