This is the second "Center Spot" devoted to Jan Hoffman's "Shoe Box Science," a program that organizes manipulative materials so that children can identify, describe, order, construct, name and distinguish on their own.

Three companies (Voyager Expanded Learning, Mindsurf, and EXPLORE) have introduced after-school programs that emphasize stress-free academic enrichment activities. The companies differ, but share a fun-learning concept, maintain low staff-child ratios of about 1:8, and serve grades K-8. The operative words are flexibility and affordability. Some…

This document is a compilation of weekly reports written by the unit-based teachers in the Ypsilanti Preschool Demonstration Project. The purpose of the unit-based program is to supply preschoolers with the necessary educational and social skills to adapt readily to a kindergarten curriculum. The success of the program depends almost entirely upon…

The needs and capabilities of 4-year-old Head Start children were considered in development of classification and attention training curricula, including: (1) sensory exploration through object manipulation, (2) variety of high-interest materials, (3) change of pace during the lesson, (4) presentation of learning activities as games, (5) relating…

Describes a science program designed for gifted seventh and eighth grade students. Includes curriculum guidelines; implementation, development, and evaluation of the program. (MA)

Samples of materials available to students from grades 4 through 12 at a Mathematics Center are reviewed. The examples are part of a collection of more than 200 mathematical tasks using solid materials in a new approach to problem solving. (MP)

Even miles from the nearest wave young children can delight in seaside skills and subjects. (Editor)

Describes how a neglected Boston middle school transformed itself into an inviting, tree-lined campus with comfortable reading and study areas and an exemplary physical education program. Project Adventure is an intense six-week physical training course that teaches advanced rock-climbing skills. With classmates' encouragement, participants…

This document describes how to teach a computer to add numbers using the LOGO programing language. The programing project is described in the way a student might develop it. The model of developing the program uses humans as an anthropomorphic model for the computer, and the computer as a model for people. The document has an unorthodox style, as…

Impetus for curriculum change in the field of social studies stems from the increasing momentum of social change, together with new developments in the social sciences and new discoveries in learning theory. Principles which characterize the suggested program modifications include focus on concept formation, a multidisciplinary approach to…

Discusses five innovative social studies projects which employ conceptual frameworks, discovery learning, and multimedia presentations. The projects generally reflect the ideas of the "new social studies." Projects discussed are The Family of Man, From Subject to Citizen, Patterns in Human History, Geography in an Urban Age, and…

This document is the fourth in a series of 12 early childhood program descriptions compiled by the Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development. The program described here is the Responsive Program developed by Glen Nimnicht at the Far West Lab in Berkeley, California. The Responsive Model is a preschool through third grade program…

Discussion of several modes of understanding in the cognitive approach to information processing focuses on heuristic (discovery-based) scientific understanding. Topics covered include how students seeking heuristic understanding in a process-oriented school library media program look at information, use preconceptions to guide their searches,…

Reports development and results of the Kramer Project, a two-year study of the implementation of a problem-solving, activity-based mathematics program in the elementary grades. Describes the mathematical content covered, participating teachers, instructional materials employed, inservice teacher training provided, and academic achievement gains of…

Once a week, several classrooms of Philadelphia 4th-grade girls participate in Sisters in Science, an afterschool, intergenerational program sponsored by Temple University that provides hand-on activities exploring urban environmental issues. A two-week summer camp program helps these students explore the rivers of Philadelphia. Participants…