Describes a simple activity that explores and reveals the principles of significant figures and scientific notation using a 500 gram bag of unpopped popcorn. Students must devise a method for determining the number of kernels in the bag. (DDR)

To circumvent typical public schooling restrictions, an upstate New York middle school established a Lab School that functions outside the regular program. Lab School aims to provide practice in intellectual inquiry, delve into complex, demanding topics, create an interdisciplinary, problem-oriented curriculum, and experiment with assessment…

Reflects on the development of transition planning and services for students with disabilities. Discusses legislative changes mandating transition services and describes current conditions and outcomes for youth in transition. Identifies transformative collaboration and other themes that have implications for improvement of transition services.…

Describes a school-based project for fifth-grade students that integrated fine arts with the core curriculum. Explains that the students worked together with professionals in the community to develop a school-based business that created a calendar featuring local sites and landmarks. (CMK)

Describes an interdisciplinary unit, "Rollin down the River," where second grade students at the Winship Geography/History Magnet School (Macon, Georgia) learned about the local Ocmulgee River and the town of Macon. Includes a bibliography of children's literature and teacher resources. (CMK)

Chaos theory, which attempts to understand underlying order where none is apparent, was applied to an interdisciplinary rural health training program for health professionals. Similar programs should anticipate systemic flux between order and chaos and pay attention to information flow, degree of diversity, richness of connectivity, contained…

Medical schools have increasingly ignored underserved communities' needs. Descriptions of five demonstration programs show how community-driven approaches to medical education involve academic and rural communities, select students from underserved areas, and train learners in undeserved communities. The approach also supports underserved…

Describes an engaging project in which students have to design and construct a three-dimensional candy box that would appeal to children. Requires students to make the box out of prisms, pyramids, or cylinders, determine the surface area and volume of the solids, and write a persuasive business letter. (YDS)

Studying the environment outdoors integrates subjects and motivates students at Huntington Area Middle School (Pennsylvania). A study of 40 schools that use the environment for interdisciplinary education found improvements in student achievement, communication, problem solving, strategic thinking, attendance, and behavior. Consequently, the…

Discusses the use of children's literature with young children for improving student understanding of music and language. Includes an annotated bibliography of books in three categories: (1) "Books that Sing;" (2) "Books with a Beat;" and (3) "Musical Stories." Presents a book list. (CMK)

Describes a successful course in mathematical biology at Dartmouth College. The course targets premedical students and biology majors rather than mathematics majors, and requires only one semester of calculus as prerequisite. Real world problems form the basis of student work. (Author/KHR)

Reviews issues relating to database technology and digital libraries. Highlights include resource sharing; ongoing digital library projects; metadata; user interfaces; query processing; interoperability; data quality; copyright infringement; and managerial implications, including electronic versus printed materials, accessibility,…

Discusses how anthropology can be integrated into the social studies classroom focusing on second and fifth grade levels. Demonstrates how different subject areas can be integrated with anthropology, such as history, geography, science, mathematics, and art. Covers topics such as foods, American Indian folklore, moonsticks, and myths and legends.…

Focuses on the use of literature to teach social studies. Explores the various considerations that teachers must address when selecting literature, such as vocabulary levels, gender and ethnic bias, issues concerning relevance, interdisciplinary issues, and the quality of the literature. (CMK)

Describes episodes from work with a small group of 8th grade students who were working independently on a geometry course. Uses Geometer's Sketchpad for the tasks. Discusses students' reasoning skills and their interpretation of the painting in terms of the mathematical properties and relationships. (KHR)