Puppets can be used in the classroom to teach, to tell stories, to introduce new students or books, and to develop children's cooperation, creativity, and coordination. Instruction on how to make and manipulate puppets, plan puppet plays, and locate information on puppetry are given. (PP)

Classroom observation and interviews in 55 schools with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students indicated that more time on instruction, greater correspondence between tests and curriculum material covered in class, and increased on-task behavior (activities related to acquisition of subject matter information) raised student…

Teachers' ideas for teaching elementary secondary school students about business, industry, economics, consumerism, and money management are presented. Class activities involving a toy automotive industry, a consumer convention, and a class "microtown" are described. (CJ)

A teaching unit on economics discusses basic background information, suggests classroom activities, and lists sources of instructional resources. Reproducible masters for two instructional levels are included and introduce economics law and basic financial management. (FG)

Ideas for spring arts activities include a whimsical play about royal dragons, a skit on an April fool, and a song. Instructions for making brightly colored birds from boxes, a happy day hat, decorated eggs, and other art projects are given. (PP)

Offers suggestions for identifying and instructing the verbally gifted. (JL)

Discusses a classroom exercise designed to introduce the themes prevalent in a survey of American literature. The exercise explores issues familiar and applicable to the students' lives, such as cultural attitudes toward masculinity, femininity, community, and heroes, thus making the literature more relevant to student interests. (HTH)

Proposes 10 activities to provide French classes of all levels with a broad spectrum of language projects involving direct and active use of French including students polling each other, skits based on television commercials, geographical "show and tell," cooking French dishes, writing a monthly newspaper, and field trips. (BK)

Describes a sex education program that offers classes for four groups: (1) mothers and their 9- to 12-year-old daughters, (2) mothers and their 13- to 17-year-old daughters, (3) fathers and their 9- to 12-year-old sons, and (4) fathers and their 13- to 17-year-old sons. Curricula relevant to the two age groups and classroom activities are…

The learning experiences at field trip sites are enhanced by introducing certain class experiences before arrival at the site. A course is outlined which teaches teachers to devise curricular materials to make full use of their opportunity. (RE)

Describes techniques for teaching interpersonal and group communication skills in the social studies classroom. Activities include group role playing, skill practice trio, and concentric circles, which focus on pairing students to discuss certain topics. The author stresses the necessity for regular feedback forms and sessions. (KC)

Twelve English teachers relate their personal experiences with using and learning to use audiovisual aids. (RL)

Tips on creating a course in film making, one that will help students master basic English skills. (RL)

Concept building is discussed, and several information processing strategies that teachers can use to promote student vocabulary development are presented. Classroom activities are also described. (Author/DB)

Describes a creative writing assignment in which individuals write episodes about different characters and small groups collaborate on unifying the collected "chapters" into sagas. (RL)