Discusses the student government at La Mesa Middle School (California) that was modeled after the three-branch U.S. government as a means for increasing students' civic understanding. Describes the structure of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches, the different activities of the student government, and the reasons for the hiatus.…

Describes a science activity in which students make a non-Newtonian fluid (slime), which has both solid and liquid properties. After reviewing the shape and volume of solids and volume of liquids, students make the slime using glue, liquid starch, and food coloring. They can experiment by rolling and dropping slime balls and by pulling the slime…

Reports results of a telephone interview with history professor and social analyst Carlos Cortes, whose current main area of interest is the multicultural education that occurs outside the classroom, with special interest in the role of the media. Explores the concept of the societal curriculum. (SLD)

Provides a guide to experiential and didactic methods that have been used in teaching an HIV course in graduate counselor education programs. This model is based on pedagogy, experimental techniques, and debriefing methods to enhance the skills of counselors working with clients affected by HIV/AIDS. Emerging themes are discussed. (Author/GCP)

Discusses the importance of rites of passage to traditional cultures, especially the vision quest of Native Americans. Suggests that the absence of such rites in materialistic cultures has led to a separation from nature, which underlies many modern problems. Describes Wendl-Berry's vision quest and a center that offers vision quests of various…

Describes how by designing a playground, the fifth-grade students at Good Shepherd School in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) learned in a hands-on manner that geographic knowledge has practical applications in the real world. Explains that the geography concepts utilized in this activity follow the objectives of the Geography Education Standards…

This study determined whether program setting (camp versus hotel) and program duration (five one-day sessions or a single five-day session) had any impact on development of teamwork in a corporate adventure training program. Results showed program setting had no effect, but short programs appeared to provide slower but greater overall gains in…

Excerpts of interviews with four New Zealand boys in an outdoor education class were analyzed to explore the possible impact of challenge on their lives and the choices they made. Analysis also focused on the relationship between outdoor adventure and "rational recreation" as a means of social control or as a liberating tool for…

Suggests that planned interactions with experts have the potential for giving children a better understanding of the world beyond the classroom, and asserts that receptive and active communication strategies are key to a successful classroom visit. Describes one teacher's experience using visitor resources and offers advice on planning, preparing…

A study examined the impact of outdoor adventure trips on 37 urban adolescents' self-perception. Results from pretest, posttest, and 4-month followup surveys and interviews indicate that participants' self-perceptions of social acceptance and behavioral conduct improved immediately after the trip, and that some behavioral conduct impacts remained…

Discusses the use of technology to teach middle school social studies and history. Explores how technology can be used to address experiential learning styles by applying constructivist principles, while Microsoft PowerPoint presentations can enrich teacher-centered approaches and reach verbal, kinesthetic, and visual learning styles. Describes a…

Presents results from two studies conducted as part of the evaluation activities of the FUNTIVITIES project, a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project to increase girls' and women's interest and comfort level in science and math. Girls showed a slightly higher mean, implying greater recognition that achievement in science and math is not…

An art teacher conducts workshops in southwestern Colorado, mentoring young American Indian artists and their families. The subject matter and materials are derived from the local area, enabling the young artists to develop a sense of place as they learn the fundamentals of art. (TD)

Describes the creation and development of a project at Lake Mary High School in Seminole County, Florida, in which students grew cotton in order to help them experience the production of the art material from the seed to the finished product. (CMK)

Provides an art project for use with eighth-grade students, who choose a work of art and recreate it in an interpretive and informative manner. Explains that students re-create the background of the artwork and then the students become a part of the painting via characters or objects. (CMK)