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)

Dance for preschool children can be a vehicle for self-expression and for learning, but teachers must present material in the form of play. Ideas for teaching dance to three- to five-year-old children, such as the proper way to jump and skip, are presented, along with a sample lesson. (PP)

The ability to measure time means being able to arrange events in logical sequences, predict which kinds of events take longer than others, and understand different divisions of time. Teaching methods and class activities that will help children develop skills and concepts concerning time usage are presented. (PP)

Studying about stellar constellations provides children with an opportunity to learn about ancient myths and mathematics at the same time. An interdisciplinary teaching unit combines information about myths associated with the zodiac signs and instructions for plotting the coordinates of stars. (PP)

Describes a locally developed, grade 7 unit focusing on the migration of the earliest people of the Polynesian region. Inquiry strategies and activities encouraging inferential thinking are used with the unit. (JN)

Provides nine methods students can use to file information efficiently while reading: (1) time-space arrangements, (2) absurd pictures, (3) narratives, (4) rhymes, (5) acronyms, (6) acrostics, (7) numerical acrostics, (8) graphic illustrations, and (9) spontaneous associations. (FL)

Presents ways of making poetry interesting and exciting to junior high school students, including videotaped readings, cut and paste projects, and dramatic readings. (JL)

Annotates journal articles, ERIC documents, and books that provide ideas and activities for classroom teachers and supervisors who want to improve reading instruction for gifted students. (FL)

Information is presented for teaching about the formation of tornadoes and their effects. Ideas for relevant class discussion topics, writing assignments, and experiments to illustrate how temperature and air pressure changes involved in the storms work are also given. (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)

Information about dance history, different types of dances, and dancing in other countries is presented. Ideas are offered for helping children experience all aspects of dance, from scoring to performing. In addition, Alexander Godunov of the American Ballet Theater answers questions of fifth and sixth graders. (PP)

Describes an exercise in the content analysis of political ideologies. Advantages of the exercise include that it teaches students to employ content analysis as a method of research and that it introduces them to the ideological statements of America's leading social critics. (DB)