Early and ongoing exposure to entomology promotes interest in insects, minimizes fear of nature, and instills appreciation for biodiversity. Three effective ways to introduce young children to the study of insects are: live collections for observation and investigation, re-creation of insects through artistic constructions to learn structure and…

Explores how a group of children and their teacher use their language knowledge to create a make-believe context. Shows how participants collaborate to construct dramatic experience and use language to describe their relationships, roles, and situations. Data are derived from a drama in which the participants wait for an event to occur. (16…

Explored contributions of complex sociodramatic play (CSP) in early childhood to self-regulation development for impulsive and nonimpulsive preschoolers. Found that Time 1 CSP positively correlated with, and solitary dramatic play negatively correlated with, self-regulation during Time 2 clean-up periods. The CSP/self-regulation relationship was…

Suggests that children will become more constructively involved during outside play time if teachers and caregivers plan and implement outdoor learning centers and change them frequently. Identifies four kinds of play and describes appropriate learning center activities for each. (BB)

Discusses theater education in the areas of curriculum, production, and criticism, as proposals in E. D. Hirsch's, "Cultural Literacy" might affect it. Explains context, cultural literacy, and contextual criticism in theater education. Traces interwoven history of education and theater. Explores how embracing Hirsch's proposal would…

Describes a set of techniques designed to provide teacher support for children engaged in story re-enactment. The techniques were developed at the Early Childhood Development Center at the University of Vermont, and found to be useful with preschool children. (BB)

Described is a skit to be performed in an elementary school classroom about the water cycle. Included are a list of materials, procedures, and suggestions for role cards for the players. (CW)

Explores the theme of "entrances" in children's literature and film from the physical, emotional, and symbolic perspectives. Materials containing each type of theme are suggested. Programming ideas for developing the theme using art, storytelling, dramatic play, and creative writing activities are provided. A resource list including 91…

Maintains that the Text Encoding Initiative guidelines make it possible to encode dramatic works as either an event or a text, but do not permit scholars to do both. Discusses approaches to encoding speeches and other aspects of dramatic texts. (CFR)

Reviews research on the early development of symbolic play. Suggests that symbolic play begins to emerge near the beginning of the child's second year and continues to play an important role in his or her development throughout the preschool years. Proposes basic techniques caregivers can use to facilitate and promote the development of symbolic…

Explains why play is an important tool for understanding and diagnosing children's problems, outlining signals for concern in children's play. Focuses on three areas of play where deviations can be observed: thematic content, style of play, and social interactions in play. Suggests strategies for dealing with these deviations, examining the role…

Observed behaviors of 37 female and 23 male Australian preschoolers. Found that only 20% engaged in thematic pretend play (linked to perspective taking, language development, impulse control, divergent problem solving) whereas 24% used cooperative social play (linked to divergent problem solving). Results suggest need for assistance in the…

Describes two interdisciplinary programs developed for middle school students that focus on mummies and vampires and include social studies, art, language arts, creative dramatics, and media production skills. Content, multimedia, new and interesting information, and student participation are emphasized. (11 references) (LRW)

In a study on the effects of play period length on four and five year olds' play behavior, results indicated that play time affected the amount and maturity of play. Guidelines for structuring play time in the classroom are offered. (BB)

Describes a collaborative project between instructors in language arts and social studies at the middle school level that produced a joint educational venture that made reading and writing more meaningful, challenging, and exciting for students and teachers. Describes a "Who's Who" thematic unit integrating reading, writing, and drama.…