Describes how literacy and technology have come together in the form of READ posters (featuring movie, television and sports stars posing with their favorite books) and Reading Web projects. Presents activities that engage children in reading, writing, and publishing as ways of responding to intermediate-level literature and sharing insights,…

Describes how and why the author teaches students to evaluate the purpose, content and functionality of web pages. Includes a one-page web page evaluation sheet. (SR)

Describes and gives examples of integrating adventure activities into existing classroom curricula at three levels: review or metaphors, interwoven activities for content delivery, and total integration into classroom design. Example activities include "Speed Rabbit,""Have You Ever,""Stepping Stones,""Whale Watch," and "Mine Field." (SAS)

Discusses the content-based approach to foreign language instruction and highlights a content-based unit that has been used successfully. The approach includes brainstorming; mapping; singing; recognizing, labeling, and describing; story dramatization and pantomime; writing compositions; and creative activities. (Author/VWL)

This intermediate-level science activity has students observe the effect of ice-cold water mingling with warm water. Water's behavior and movement alters with shifts in temperature. Students must try to determine how temperature affects the movement of water. Necessary materials include a pencil, cup, glass jar, masking tape, warm water, ice…

Describes a second grade activity for the ocean-animals unit which uses the Kid Pix computer program. Students research an ocean animal, write rhyming couplets about it, discuss shape poems, draw outlines of their animals, trace the outlines onto a transparency, tape the transparency to the computer monitor, and use Kid Pix to type the poem onto…

This article discusses the inclusion of a student with blindness in a general education classroom. Disability awareness activities that encouraged students without blindness to understand blindness are described, including reading materials, a blindfold lunch, and a Braille Day. (CR)

Describes an introductory library lesson, adapted for grades one through eight, to raise students' awareness of illustration and illustrators in books. Highlights include selection criteria; ways to involve students in the presentation; and activities to develop students' critical thinking about illustrations. (AEF)

Discusses the importance of developing a child's relationship with nature in Montessori education. Surveys natural outdoor activities for the toddler and 3- to 6-year- old child, including addressing the planet's functions and destiny through maps, storytelling, and going out, and for young adolescents, living on the land. (JPB)

Advocates use of portfolios as an alternative assessment in teacher education classes. Presents a preservice methods class special project that engages teacher-trainees in reflections related to teaching writing in a mainstreamed classroom. Discusses the role of writing in reflective portfolios and changing needs in the preparation of general…

Presents a learning activity plan for teachers or librarians that helps students comprehend the author's craft element of "point of view." Focus is on first and third person point of view. Outlines student motivation methods, the procedure, extension/application activities, and assessment. Includes an activity worksheet. (AEF)

Discusses use of an emergent inquiry process and children's literature to examine gender bias in the school environment. Focuses on introducing student teachers to issues of gender bias in elementary education and ways of making elementary school students aware of biases in literature and their environment. Discusses the results of an intervention…

Explains Fish Bowl, an activity for upper elementary and middle school students to share what they read and a method for teachers to assess student understanding of a book. Discusses benefits of reading aloud a summary of the book, reading a passage from the book, asking appropriate questions, and answering questions. (LRW)

Discusses how the writing classroom can impact students' understanding of self-identity. Notes how the writing classroom can affect student awareness of themselves as gendered individuals. Considers how teachers who effectively use writing activities in the classroom have the opportunity to increase power within the classroom for both female and…

Discusses how one teacher uses Norma Fox Mazer's "Out of Control" to explore leaders and followers as the main topic of discussion in a sophomore class. Describes how students keep a reader's journal with quotations from the text and personal responses. (SG)