The purpose of this document is to highlight "what works" based on the curriculum development and research work of the Center for Gifted Education during the past 20 years. Areas of study include curriculum development, instruction, assessment, and professional development. Through the use of the Integrated Curriculum Model as a template for …

A teacher of upper elementary deaf students describes a multidisciplinary study unit focused on the Alaskan dogsled race, the Iditarod. Activities included studying Alaskan geography and history, following specific racers (mushers) through daily updates faxed from Alaska, writing letters to mushers, calculating math facts related to the race,…

Inspired by study of British teacher centres, an active learning center was developed based on the belief that emphasis on needs of individual teachers and voluntary teacher involvement in designing programs would lead to progress and classroom changes by providing practical group studies in a nonevaluative supportive atmosphere. (JD)

An intermediate school teacher describes a successful integrated curriculum unit that taught students basic geography, technology, and writing skills as they pretended to travel across the United States. The project required a large map, a resource library, a computer, and word processing, database, spreadsheet, and drawing software. (SM)

Offers six suggestions to help elementary teachers create cross-curricular adventures in learning that begin with science. The article includes a chart on process skills across the curriculum, a list of resources, and suggested class activities. (SM)

Everyone talks about "best practice" teaching--what does it actually look like in the classroom? How do working teachers translate complex curriculum standards into simple, workable classroom structures that embody exemplary instruction--and still let kids find joy in learning? In this book, the authors present seven basic teaching structures that…

This guide for enhancing wildlife habitats on school grounds provides students and teachers the opportunity for direct, hands-on learning in the environment of their schoolyard. Geared towards grades K-8, all activities are developmentally appropriate to involve students on every level, resulting in student ownership of the project and a greater…

Encourages educators to use participation projects to develop active, socially concerned citizens. Views school as a place where students learn to negotiate problems and issues of society. Provides examples of projects where students and teachers plan integrated units using social studies as the basis for teaching. (NL)

This volume brings award-winning literature to all areas of the science curriculum. The lesson plan format includes the four stages of engagement, elaboration, exploration, and connection. Each story is followed by activities that make connections between literature, science, and the arts. Chapters include: (1) "Frog Went A-Courtin',"…

Interviews with children and a review of the research identified critical factors in teaching reading comprehension to special needs learners in regular classrooms. These include (1) knowing one's students; (2) consideration of the socialization skills being taught in the classroom; (3) linking learning to the real world; and (4) using an…

Contends that increasing college-level enrollments in both business and economics provide an incentive for curriculum integration. Describes a program in which fundamental concepts in both courses are taught separately but integrated when the subjects address similar issues. Concludes that students will be involved more actively when courses…

This book aims to introduce teachers and other educational practitioners to the concepts, operating principles, and teaching strategies of the adventure in the classroom (AITC) model. Adventure involves more than equipment, risk taking, or the outdoors. Adventure is a matter of significance, support, stimulation, and satisfaction--characteristics…

Describes a third and fifth grade social studies curriculum in a New York City school where social studies is integrated into every subject area of the curriculum. The unit on the North American Indians included making musical instruments, wearing and sewing authentic clothes, and planting and cooking food in traditional ways. (GG)

Because many cultures celebrate a harvest time or festival with which many children can identify, this farm preschool curriculum unit is appropriate for a cross-cultural setting. The farm unit is introduced to children through a field trip to a local farm, with children having the opportunity for experiential learning. The farm may be integrated…

As part of the education reform movement seeking change in both teaching and teacher education, a graduate teacher education course at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, "Integrating Museum Resources into Classroom Instruction," offers teachers a chance to engage in problem solving for their own students through varied…