Operation Magpie was a citizen science project that involved the community in collecting data about magpies. This article describes one aspect of the project from an education perspective. The study began with a collaboration of teacher educators, environmental scientists and a local radio station. After an initial workshop with 75 teachers, three…

Place- and community-based education--an approach to teaching and learning that starts with the local--addresses two critical gaps in the experience of many children now growing up in the United States: contact with the natural world and contact with community. It offers a way to extend young people's attention beyond the classroom to the world as…

Central California Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Fresno Unified School District cooperate to promote teacher education and use of SPCA materials in the classrooms. Timing, key persons, building/maintaining contact, teacher involvement, and mutual understanding, which have been important in this productive partnership,…

Cable television's local access option may be a way for colleges and universities to expand their media offerings. For example, some institutions are using cable capabilities to broadcast direct and inservice instruction or to provide hands-on training for broadcast students. A small private liberal arts college in Iowa successfully uses cable…

In a built environment program, parts of the community are brought right into the classroom for detailed study, and all activities are related to the specific characteristics of the local environment. A built environment project for primary schools in British Columbia is described and evaluated. (RM)

This guidebook has been developed to support and coordinate efforts across Pennsylvania to increase the connections between farms and schools. It is written for schools and school districts--and especially for food service directors, teachers, administrators, school nurses, and school health and wellness committees. It is also written for farmers…

Designed for high school teachers and administrators, this compilation of two journal articles, a bibliography, and a course list describes how one school took two days between semesters, abandoned regular schedules, and offered special minicourses suited to the talents of the staff and community. Minicourses are seen as a way to broaden horizons,…

Global Trends Workshops for secondary science and social studies teachers and supervisors conducted collaboratively by the Center for Environmental/Energy Education and the Tennessee Valley Authority's Environmental/Energy Education Program are described. The workshops helped teachers learn how to merge global trends with local concerns. (RM)

How trainable mentally handicapped high school students very successfully adapted Charles Dickens's novel "Oliver Twist" into a musical play is described. The project, which involved the entire school as well as the community, shows that handicapped people are capable of artistic endeavors and growth when given the proper environment. (RM)

Although often ignored by policymakers, African-American independent neighborhood schools provide models of successful learning environments grounded in cultural history and the pursuit of excellence. These schools are usually urban and mostly minority and have a long tradition of self-help providing stability to the African-American community.…

Describes a program implemented by a British secondary school which linked students taking economics or commerce courses with industry. There were five components in the program: industrial and commercial visits, guest speakers, the young enterprise scheme (i.e., some students started their own businesses), field studies, and evaluation reports.…

A high school teacher discusses what his school district is doing to improve economics education. A program that brings together academic resources of local colleges and economic resources of the community has been established. A mentor position in curriculum development has been created and inservice teacher education is being provided. (RM)

Explains the Artists-in-Education program in Butte, Montana, which exposes students to practicing professional artists. Artists demonstrate and discuss their work, and involve students in projects in their medium. Both students and teachers are exposed to new equipment, materials, and ideas. (LS)

This packet of materials is intended for high school educators who are interested in implementing career education programs. Introductory information explains the need for career education, the targeted audience, access to resources, and objectives. Descriptions of the career education programs of seven schools throughout the province of Alberta…

Describes the social studies fair held every 3 years in St. Louis County, Missouri, for kindergarten through grade 12. Explains the fair is to encourage students to research an important social studies idea or concept and plan a project that turns an abstract idea into a concrete representation. Outlines the planning and logistics of such a…