Outlines several approaches and strategies for using political buttons to enliven classroom study of political campaigns and issues. Notes that reproductions of historical buttons are inexpensive and accessible. Includes classroom activities and discussion questions related to various buttons. Lists several reference works and related…

Provides background information, primary source document, and learning activities related to the early 19th-century cod trade in Newfoundland. The document is a long business letter detailing activities between a Scotch fish merchant and his Canadian suppliers. The activities cover geography, history, global economics, and environmental issues.…

A third grade class served as subjects of this study on the use of paired keyboards attached to a single microcomputer as a means to facilitate Internet exploration. A collaborative environment resulted, where students could benefit from the scaffolding provided by computer and Internet resources. (AEF)

Structured academic controversy is a cooperative learning strategy that can promote learning in theoretical physical education classes at the college level. This article explains how to conduct structured academic controversy, providing examples of topics (e.g., adapted physical education, biomechanics, motor development, and sport psychology).…

Provides a brief overview of the educational conditions in Canada's Yukon Territory and discusses their effect on curriculum development. Describes three social studies curriculum projects from inception to completion. The projects are "Our Land Too: Women of Canada and the Northwest 1860-1914"; "Klondike Gold"; and…

Describes an elementary social studies class that studied children of the Great Depression in order to create empathy with people of different eras. The class used journal writing, mural painting, and poetry writing to consider the physical and psychological hardships experienced by Depression-era children. (MJP)

Discusses how teachers in early childhood education and care settings can use children's picture books to teach physical science concepts. Presents activities for toddlers and preschoolers related to the areas of light and optics, sound and music, and machines and power. Includes for each activity a list of materials and instructions for teachers.…

Discusses the results of a study conducted at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak that investigated the effects of student characteristics and instructional variables on satisfaction and achievement in a Web-based course. Considers gender, age, scholastic aptitude, learning styles, initial computer skills, time spent on the course, perceptions of…

Presents activities that demonstrate how productivity software can be used to motivate beginning middle-school foreign- language students (or elementary-school foreign-language- immersion students.) The exercises employ word-processing tools to increase language fluency, spelling, and agreement skills. (Author/LRW)

Investigates the efficiency of a novel addition to the routine of note taking, writing brief summaries of the lecture material during four-minute breaks within the lecture. A group of students wrote three sets of summaries during a 21-minute lecture and showed significant improvement in understanding over other groups. (MJP)

Describes a Jewish teacher's presentation on Hanukkah for a group of Gentile elementary students. The presentation covers the history of the holiday as well as activities involving toys, food, and memorabilia. Includes a list of resources for teaching about Hanukkah. (MJP)

Describes a high school geography class that emphasized hands-on and experiential learning. The students designed travel brochures, planned overseas trips on a budget, and even produced commercials. One of the more popular activities involved different groups creating poster board maps of specific regions and then combining them for a global map.…

Outlines an instructional unit where students construct culture kits illustrating a specific culture. Culture kits are constructed out of realia and other material including maps, travel brochures, photographs, newspapers, souvenirs, and other items. Discusses collecting these items and possible multicultural applications. (MJP)

Describes a mathematical investigation of gold--how it is weighed, stored, used, and valued. For grades 3-4, children estimate the value of treasure chests filled with gold coins and explore the size and weight of gold bars. Children in grades 5-6 explore how gold is mined and used, and how the value of gold changes over time. (PVD)

Recommends establishing literature study groups as early as the primary grades. Outlines the steps for implementing a group and describes several classroom experiences with them. Includes a discussion of follow-up activities, and a bibliography of related works. (MJP)