Both a practitioner's guide and a school reform model, the new edition of this popular book shares exemplary arts-integration practices across the K-8 curriculum. Rather than providing formulas or scripts to be followed, each chapter carefully describes how the arts offer an entry point for gaining insight into why and how students learn to assist…

Middle school interdisciplinary teams developed a student behavioral management plan that aims to identify, develop, and coordinate appropriate school responses to the behavior of a specific student that will enable the youngster to become a successful, contributing member of the school program. Sample plan included. (Author/DCS)

Describes a field-tested interdisciplinary unit activity that involves collecting data on honeybees. Students gain hands-on experience with collecting, transforming, and analyzing data in this activity by using actual techniques employed by entomologists, the scientists who study insects. (ASK)

This videotape records the stories of 7 scientists, 3 women and 4 men who range in age from 33 to 81. Beginning with their earliest scientific questions and including their most personal ponderings, the scientists reveal their histories and professional obligations to affect the world. Director Michael Apted allows the personal adventures of the…

Discusses problems with existing social studies curriculum, including the dichotomy between in-depth studies and coverage studies, lack of correlation with other fields of instruction, and uncertainty about the appropriate sequential development of concepts. A master plan for social studies curriculum, focusing on grades five through eight, is…

During the 1960s and early 1970s two educational movements were the evolution of the middle school and the structures of disciplines approach to social studies. These movements involved school organization, curriculum development, and methodologies incorporating the inquiry or conceptual approach. Learners had trouble with the conceptual approach,…

This CD-ROM presents various energy and environmental topics. "Great Energy Debate" uses video clips to explore the pros and cons of solar, coal, nuclear, and oil energy sources. "Energy Plant Tour" presents a virtual tour through a plant that converts solid waste into energy. "How Stuff Works" explains energy…

This paper contains some hands-on activities that relate science to art and language arts. The focus is placed on middle schools and activities engage students in the discovery that chemicals are used to draw and color. Students also read and write poetry and literature that employ science-related topics. A number of spin-off activities are…

Provides eight lesson plans for grades five through eight designed to foster a global perspective and understanding of cultural and environmental diversity. Includes lesson objectives, suggested class activities, and teacher assessment suggestions. (RW)

Presents a three-week interdisciplinary unit for starting the school year that focuses on the concept of flight. Enables students to acquire knowledge and develop process skills that they need later in the semester. (JRH)

The Star-Spangled Banner is the original flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore (Maryland) during its attack by the British during the War of 1812. It inspired Francis Scott Key, a lawyer being held on board a British ship in Baltimore Harbor, to write a poem that later became the words to the national anthem. Since 1907, the Star-Spangled…

Forming teams is the logical first step in the transition to middle school from junior high school. Offers 10 questions that middle-level educators should ask as they embark upon this new venture of interdisciplinary teaming. (13 references) (MLF)

Describes an integrated student-designed investigation in which students explore different aspects of the Chagrin River including the river ecosystem, velocity and average depth, river flooding, water quality, and economic and political factors. (JRH)

This curriculum unit on textiles is intended for middle school students who have previously studied the cultures of modern and ancient Latin America. The unit does not employ Spanish language skills. Its lessons apply to individual, small group, and whole group work, and may take from 30 minutes to three class periods. The guide lists necessary…

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has produced a distance learning series of four 60-minute video programs with an accompanying Web site and companion teacher guides. The story lines of each program or episode involve six inquisitive school children who meet in a treehouse. They seek the solution of a particular problem, and…