Discusses the early use of straw in Africa and Europe as a building material. Provides background information and a basic framework for the straw bale project, and recommends supervision for young students. Lists objectives for building a straw bale bench and provides the building instructions which consist of three sessions. Includes four…

Experiential education considers nature a classroom, but nature is also the teacher. Quiet watching and walking meditation are two exercises informed by Taoism, that when added to the normal experiential education fare, help students encounter nature with an open mind. An outdoor university course that incorporates the sentiments of seeing nature…

Introduces camping as an outdoor classroom activity for elementary and middle school students. Explains what students learn from the camping experience. (YDS)

Describes an activity with cars and fans that observes the motion of cars under force. Lists required materials, the procedure, and introductory questions for the activity. (YDS)

Currently advocated agriculture teaching in the elementary classroom has historical precedents. Elementary agriculture curriculum in the early 20th century often followed Pestalozzi's recommendations and used hands-on activities such as nature study. By 1951, 21 states required agricultural education in rural elementary schools. (SK)

The Killarney Experiential Education Project was established in 1997 to provide residential outdoor learning experiences to the 184,000 students north of Parry Sound, Ontario. Operated by the town of Killarney in cooperation with the Catholic District School Board and Killarney Provincial Park, the center will set up the infrastructure to provide…

Reports on 128 subjects interviewed about their recollections of school field trips during their early years of school. Ninety-six percent could recall school field trips, with the majority recalling when they went, with whom they went, where they went, and three or more specific aspects of what they did. The study reinforces interrelationships…

Explains Edward De Bono's six thinking hats, different perspectives on a problem. Shows how to apply the technique to case studies in management classes. (SK)

The Food Project brings together Boston-area youth to grow and distribute food for the hungry and in the process, develop leadership and job skills. Summer crew workers (high school students) grow vegetables, distribute them to food pantries, and sell them at farmer's markets. Crew leaders learn more about sustainable agriculture and hone…

Students and teachers in Pierce School District in Arbuckle, California, re-enacted an 1840s wagon train. Staff and students dressed authentically, turning thrift-store outfits into period garb. The 4-day simulation instilled knowledge in students and helped them think more critically. True instructional innovation comes from the bottom up. (MLH)

Describes a quality management role playing technique designed for use by a virtual or networked organization as a cost-effective tool for staff training. (Contains 21 references.) (SK)

Presents a simple experiment that allows students to determine a slope from a series of measurements rather than from a given equation in which students measure heights and widths for a set of paper rectangles, all with the same width. Students calculate areas and plot area versus height from the data. (Author/ASK)

Describes a house-buying active learning project designed to motivate students in lower level college mathematics courses. Discusses the mathematical content, implementation, evaluation, and benefits of the project. (Author/ASK)

Presents a model describing one approach for extending seemingly limited hands-on activities into full-inquiry science lessons. Presents the model as a tool for facilitating science teachers' efforts to understand and implement powerful, effective, and manageable inquiry-based science instruction. (Contains 34 references.) (Author/ASK)

Defines reflective practice and illustrates why reflection is fundamental to learning and how it can be brought out in the company of trusted others through dialogue. Illuminates the relationships between public reflection and the common good, experience, and time as well as characterizing the skills associated with reflective practice. (Contains…