Provides outdoor homework assignments that are hands-on learning activities covering all academic areas and requiring very little material or expertise. Activities can be adapted for grades 1-6 and should be evaluated on the basis of effort, creativity, presentation, and the amount of information gathered. Contains 16 references. (DDR)

Creative activities can enliven math classes and enhance student learning. Several suggestions are given for creating amusing word problems and lively drills. Included is a reproducible word problem sheet. (IAH)

Suggests that the integration of geography activities into U.S. history courses is a remedy for the lack of geography awareness displayed by today's students. Summarizes 14 activities from the "U.S. History I Map Activities" book which are designed to familiarize students with the physiography of the United States. (KO)

Describes an approach of two elementary school teachers in combining instruction in reading and science. Students brainstorm a list of things they know about a topic; then they generate a list of things they wish to find out. Students read and conduct science activities to find out what they wish to know. Then students summarize what was learned.…

This curriculum unit, intended for use with gifted students and others, uses the theme of queens and honors to develop writing skills across the curriculum. Sample learning activities are suggested for the areas of language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science. (DB)

Eschewing Little Mermaid and Ninja Turtle costumes, students at a Washington Montessori school celebrate Halloween dressed as John Adams, Clara Barton, and other historical figures. U.S. Department of Education recently recognized eight schools for using interdisciplinary approaches, devoting adequate instructional time to history, and addressing…

This instructional activity is intended to help students become more aware of their television viewing habits and to better utilize television. It presents self-evaluation activities and television-related activities in language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. (DB)

Relates the personal story of how a 13-year-old used previous knowledge of matching words in English to construct her own understanding of mapping in mathematics as it pertains to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM) recommendation that students use and value connections between mathematics and other disciplines. (AIM)

This article describes a learning activity, the Texas History Walk, in which third- and seventh-grade gifted students learn about life in the 1870s on the Texas frontier. The younger students interact with the actors, seventh graders role-playing characters of the 1870s. Benefits of the activity include its interdisciplinary nature, the cross-age…

Illustrates the project approach by describing a classroom unit on Pueblo Indians. Discusses each phase of the project, including assessment, research, hands-on activities, and evaluation. Includes instructions for the hands-on activities used in the project, and offers strategies to guide the study of Native Americans. (TJQ)

Ecosystem management is an integrated approach to managing Florida's biological and physical environments designed to maintain, protect, and improve the state's natural, managed, and human communities. This document contains activities designed for 4th-5th grade students that meet the guidelines of Florida's K-12 Science Framework to better…

This curriculum unit describes geothermal energy in the context of the world's energy needs. It addresses renewable and nonrenewable energy sources with an in-depth study of geothermal energy--its geology, its history, and its many uses. Included are integrated activities involving science, as well as math, social studies, and language arts.…

This paper describes how a school district in Maine implemented an outdoor education program centered around National Trails Day (a day of awareness of outdoor recreational areas in the United States). The program combined classroom learning with an all-day hike on the Appalachian Trail by 240 seventh-grade students. Numerous teachers, school…

This guide uses a thematic approach to show the integration of subjects (reading, mathematics, language arts, science/fine arts) and skills to create a context for learning. The contents of this guide are presented in a holistic format. There are six major topics in the guide, each with subtopics: (1) "Getting Your Feet Wet--An Introduction to…

This booklet of teacher-developed and teacher-tested activities and strategies draws upon the curriculum areas of language arts, mathematics and social studies. Though prepared for fourth, fifth and sixth grade students, the material is adaptable for primary grades and can be used for group activities or as individual task cards. Activity sheets…