Activities are included that acquaint students with the parts of birds and the structure of feathers; that identify the prey of owls by opening owl pellets; working with information about threatened and endangered species of birds; and follow-up activities for bird study. A list of state and provincial birds of the United States and Canada and…

This chapter from a forthcoming book on teaching students economic concepts presents a series of activities focusing on zoos. Zoo resources are examined and categorized, including land, capital, entrepreneurs, and human resources. Zoo careers, business decisions, and investment causes and effects are also studied using worksheets, projects,…

Describes presentations at Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) 25th anniversary conference, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 1990. Conference focused on youth leadership. More than 100 youth from 13 states attended, presenting 16 ARC-funded demonstration projects, including recreation programs, leadership development, theater…

A resource room teacher of elementary students with mild disabilities and behavior disorders describes student successes in running the school store, telling Appalachian folk tales to primary classes, and carrying out other Foxfire-inspired projects. Student comments are included. (SV)

Development of the Student Product Assessment Form to evaluate formally the products of students in gifted and talented education programs is described. Results from content validation procedures, reliability tests, scoring, and interrater agreement indicate that the assessment tool is both reliable and valid. (Author/JDD)

Describes a successful project in which ninth grade remedial reading students designed, wrote, and illustrated a Student Orientation Handbook for their high school. (SR)

Describes a course on information gathering and evaluation that is required for journalism and mass communication majors at the University of Minnesota. Search strategies and the search process are emphasized; weekly assignments and requirements for the final project are explained; and goals and objectives of the course are discussed. (LRW)

A physics and chemistry teacher from rural Elmira High School (Oregon) describes his own and his students' experiences with the LabNet teacher telecommunications network and related project-based science instruction; the reactions of teacher colleagues and administrators to LabNet; and technological, psychological, and resource-related barriers to…

Discusses the nature and application of a research poster exercise used in an advanced undergraduate geography course. Describes the research strategies and the necessary oral, written, and design skills required to complete the project. Concludes that close supervision of student work will help improve the project as an instructional tool. (CFR)

Describes how small groups of eighth graders in a reading and language arts class collaborated on writing and performing mystery plays. Notes that mutual critiques during rehearsals lead to meaningful revisions and expanded students' knowledge of plot and characterization. (SR)

The article evaluates student science projects encouraged by a South African Science Exposition using the criteria of secondary science educator, J.R. Campbell, and the task descriptors of the educator of the gifted, J.S. Renzulli. It is concluded the preparation of such projects meets the educational standards cited. (DB)

Describes a telecommunications project in which junior high students had the opportunity to communicate with inmates at a state maximum security prison and to hear from inmates how wrong choices, such as joining a gang, can lead to disastrous consequences. (SR)

Contends that the study of the psychology of humor integrates areas such as child development stereotyping and creativity. Describes an undergraduate college-level course in which students apply psychological theories of humor to understand both popular humor and experiences in everyday life. (CFR)

The functional skills activity, "On Your Own," provides an opportunity for adolescents with mild disabilities to apply cognitive and academic skills in the program's four phases (choosing a career, finding an apartment, furnishing the apartment, and learning to budget) involve direct instruction, hands-on activities, small-group discussions, and…

Discusses service learning (learning that combines public service with related academic work) and service learning projects in an undergraduate course on mass communication and society. Finds that it is an effective means of teaching that increases student understanding of complex material. (SR)