Describes a collaborative natural history class/science club program designed to offer science-oriented students the chance to expand their classroom knowledge of camping skills, first aid, environmental awareness, and survival techniques by participating in hands-on environmental activities. (MDH)

Focuses on three approaches to integrated instruction: (1) literature-based; (2) theme-based; and (3) project-based. Each approach is explained and illustrated through descriptions of successful classroom examples. Literature-based integration utilizes a story to build a unit, thematic units are built around a topic, and project-based integration…

Describes a science program called "Environmental Science on the Three Rivers" which coordinates hands-on water-ecology experiments for local schools on a modified Navy training vessel. The vessel holds 35 students and stops at three major sampling stations during a four-and-a-half-hour class. The program is conducted by people with…

Argues that the greatest constraints to the effective implementation of environmental education in Uganda's elementary schools include the elitist nature of the education system, teacher preparation, materials development, and curricula with little relevance to local communities. Recommendations to solve these problems include strengthening…

Describes the use of activity boxes with 43 young children with blindness, deaf-blindness, or severe learning disabilities and visual impairments. Discusses the contribution such boxes make to intellectual development, particularly the development of voluntary hand function from the integration of the primitive grasp-and-release instincts shown by…

Experiential and adventure educators' work can enrich their personal and professional lives if they examine how people learn, the relationship between what is taught and what is learned, their values, and their commitment. To maximize their learning experiences, experiential and adventure educators can seek feedback from colleagues, keep a…

A residential YMCA camp in northern Wisconsin uses wilderness adventure education to teach collaborative leadership skills to high school students. Trust and relationship-building exercises are followed by simulations, culminating in a wilderness trip. Reflective exercises internalize the learning. Presents the camp's six fundamental beliefs about…

Winning essays on rural school/community cooperation written by elementary, middle, and high school students recommend community volunteering to raise money, improve school appearance, and help with student supervision; building on the strengths of rural life; revitalizing rural communities through economic development; increased experiential…

Describes a South Carolina family-science program featuring nongraded recreational weekend programs conducted by experts at their facilities. The format allows in-depth presentation of topics using community resources, lets elementary students experience real applications of science and see scientists as role models, and strengthens parent/child…

Describes the North Coast Rural Challenge Network (NCRCN), a collaborative of four rural school districts in Northern California that works with businesses and communities to create project-based learning experiences for students. Discusses the use of technology including videoconferencing, Internet connections, Web sites, and e-mail, and gives…

Children in intentional communities interact with a wide variety of adults independently, observe many parent/child relationships, and experience their parents in roles other than parent. Informal learning experiences about subjects not usually available to children abound. Integration into a community promotes childrens' academic and social…

Discusses the "Art Staff" program implemented by two sister Illinois high schools that consists of a hand-picked group of students chosen for artistic performance, past and present, or by teacher recommendations. States that Art Staff gives students real-world experiences along with artistic training; their responsibilities include creating…

Asserts that effectively preparing students for the challenges of an ever-changing workplace requires incorporating the use of technology and the principles of business management into the classroom environment. Summarizes the development of a formal team research project for an English course that teaches skills that include planning and…

Describes summer experiences for teachers that provide new ideas and renewed excitement for teaching. Science teachers take part in the Teacher at Sea program and National Science Foundation field projects and expeditions. A Washington elementary school sends teachers to Mexico to increase their Spanish skills and understanding of their Hispanic…

Indicates the importance of preparing prospective teachers who will be elementary science teachers with different methods. Presents the theoretical and practical rationale for developing a constructivist-based elementary science methods course. Discusses the impact student knowledge and understanding of science and student attitudes has on…