Based on Jonathan Swift's novel "Gulliver's Travels," this lesson plan presents activities designed to help students understand that Swift comments on undesirable outcomes of advances in science; and other authors have also warned against abuse of science. The main activity of the lesson involves students developing a poster illustrating views of…

Based on Ken Kesey's novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," this lesson plan presents activities designed to help students understand that all works of art lend themselves to critical reviews; critical reviews consist of opinions and support for the opinions; and a critical review may compare and contrast a work in one medium to the same work in…

Based on "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," this lesson plan presents activities in which students work collaboratively to evaluate four stages in the life of Malcolm X, each corresponding to a different name he used; consider how each name Malcolm X used reflected that period in his life; and draw conclusions in a written essay about how his life…

This paper discusses the development of effective staff development programs to support use of computer technology in the elementary school classroom. Elements discussed include strategies to reach reluctant technology users, and suggestions for getting started with such a program. The paper also presents the findings of a survey study exploring…

The Kentucky History Center (Frankfort), a 20,000-square-foot museum facility, is a walk through time, complete with the sights, sounds, and smells of the past. The museum's eight chronological areas feature artifacts, images, and life-size environments that evoke places in time. A ready-made reference area in the center of the exhibit provides a…

This guide to the core exhibit of the Kentucky History Center (Frankfort) focuses on the relationship between Kentuckians and the land. The guide extracts text from the exhibit's eight chronological areas and lists environments, displays, and other exhibit features to help students understand the ways people have settled, farmed, mined, and…

This paper discusses the hazards of using standardized assessment in English/language arts. Using standardized tests to measure student competency with language is problematic because of inattention to what counts as appropriate language usage. Standardized tests reify textbook language usage only and do not distinguish between correct and…

This U.S. history curriculum guide, based upon historical essays written by Richard B. Bernstein, is part of the 'Crossroads' curriculum project. The elementary school component of the 'Crossroads' curriculum introduces students to the important things about the world they live in, the nation that they are a part of, the connection between the…

This document presents a description of the Face of America Classroom Program, a character education program based on a mission to bridge and build communities through sports. Three language arts lesson plans are provided on three themes: achievement, stereotypes (especially of people with disabilities), and strategies for healthy minds and…

This Digest reviews studies that deal with use of newspapers in grades K through 12 and as part of the language arts or general curriculum, as well as other studies that examined specifically journalism student performance in secondary schools and beyond. It concludes that evidence from all these studies is decidedly positive when comparing…

The clamor to integrate computer-based technologies into curriculum generally, and language and literacy education specifically, is a hallmark of current education policy in many countries. A perceived need for education to keep pace and in "sync" with labor market needs is obviously an important part of the story. Technology and…

This bulletin is the second in a seres of studies aimed at describing current developments in the secondary school curriculum as they are revealed in recent courses of study and teaching guides. It is the only analysis of the English curriculum in grades 7-12 which has been made by the Office in the past year. This survey includes the four major…

Changing trends in education have many implications for the elementary and secondary schools of the seventies. Concepts and principles will replace specific objectives and the ability to reason, judge, and communicate will be taught instead of simple facts. (CK)