Presents a lesson plan using "Decision at Richmond," a play dramatizing the debate over United States Constitutional ratification, to demonstrate to students the importance of the unique process used to make political decisions in the United States. (Author/AEM)

Now that regular elementary classroom teachers must plan their lessons around special "pull-out" programs, their responsibilities are compounded and their control over instructional time considerably diminished. This article discusses the benefits of parallel block scheduling as a possible solution. Includes seven endnotes. (MLH)

This article lists recent research and literature on effective lesson introductions and preinstructional activities on student learning. (JL)

Provides complete Project WILD lesson plans for 20-45-minute experiential science learning activity for grades 3-7 students. Describes how students construct a simple food chain through examination of owl pellets. Includes lesson objective, method, background information, materials, procedure, evaluation, and sources of owl pellets and posters.…

This lesson plan provides students with an opportunity to examine both the diversities and commonalities symbolized by the term "American." Includes discussion questions and activities to demonstrate the cultural diversity in the United States. (DH)

Uses a photograph of Michael Heizer's earthwork sculpture "Double Negative" to encourage students in grades 4-6 to discuss ways in which an artist may communicate ideas by creating ultra-large "landscape sculptures." Provides student objectives, background information on the artwork, instructional strategies, and evaluation criteria. (GEA)

Argues that the economic implications of the U.S. Constitution should not be overlooked. Suggests four areas of study and provides a lesson plan for each. Concludes that, in addition to learning the economic ideas of the Constitution, students should recognize the unique values which sustain it. (GEA)

This lesson uses a full-color reproduction of Adolph Gottlieb's 1946 painting, "Forgotten Dream," to introduce students to the ideas of symbolic imagery in abstract expressionist art, and to help students discover reasons and ways artists communicate their memories, dreams, and fantasies. (JDH)

Presents a lesson plan which shows how to integrate primary source material gathered during a field trip to a local historical society into a history or social studies class. Includes primary source material from an 1825 diary and a list of discussion questions. (JDH)

Reviews the six-step model for lesson development popularized by Madeline Hunter. The six steps are: (1) set to learn, (2) statement of objectives, (3) instruction or providing information, (4) guided practice, (5) independent practice, and (6) closure. (JDH)

Describes how to involve students in higher level thinking processes through the use of microcomputer graphing software. Provides two complete lesson plans for upper elementary or middle school students, one on geography/state products study and the other on civil war resources. (JDH)

Shows how to use electronic spreadsheets and databases as a part of social studies instruction aimed at analyzing issues and trends in data. Provides a lesson plan which has students use a database to compile their own government handbook. (JDH)

Provides primary grade level science activities that focus on insects, tracks and trails, water, and flight. For each topic, six major ideas plus related activities and suggestions about resources are given. (RH)

This article reviews literature on kinetic structure, a low-inference variable related to lesson organization. Kinetic structure significantly affects student achievement and student perception of lesson effectiveness. Training programs to increase kinetic structure and other results concerning structure are discussed. (Author/MT)