To advance understanding of how mapping can contribute to project-based science (PBS) and cognitive assessment, 31 high school students used mapping in a year-long PBS course; mapping was one component of a set of assessment techniques. Teacher and student interviews, student surveys, and assessment scores show that mapping, as a visual…

Explores changing curricular designs and the differences between traditional and authentic learning. Identifies significant design features of authentic design, and provides examples of these features with instructional units. (AEF)

Notes the importance and use of interviewing skills. Discusses technologies used in interviewing; use of interviews in the curriculum; ways to contact potential interviewees; and planning, conducting, and ending the interview. (AEF)

Suggests ways in which adventure educators can use heritage interpretation in the wilderness setting to promote understanding of the history and significance of events, people, and objects linked to particular places. Factors to consider include creating interpretive lessons, training trip leaders to conduct them, and evaluating their effect on…

Discussion of how to improve elementary school students' writing focuses on teaching and explaining the literary element of a character's attitude. Considers the relationship between attitude, mood, and motive; includes suggested student activities related to attitude; and describes evaluation possibilities. (LRW)

Describes how a teacher can give their students the challenge of designing and building model balloons or blimps. The project helps students learn the basics of balloon flight and what it really means to be "lighter than air." (PR)

Introduces eight minicenters that deal with topics such as time, mystery objects, statistical tables, nature, comedy, and war. These materials are aimed for the upper elementary grades and are intended to spark interest in an area and to entice the learner into stopping for a while to browse. (MOK)

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)

Five articles highlight benefits and organization of field trips: (1) "Field Trips Promote Child Learning at Its Best"; (2) "Planning for Maximum Benefit, Minimum Risk"; (3) "Coaching Community Hosts"; (4) "The Story of a Field Trip: Trash and Its Place within Children's Learning and Community"; and (5) "Field Trip Stories and Perspectives" (from…

This article provides 20 principles to enable educators to identify meaningful creative activities for gifted students and avoid the superfluous "whistles". Activities should: value creative thinking, make children more sensitive to environmental stimuli, encourage manipulation of objects and ideas, develop tolerance for new ideas, and teach how…

This investigation explored the ways in which English language learners (ELLs) included in an English-dominant, mainstream second-grade classroom gained access to classroom activities and to the language that conveyed them, and the ways in which these students came to participate in the classroom context. These questions were investigated through…

A substantial number of 5-7 year old children experience delayed language development which threatens their progress in school, although they have not been placed on speech and language therapy caseloads. Children with delayed language development typically have a limited ability to understand and tell stories. Intervention to develop the oral…

This article describes using helium balloons to introduce students to integers and integer arithmetic. (Contains 9 figures.)

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1989) proposes using everyday objects, such as paper, to enable students to explore geometric relationships and vocabulary. Paper-folding and other types of hands-on activities have been found to increase students' ability to communicate mathematically and foster their understanding of mathematical…

This article provides a picture of the learning environment that is created for the preservice mathematics teacher and how development of spatial abilities can be incorporated into courses for these students. (Contains 3 figures.)