Discusses the political developments in South Africa following the demise of apartheid and suggests ways to integrate this subject into the social studies curriculum. Examines the current obstacles and opportunities for the development of democracy in South Africa. Includes a series of teaching activities and related questions. (MJP)

Describes an integrated science unit to help preservice teachers gain confidence in their abilities to learn and teach science. The teachers role played being salmon as they learned about the salmon's life cycle and the difficulties salmon encounter. The unit introduced the use of investigative activities that begin with questions and end with…

Argues successful intergenerational curriculum should meet the following criteria: (1) developmentally appropriate; (2) socially appropriate for impaired adults; (3) functionally appropriate; and (4) coexploration and mutual benefit. Suggests activities including free conversation, singing, music, telling or reading stories, and cooking. Advocates…

Provides an overview and background information on the debate over gun control, as well as several teaching ideas. Handouts include a list of related topics drawn from various disciplines (economics, U.S. history), seven arguments for and against gun control, and a set of policy evaluation guidelines. (MJP)

Examines how the holiday of Thanksgiving is treated in primary books and offers comparisons of 28 popular titles in print. Innovative classroom and media center projects are described, including discussions, drawings, bulletin boards, problem-solving activities, and cooking. (LRW)

Describes strategies and learning activities designed to create connections between students' feelings and historical incidents. The interdisciplinary activities often combine novels, writing assignments, and guest speakers. The students also conduct mock trials concerning historical issues and conduct their own research. (MJP)

The Baltimore School and Family Connections Project is a collaborative effort to design comprehensive partnership programs and evaluate their results. This case study explores one school's efforts to involve middle-grades students and their families in learning activities at home during the summer break. Marginal students who worked on the home…

Presents picture books, collections of star stories, poetry, magazines, radio programs, biographies, nonfiction, and activities to help young students (preschool-grade 8) understand what celestial objects meant to ancient civilizations and to provide insights into the customs and attitudes of other cultures; alternative literary experiences; and…

Using the Big Six research process, students at Live Oak Elementary (Round Rock, TX) supplemented information from traditional print and electronic sources with e-mail exchanges around the world to complete a library research collaborative project culminating in an original folk tale. Describes the Big Six process and how it was applied. (PEN)

Provides an overview, guidelines, and specific suggestions for introducing economic thinking to elementary school children. Utilizes examples from US history (buffalo hunting, cattle farming) to illustrate economic concepts. Includes an appendix that frames economic concepts as mysteries with clues (and answers) provided. (MJP)

Discusses a select group of children's fiction books that tell the tales of some Hispanic people in the United States. The books reveal various aspects of Hispanic culture including family, community, friends, and neighbors. Suggested learning activities support the reading material. (MJP)

Discussion of online learning focuses on course development at a South African residential institution that incorporated online assignments into a face-to-face journalism course to introduce information technology. Describes course structure, activities, assessment methods, student involvement, and problems with students' lack of computer skills…

Examined an e-mail pen pal project between a second-grade classroom in the United States and one in China. Found that the project engaged students in learning through social interaction that enabled them to learn about a culture other than their own. Also found that the project enhanced students' social, cognitive, and linguistic skills, and…

Discusses advantages of learning Latin, including enriching vocabulary and higher verbal test scores on the SATs; describes extracurricular activities based on Latin; and includes a lesson plan for library media specialists, suitable for intermediate grades whose curriculum includes ancient Roman life, that integrates language arts and social…

Considers how school library media specialists can collaborate with teachers to transform conventional topical units into problem-based projects and gives examples from classrooms in Hawaii. Highlights include focusing on real-life problems; seeking and using information for the projects; hands-on learning; student roles in making decisions; and…