Presents a lesson plan for building and investigating three- dimensional cubes and a representation of a four-dimensional cube, sometimes called a hypercube. Includes reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

Presents an activity in which students make a simulated solar panel to learn about the principles behind energy production using solar panels. Provides information about how solar panels function to produce energy. (MCO)

Argues against the forced use of generic lesson design in science instruction. Asserts that teaching modules are popular among administrators because they seem to provide accountability. However, modules often promote traditional ideas in teaching, and administrators seldom investigate claims of programs. Critiques research cited by the Hunter…

Discusses instructional design and educational reform in public schools; describes the results of surveys and interviews with teachers that explored the use of instructional design principles in their planning processes; and provides an example of an instructional design component in undergraduate teacher education at the University of North…

Integrates science and social studies in several activities that study weathering caused by the freezing and thawing of rocks, wind erosion, and the effects of weathering on tombstones. Cites the possibility of these activities leading to an interdisciplinary exploration of pollution, customs, and populations. (MCO)

Presents a sequence of activities designed to allow eighth grade students to deal with one of the fundamental relationships that govern energy distribution. Activities guide students to measure light bulb brightness, discover the inverse square law, compare light bulb light to candle light, and measure sun brightness. (two references) (MCO)

Describes techniques to avoid the time crunch and safety hazards associated with fitting labs into 45-minute periods. The author presents information on organizing people and things, adapting labs, and cleanup management. The author cautions against rushing a science lab to the point of compromising safety or student understanding. (PR)

Offers several collaborative strategies that integrate reading and writing with mathematics instruction. Includes sample lessons demonstrating the applicability of these strategies across grade levels and topics in mathematics. (SR)

A private day school, Willie Ross School for the Deaf, designed a whole-language approach to reading appropriate for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. This article compares traditional and psycholinguistic approaches to reading, describes the early childhood classroom environment, and presents a lesson using folktales. An assessment checklist is…

Describes how issues of war and peace might be taught in the elementary language arts classroom. Explores ways of broaching the issues and selecting proper texts. Considers the reasons for wanting to teach such explosive issues to younger students. Provides two annotated bibliographies (with suggested class activities) regarding these materials.…

Recall of teaching events from a lesson is an important part of reflectivity for preservice teachers. Researchers examined questions about the differences between unaided and aided recall of deviations from planned lessons. Results indicated student teachers recalled less than half their deviations and were prone to forgetting student-initiated…

Describes a study that was conducted to determine what influence instructional systems design (ISD) has on teachers' planning processes and how teachers implement instruction. Results were compared for teachers with and without an ISD background in areas including instructional planning time, long-range planning, daily planning, and use of…

Researchers compared thinking and decision making in expert and novice teachers. They analyzed audiotaped planning interviews, videotaped lessons, stimulated recall interviews, postteaching interviews, delayed self-reports, and printed materials and found striking differences between the mental representations of the two groups. The article…

Describes a study that was conducted to investigate instructional planning by university faculty who taught adult learners via interactive telecommunications technology in a distance education program. Results indicate that faculty focused on term rather than day-to-day planning, selection and sequencing of content, and developing an extended…

Offers suggestions to make homework more beneficial to students and teachers. Discusses motivating students, planning assignments, grading, communicating teacher expectations, and maintaining consistency with respect to homework. (MDH)