Describes some ideas for using a phone directory for teaching alphabetical order, vocabulary, mathematics, geography, critical thinking, and problem solving. (Author/RK)

Describes a woodworking program for elementary school students in Ontario, Canada. Briefly discusses program benefits in areas such as maculinizing the curriculum, providing opportunities for object manipulation and exercise of fine muscle control, and counteracting sex-role stereotypes. (JMB)

Describes some innovative public relations practices developed by Pennsylvania elementary schools. (SJL)

Presented is a teaching unit which acquaints students with the once-in-a-decade U.S. census. Included are ideas for activities which demonstrate how the census is crucial to the workings of a democracy. (KC)

Presented are brief descriptions of the winning entries in this magazine's contest for existing programs to serve as prototypes for wide-scale use in elementary schools of the 1980s. Top prizes went to computer literacy, energy education, and nutrition projects. Twenty runners-up are also described. Project addresses are included. (SJL)

Describes how Minneapolis schools deal with the energy crisis. Provides suggestions for educating children about how to combat the problem. (Author/RK)

Presented is a journalism primer, with activities designed to get elementary school students involved in all journalistic processes--observing, interviewing, recording, planning, and writing the final product. Journalism terms are defined. (KC)

Describes a project in which every sixth grade class in one California school district taped a 30-minute news program which was later aired on cable television. An accompanying article presents 13 activities to help children learn about propaganda techniques in the media. (JMB)

Monstermania is with us, folks, and the idea here is to put King Kong and some of the other creatures favored by your kids to work for you in class. It's not as monstrous as it sounds; in fact, it's downright easy. (Editor)

Reports on 3 unorthodox programs for teaching beginning reading. One uses library books and newspapers as the core materials, one features a parent-involvement program, and one emphasizes tender training. (JMB)

Presented are ideas for eight environmental and conservation education programs, many of which span grade levels and skill areas. For each program described, there is a person listed to contact for additional information. (KC)

Every piece of audiovisual equipment has a primary use, but all too often it is the only use it gets in some classrooms. Curious and imaginative teachers and pupils can discover many fascinating additional uses if they just look. (Author)

A fifth-grade teacher in Kansas City, Missouri, wanted volunteers in her classroom--to help her individualize instruction, work with students who have emotional problems, and allow her more time to plan her instruction. But when two adults volunteered to help, she couldn't think of anything specific for them to do. Here are suggestions for…

Describes the winners of the Space Traveler Project, a contest jointly sponsored by Rockwell International, NASA, and this magazine to identify worthwhile elementary science programs relating to the Space Shuttle. (SJL)

The Zoo School, housed in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, city zoo, provides a challenging one-year program for highly motivated, but not necessarily gifted, sixth graders. Using the zoo as a laboratory, its goal is to teach students about the contemporary world and to develop them as independent learners. (Author/SJL)