Students learn more when they are up, moving, and actively participating. The article discusses what teachers can do to incorporate movement into the classroom every day and describes several exercises from "Brain Gym." A sidebar illustrates the connections between muscular activity, the neural network, and the brain. (SM)

Bulletin boards can be "vertical activity centers" when students create them as learning activities. Suggestions are offered for developing stimulating and creative boards that are also educational. (DF)

Urges that natural hazards be studied in order to analyze the geographic theme of human-environment interaction. Suggests ways in which this information can be introduced in the classroom. Identifies field studies and cross-cultural analysis with follow-up discussions as possible activities. Points out information sources. (KO)

Describes an upper-level seminar dealing with political economy theory applied to Asia. Requirements include a short paper, a comparative article review, an in-class presentation, and a term paper. Provides a brief review of these activities and a syllabus for a 15 week course. (KO)

The Learning Cycle, a popular medium for teaching science lessons, can be used to teach a language arts lesson on acronyms, an appropriate skill topic for students in grades four through six. Acronyms are fascinating words that can challenge students to solve the puzzle of what the letters stand for. The three-phase Learning Cycle arranges…

Offers information on and examples of the Cognitive Research Trust (CoRT) Thinking Program, internationally the most widely used program for the teaching of thinking as part of the school curriculum. Describes various CoRT tools, including one in which students list the pluses, minuses, and interesting points about a given issue. (DMM)

Describes a factorial experiment that is used as a laboratory exercise in a research methods course. Uses a Howard-Dolman depth perception apparatus, combining the factors of viewing condition and rod orientation to illustrate the nature of an interaction and the necessity of an additional analysis of simple main effects. (Author/LS)

Designed to be planned jointly by teachers and school library media specialists, the 60 units of study described in this book suggest ideas for sharing literature that may be used in developing a scope and sequence of literature experiences for children in grades K-5. For primary grades K-2, the activities are primarily arranged through sharing…

Intended for practitioners, this book provides a valuable resource by offering teachers a volume of practical exercises for introducing and reinforcing a variety of fundamental thinking skills. Each exercise allows teachers and students in grades six through nine to focus on a selected thinking skill while serving as a stimulant for thoughtful…

This book focuses on the integration of children's literature and creative arts. Each chapter begins with a "Background" section designed to familiarize the reader with the children's book that is showcased. This is followed by the "Hook" activity, a starter experience that involves the entire class in a doing-and-listening…

Discusses the topic-based approach for primary classroom curriculum. Focuses on the appropriateness of the approach for the acquisition of language and literary skills by children with learning difficulties. (RJC)

This booklet consists of approximately 50 motivational instructional strategies identified and used by educators in adult high schools. Strategies include the use of humor by teachers; an emphasis on student autonomy, responsibility, and collaboration; and self-analysis of work. Specific ideas include involving students in activities, making…

Magic can be used in the communication classroom as a means for introducing and/or illustrating the subject of persuasion. A magical effect which fools the class can lead to an early discussion of the need to be a critical consumer of persuasive messages. Magic can also be used to introduce the subject of ethics in persuasion. Each student can be…

Describes how a teacher with little background in science helped her students write puppet plays as part of their learning about the science of rainbows. (FL)

This handbook introduces teachers and students to the "design conversation," a classroom discussion technique with some variations that involve writing or group work. The design conversation helps students understand topics in the subject matters more deeply and explore them analytically and imaginatively. It is a critical and creative…