Describes techniques that help teach urban and suburban children the virtues of trees and forests. Includes a listing of book titles that may help teach children about trees. (MCO)

This article provides information on the evolution of the building material, concrete, and suggests hands-on activities that allow students to experience concrete's qualities, test the heat absorbency of various ground surface materials, discover how an area's geology changes, and search for city fossils. A reproducible activity sheet is included.…

This qualitative study explored college teaching in an "apprenticeship" setting, specifically the architectural design studio. The study examined studio teachers' efforts to design effective project assignments and to help students move successfully through those assignments. Two design teachers were interviewed and observed as their students…

The learning center described here, using a city theme, structures movement activities to reinforce basic cognitive skills, including mapping, memorizing, matching, manipulating shapes, categorizing, listening, sequencing, and following directions. (Author/SJL)

Outlines a teaching/learning strategy in which students design an urban settlement of the future. The task emphasizes process as content and stresses problem solving which will be applicable to future experiences. (Author/AV)

Describes an interdisciplinary program which uses simulation to investigate social, cultural, economic, and political dimensions of environmental change. Summarizes the underlying process, outlines topics and activities for each of the four phases of the program, and presents one sample activity for each unit. (DC)

Describes an instructional activity in which students collected and analyzed data from an urban environment. Explains that students developed an "urban attractiveness scale" and used it to rate different urban areas. Concludes that the exercise was effective as a learning activity. (CFR)

This program has 10 units, each to be taught in 40-50 minute periods. Each unit includes a statement of purpose, concepts to be taught, a list of necessary materials, preparation, and graphics. Guidelines are provided for 10-15 minutes of introduction with classroom discussion, 15-20 minutes of activities and 5-10 minutes of wrap-up discussion.…

Richard Boyer and David Savageau's book "Places Rated Almanac" is described, and ways the book can be used in secondary and college geography classes are discussed. The book rates the quality of the following aspects of urban life: climate and terrain, housing, health care, environment, crime, transportation, education, and recreation.…

Most people think of nature in the city as parks and zoos and dandelions pushing up through cracks in the sidewalk, but it is also asphalt streets, granite office buildings and mazes of underground pipes and cables. The materials of which the streets and buildings are constructed began as prehistoric jungles and ancient mountains. The systems that…

Describes how a walking tour of New York City gives students firsthand exposure to urban history. Suggests that history can be recreated with walking tours through areas of historical significance, combining them with classroom lectures. Gives tips for planning successful tours and suggestions for making historical periods come alive. (NL)

Arranged in four sections, the book offers practical techniques for introducing environmental education at the primary level. The first section, on planning, outlines a conceptual framework for environmental education, describes how the staff at one primary school developed a K-7 curriculum, examines an in-service course on environmental science…

Describes five successful geography courses centered around local studies for students in the lower ability range. Includes pollution, mapping, traffic surveys of cars and pedestrians, and discovering town trails. Journal available from Longman Group Ltd, Directories and Periodicals Division, 43/45 Annandale Street, Edinburgh EH7 4AT Scotland.…

Provides lessons plans for teaching urban history through folk rhymes written by Chinese immigrants describing their early experiences in the United States. Includes eight folk rhymes from the early 1900s. Provides suggestions for teaching objectives, class activities, and classroom questions to enrich students' understanding of ethnic cultures…

Reports on a survey of attitudes and teaching methods of 20 selected music teachers from large urban areas in the United States. Discusses the teachers' opinions and suggestions on preservice teacher education, classroom techniques, and improvement of urban music education. Includes survey questions and teacher responses. (CFR)