This book is based on the premise that learning in young children takes place through participation in purposeful activity and the learning process includes building on what children already know and enabling children to take responsibility for their own learning. It focuses not just on recent pedagogical developments in science, but shows,…

This book uses a child-initiated, whole language approach to help children have fun while exploring the world of science. The activities are divided into 23 units. Each unit begins with an "Attention Getter," the purpose of which is to introduce the unit to children in a way that grabs their attention, stimulates their interest, and creates…

Advocates synergistic pedagogy, in which all the school subjects are related and taught in such a manner that they are almost inseparable. Demonstrates how this might be done with an interdisciplinary theme on the stars. (SR)

With the current emphasis on whole language, the use of children's literature as the basis for reading instruction is widespread. Theme units have been suggested as one way to provide stimulating opportunities for children to explore and learn. Whole language based literature theme units emphasize process more than product. Units are designed to…

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)

This book describes how to establish a Cultural Exchange Program in a school. The Cultural Exchange Program is a partnership between special education students and teachers, regular education students and teachers, and the community. The program involves a member of the international community visiting the school approximately once a month. Before…

This resource book provides specific strategies and activities for integrating the intermediate geography curriculum with related children's literature selections. The book includes the following sections: (1) "World Geography Overview"; (2) "Oceans"; (3) "Polar Regions"; (4) "Islands"; (5) "Rain Forests"; (6) "Mountains"; (7) "Forests"; (8)…

This book highlights ways in which science instruction benefits from the perspectives of teachers committed to whole language. The introductory chapter starts from a viewpoint outside the classroom and seeks to identify overall patterns while the remaining chapters build from experiences in individual classrooms. This book assumes that teachers…

Exploring what it means for teachers to generate curriculum with their students and to share the responsibility and joys of deciding what and how students learn, this book describes teachers' own experiences in generating curriculum that integrates social studies, literacy, and whole language. The book presents practical ideas that teachers across…

This resource book provides specific strategies and activities for integrating middle grade elementary multicultural studies with 34 related children's literature selections. This book addresses current trends in education: multicultural studies and understanding, the whole language movement, and the emphasis on integrating curriculum areas. This…

This booklet presents a description of Making Connections, a multicultural core curriculum program, and a list of recommended literature for interdisciplinary units. The first section discusses materials, using the Making Connections program, integrating relevant content areas, the stages of the research process, assessment, and making connections…

This article presents activities for helping gifted students learn about caring, sharing, and charity, with projects in the areas of language arts, social studies, science, and mathematics. Teachers' notes are also included. (PB)

Describes the Thematic Experience Approach, designed to build on positive experiences that enlarge the high school dropout's perspective while building self-esteem, background knowledge, and reading ability. Describes a sample unit dealing with legal rights as presented in a history class, a futures class, and two language arts classes. (RS)

This book accompanies "A Multicultural Guide to Literature-Based Whole Language Activities" and provides a multicultural perspective to several units of study for young children. The units are based in the social studies or the sciences. Each study begins with topics familiar to the young child and expands the study to introduce the unfamiliar.…

Using a dinosaur unit as an example throughout the chapters, this book presents an organizational plan for developing a thematic unit for literature-based instruction for grades K-6. The book is designed as a resource for preservice and inservice teachers new to literature-based instruction. The book shows how a content topic can be used as a…