Described are some classroom experiences teaching the concept of symmetry by having students create frieze patterns using the computer software "mosaic." Examples produced by 14-year-old students are presented, and student thinking in developing the friezes is discussed. (MDH)

Presents a series of four steps used in data analysis processes that help students investigate and interpret real world situations. Gives activities that employ computer software to create representative graphs of the data in the analysis process. (MDH)

Describes an eight-day graphing unit for grades four through six using data collected from a local cemetery. Provides the activities of each day and excerpts of discussions taking place during the lessons. Concludes that working with real data helps students construct meaningful graphs. (MDH)

Contains several study methods using ferns. Includes exercises on fern propagation, gametophytes and fern hybrids, fern collection, microscope use, asexual reproduction, and fern photography. Background information describes identification techniques and the alternation of generations phenomenon. (MCO)

Presents techniques for encouraging peer learning in the college classroom. Discusses icebreaking exercises, ways to encourage total participation, and methods for dealing with grade anxiety. Argues that, with peer learning, students learn to develop their own resources for learning. Urges testing that calls for application of theoretical…

Includes seven articles that discuss how to motivate middle school, junior high, and senior high school students to read. Highlights include problems in encouraging recreational reading; magazines; activities to promote books and reading; an annotated bibliography of books on Columbus and other explorers; women's history activities; and gender…

Provides seven fully developed library media activities that are designed to be used with specific curriculum units in art, language arts, science, and social studies. Library media skills objectives, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, activity and procedures for completion, evaluation, and follow-up are described…

Asserts that the United Nations, though often restricted by Cold War events, has had a resurgence as the hope for a true global forum for the world's pressing issues. Maintains that the need to teach about peacekeeping and model conflict resolution skills is crucial in today's world. (CFR)

Discusses how teaching about quilts and quilting in elementary social studies provides a more complete view of social history and includes the voices of women and men of different races, cultures, and social classes. Provides suggestions on teaching about quilts and identifies seven children's books on the topic. (CFR)

The idea that studying part-whole number relationships can foster a better understanding of number concepts, addition, subtraction, fractions, decimals, ratios, and percentages depending on the age of the student is discussed. Activities that incorporate number relationships and representations are presented. (KR)

A Dutch teacher presents reading, film viewing, and writing activities for "Empire of the Sun," J. G. Ballard's autobiographical account of life as a boy in Shanghai and in a Japanese internment camp during World War II (the subject of Steven Spielberg's film of the same name). Includes objectives, procedures, and several literature,…

This article discusses the analysis of a decision-making process faced by contestants on the television game show "The Price is Right". The included analyses of the original and related problems concern pattern searching, inductive reasoning, quadratic functions, and graphing. Computer simulation programs in BASIC and tables of…

Integrating writing into the mathematics classroom is often met with resistance by teachers. Presented are ideas to help teachers implement four forms of writing appropriate for the mathematics class: (1) logbooks; (2) journals; (3) expository writing; and (4) creative writing. Specific examples and suggestions for classroom activities for each…

Discusses the two overgeneralizations "multiplications makes bigger" and "division makes smaller" in the context of solving word problems involving rational numbers less than one. Presents activities to help students make sense of multiplication and division in these situations. (MDH)

Describes an activity that demonstrates a teaching-learning model in which students ask yes or no questions to determine an unknown number on a number line. Provides a sequence of five steps to carry out the activity and suggestions for extending and expanding the activity for different grade levels. (MDH)