Focuses on Perry School (Erie, Pennsylvania), the first geography theme-based elementary school in which everything is related to geography. Describes what students learn in each grade level and the expectations on what they should know. Reports on the creation of their geography learning lab. (CMK)

While working and playing together at camp, staff often work through most, if not all, of the stages of group formation, commonly referred to as forming, storming, norming, performing, and finally, transforming. Ten adventure-based games and activities are presented to help camp directors train staff and help them progress through these stages.…

Presents a classroom project in which children use bottles and sand to explore mathematics. (Author)

This annotated bibliography of 57 items on activity-based intervention (ABI) for young children with and without disabilities is divided into five sections: (1) empirical research of ABI; (2) a review of the literature bridging the gap between research and practice; (3) summaries of books, chapters, and monographs; (4) Web sites and other online…

The LearningByDoing eClassroom[C] is a highly structured synchronous application for teaching and doing research on medium to large sized groups over the Internet and is an open system for content delivery. Forty students, four facilitators, and a principle instructor can successfully co-create an environment which processes interactions similar…

A passage is quoted in which the meaning of one's life is the reflecting of light (truth, wisdom) into the dark places of others' hearts and minds. Personal anecdotes illustrate that outdoor leaders and teachers can be reflectors to their students or clients or, conversely, can receive reflections from them. A message from the Hopi elders reminds…

Experiential learning is not linear, but is a cyclical interaction with clients. Engage clients by making them feel needed. Focus on what works for them instead of what does not. Help them develop the capacity to author their own beliefs and values. Most importantly, be guided by compassion for others. (Contains 32 references.) (TD)

This professional development collaborative involved state agencies, local industry, an outdoor learning center, a university, and teams of teachers from rural schools. The program had three main goals: to introduce inquiry-based approaches to science teaching in the elementary classroom, to utilize field experiences to connect the program to…

Describes a research and development project aiming to help develop secondary students' abilities to understand biotechnology/genetic engineering. Focuses on an exemplary true-to-life experiment, planned and executed by students in grade 8, that involves external experts and uses an industrial research laboratory for solving genuine questions.…

Describes a project for first-grade students at the Friends' Central School (Philadelphia, PA) founded by the Quakers in 1845, in which students learned about the experience of traveling westward during 1845. Explains that the project also focused on Quaker history; the school; and that the centerpiece of the project was a covered wagon. (CMK)

Describes an educational program focusing on workshops at the Junior Gallery, a part of the Everhart Museum (Scranton, Pennsylvania). Explains that the museum's collection is integrated with lessons in art appreciation, production, natural history, and other subject areas. (CMK)

Describes an approach used by the Wayland, Massachusetts, middle school to organizing students into instructional teams. Explains that each instructional team is organized into a "house" named after a significant individual around whom the curriculum and theme for field trips is designed. Highlights the Rachel Carson House activities of…

Investigates the effects of an experiential classroom environment on children's learning through the integration of mathematics and social studies. Findings support the contention that children learn better by doing. Concludes that children are more attentive to their learning, achieve a deeper insight or meaning of the concepts, and are able to…

Examines the ways in which reflection leads to better decision making and better administration. Discusses the following three sources of knowledge available to administrators who choose to enhance their effectiveness through reflection: (1) theoretical; (2) empirical; and (3) experiential. Examines the integration of knowledge and action through…

A national survey of special education coursework requirements for preservice regular education teachers was conducted to (1) identify specific course content (2) identify individual institution or state requirements, and (3) to identify types of direct experience with exceptional learners required of prospective teachers. (Author/DB)