Describes a resource center program which involved parents in the collection of ideas and materials for teachers to use in learning projects. (SDH)

This study was designed to gather information about the kinds of play engaged in by five- and six-year-old children. Two groups of kindergarten children, one from upper middle income families and the other from lower income families, were asked to name their favorite things to play with at home. Nine categories of home play preferences were…

The incorporation of games in health education classes is recommended. Different uses of games are presented along with criteria for the evaluation of games that are being considered for use in the classroom. Brief descriptions of the needs of elementary, middle, and high school students are followed by examples of appropriate games for each…

A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of "Discretion vs. Valor," a simulation game designed to give North American players a chance to: (1) identify with "believers" (Christians) in the Soviet Union in order to form new images of these persons; (2) gain empathy for Christians by understanding the dilemmas they…

This study determined the effects of using an instructional game and supplemental readings on student motivation as defined using the ARCS model of motivation and performance. Subjects were 75 undergraduate education majors enrolled in a required educational psychology course at a large southwestern university. All students attended a lecture on…

For this practicum three methods for improving sight vocabulary for first graders were developed and implemented. Goals were to increase vocabulary recognition, improve students' attitudes toward reading, and raise critical thinking levels using parental support. The program, which involved 10 students, took place in 3 phases allowing 4 weeks per…

This guide to the development of reading and reading-related materials for newly literate individuals is designed for use in developing nations in the Asian Pacific region with relatively large neo-literate populations who may have little opportunity to practice and improve literacy skills. The guide consists of three sections. The first section…

This annotated bibliography lists instructional materials for elementary school German language programs. The materials listed include instructional aids, social studies books, science books, dictionaries, songbooks/cassettes, games, posters, magazines, and library books. A list of addresses for publishers of German materials is included. (JL)

This game simulates trade and food production in the West African region of the Sahel which is susceptible to drought. Players are divided into teams of two and four persons, each team assuming the role of a farming household in the Sahel. Teammates collaborate on production and trade decisions under conditions of dearth and plenty. The game…

A collection of five board games for the Spanish language classroom contains gameboards, game markers, and directions for each game. It also contains general instructions for the teacher about the classroom use of board games. The games include: "Uvas," for use in vocabulary development and cultural awareness; "Montana Rusa," for general…

Activities and a narrative which focus on Delaware's seashore are contained in this book for elementary school age students. A graphically illustrated story is related and activities are interspersed throughout the narrative account. Several marine organisms are identified and beach phenomena are highlighted in the story. Student exercises…

The focus of this booklet is on matching, recognizing, and identifying colors, shapes, and sizes. Concept development as well as vocabulary learning are goals. A variety of materials are used in the activities. Activities for children from preschool through grade 2 are grouped by topic. (MNS)

Challenging the use of schools for the preservation of selected traditional games, often in conjunction with competitive sports advocated by governments, this paper probes five issues. Are the traditional physical activities really worth preserving and, if so, why? Can such traditional activities actually be manipulated to meet expectations? Which…

A study introduced elementary school students to concept maps--visual representations of a learner's thought processes. Nine teachers with two classes each (kindergarten through fourth grades represented) were taught the terminology of the concept map and were asked to initiate a number of activities in generating concept maps with their children.…

The purpose of this focused newsletter is to give teachers who know little or nothing of computers some background on which to base further investigation and decisions. It begins by explaining what a computer is and defining such terms as software, hardware, memory, input/output devices, and disk drive. The newsletter then outlines four major uses…