Presents a lesson plan for a second-grade class project. Suggests that the students will learn to identify the word "famous," complete a timeline for a famous person, learn facts about the person, and express individual thoughts and feelings. Explains the steps involved in the presentation of a living museum where students portray famous…

Discusses how schools might benefit by enlisting older adults as participants in a rejuvenation of public education. Argues that many retirees are looking for avenues of usefulness and activity. Suggests ways schools might utilize older adults. (HB)

Shows how demographic changes in U.S. classrooms represent a challenge to social studies teachers. Considers how the social studies curriculum might be adjusted to reflect current demographic trends. (HB)

Describes a method of teaching literature to high school students that employs an opinionnaire that students use to respond to a literary work prior to discussion. Relates personal successful uses of this method. (HB)

Provides specific writing activities to be used with seven different books in the context of both primary and intermediate grade level writing instruction. (HB)

Describes a miniscience unit on frogs for elementary grades that teaches students about how frogs develop from tadpoles and how frogs need water during their entire life cycle. Students learn such skills as observation, collecting, and recording data. Provides addresses for ordering resources for teachers and students. (SM)

Provides insights into the benefits of using role playing in the context of cross-grade educational activities. Demonstrates these benefits by giving transcripts of interviews with fifth and sixth graders as well as second and third graders who participated in such activities. (HB)

Suggestions are presented on how to avoid "dead spots" in a language class, including how a routine activity can be altered to become part of a lesson and also a lengthy illustration of how a normal lesson can be upgraded to offer students a richer blend of instruction. (LB)

The article presents inexpensive activities to teach elementary school students about electromagnets. Students learn to make an electromagnet with a battery, nail, and wire, then different activities help them explore the difference between permanent magnets and electromagnets. (SM)

Offers four essays containing suggestions from classroom teachers on using big books for sharing reading experiences; poems or paragraphs; an interdisciplinary unit of study for first graders around Tomie de Paola's "The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush"; and comparing film and text to build critical comprehension. (SR)

Suggests that the use of thematic units and children's literature can eliminate the boundaries between subjects and provide opportunities for children to learn in a variety of ways. Presents ideas for thematic units in a number of content areas (health, science, math, art, social studies, and language arts) based on the theme "Mexico." (RS)

Describes an exercise for a technical writing course on documenting a problem within a corporate environment, thus giving students experience in appropriate documentation to tackle some of the operational, political, and ethical problems common in the workplace. (SR)

Describes a drama workshop designed to teach English as a Second Language. Offers specific exercises which were used to help students learn to introduce themselves, use body language and inflection, use formal and informal language, and speak with conviction. (PRA)

Presents a critical thinking exercise program, modeled on a physical exercise workout, for elementary teachers to use in the classroom. It includes warm-up exercises, a more strenuous workout, and a cool-down period for the brain. (SM)

Offers an alternative to traditional term paper assignments in which poster sessions were used to promote collaborative learning, creativity, and develop research and communication skills. Provides guidelines for conducting poster sessions and their various applications. Finds students prefer poster sessions to traditional term papers. (NL)