Activities used to teach optics to fifth and sixth graders are presented. Moon phases and solar and lunar eclipses are included. (SA)

Focuses on techniques of improving interaction within groups of children engaged in a classroom science activity. The role of the teacher is discussed as well as the positive outcomes of successful cooperation between children. (SA)

Examines current problems and future roles of libraries in facilitating the growth of knowledge, and discusses the regulative role of price mechanism, autonomy, and centralism, given the role of criticism and the problem-solving nature of research. Issues discussed are examined against national library and information services planning proposals.…

"Children and Their Primary Schools" was published ten years ago this week. Here Lady Plowden assesses the impact of the Plowden Report's central recommendations. (Editor)

Suggests that GCE and CSE boards need to bury their differences if progress is to be made on the 16-plus proposals. (Editor)

Argues the case for bringing constructive change into the process of teaching and learning the classics. Emphasizes particular teaching approaches combined with a critical evaluation of earlier methods of teaching classics. (RK)

Two years after conception, the Elderhostel program draws acclaim from participants, staff, and observers. The Aristotelian concept of the liberal arts deals with the interplay between subject matter and learner. So great is this interplay that it is difficult to judge whether the hosteler is more liberated or more liberating. (Author)

Argues that in order to have bona fide inquiry experiences, students must formulate their own questions, create hypotheses, and design investigations that test those hypotheses and answer the proposed questions. (DDR)

Discusses the importance of toys in improving students' motivation and understanding of scale, proportions, and ratios by connecting toys with their real-life counterparts. Presents a unit that includes measurement activities in order to teach these topics by comparing toys and actual measurements for known and unknown scale toys. (ASK)

Describes a modular, interdisciplinary curriculum offered by the City and East London Confederation. This curriculum aims to encourage more student responsibility for education, to create a problem solving approach to learning, to give early exposure to clinical elements, and to develop student communication skills. (DDR)

Argues that the social problems confronting America have been bombarded with ill-conceived and unsuccessful social policy largely driven by fear. Explains that parental licensing is a draconian and unworkable solution. Vouchers for indigent youth to attend Catholic schools, developing after-school and summer programs, and reforming welfare are…

Children who come to school without numerical game-playing experience have trouble with math relationships in direct-instruction situations. This article explores the varied roles of active thinking, social interaction, previous knowledge, and child-initiated choice in children's development of math concepts. Self-esteem cannot be built by doing…

Describes a series of learning activities built around number cubes. Sample activities introduce elementary properties of the cube, the magic rule of seven, and basic concepts related to graphs in the plane coordinate system. (PVD)

Offers a problem for teachers to try with their students. The problem is presented visually as a row of 15 connected squares and the task is to determine the number of rectangles. The goal is to encourage teachers to reflect on students' work and analyze classroom dialogue. (PVD)

Describes an extended investigation of polygons and polyhedra which was conducted in response to a challenge posed in Focus, a newsletter from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). Students were challenged to construct a polyhedron with faces that measure more than 13 inches to a side. Outlines the process, including the questions posed…