Nature connection has been found in previous research to be a predictor of pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. For this reason, efforts to build children's nature connection through a variety of avenues, including environmental education, have been explored by practitioners and researchers alike. In this paper we undertook a purposive…

Few alcohol prevention programs focus on elementary school-aged youth, yet children develop expectancies and norms about alcohol use during the elementary school years, and many elementary school children are allowed to have sips or tastes of alcohol at home. Research on consequences of early alcohol use indicates that it can put children at…

Kindergarten has changed radically in the last two decades in ways that few Americans are aware of. Children now spend far more time being taught and tested on literacy and math skills than they do learning through play and exploration, exercising their bodies, and using their imaginations. The implications of these radical changes in early…

Spring is the season when thousands of creased cardboard pests can be found lodged under the armpits of students and teachers as they observe the educational rite of spring known as the school science fair. A recent visit to a local school's gymnasium to witness one of these events reminded the authors of why they so dislike science fairs. In this…

The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum in Ann Arbor, Michigan, encourages the natural curiosity of young people to explore, participate, and get involved in exhibits, demonstrations, and activities. Described are the museum's history, exhibits, programs, services, volunteers, resources, and affiliations. (JDD)

Goals of the Children's Museum of Boston are to encourage curiosity, skepticism, and realism while providing opportunities for discoveries and new insights. The museum addresses the needs of young children through adolescents by providing a multicultural environment and participatory learning centers. (JDD)

The inquiry approach of Discovery Place of Birmingham, Inc., in Birmingham, Alabama, invites children of all ages to explore the excitement of science, technology, art, and humanities. The educational resource center provides interactive exhibits, hands-on materials, teacher workshops, and family programs. (JDD)

A mother recounts her gifted seven-year old daughter's self-initiated summer educational and creative pursuits, focusing on American Indian life. She notes the importance of encouraging self-initiation and self-direction in gifted children by providing new experiences and supporting the child's interests and involvements. (CB)

Describes a project to develop a lending library to support and extend the elementary mathematics curriculum with the goals of implementing the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) connections standards; enhancing parental involvement in mathematics learning; encouraging active, hands-on approaches to mathematics at home; and…

Teachers and parents must foster students' creative problem solving, flexibility, and comfort with principles in math by providing experiences relating to everyday life. Math reform expands learning so children can form and explain mathematical processes independently. The paper examines how parents can become partners in their children's math…

Describes the experiences of a kindergarten class that conducted an extensive outdoor vegetable gardening project with the help of parent volunteers. The article presents seven steps to assist PTAs in establishing such a project and notes the value of school gardens in developing student skills. (SM)

Suggests ways parents can help steer their children toward the field of science, noting the current decrease in the proportion of students in science and engineering. Some of the ideas are to take children to museums, watch science specials on television, and buy toys and tools that teach. (SM)

Parents and teachers can help children enjoy the benefits of visiting museums. While school tours are important, family visits are invaluable. Drawing real benefits from visiting museums requires in-depth family visits. The article discusses the advantages of children's museums, examines learning within museums, and presents tips for visiting…