English practice activities can be a great medium for positive youth development. Worldwide, young people are aware of the increased opportunities available to those with English language skills, creating a high demand for quality English education. As a result, Youth in Development Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) are often asked to teach English.…

Since 1996, the "Arthur" program on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) has featured stories about the challenges of childhood for children ages 3 through 8, illustrating problem-solving and communication skills as well as the importance of self-respect and respect for others. This booklet provides creative ideas for ways to incorporate…

This ecology curriculum for young children is arranged into seven chapters of activities. The chapters are preceded by an activity matrix that provides information on outcomes, location of activity, and time of year. Each chapter begins with a background section that provides a basic understanding of the topic. It also explains how much young…

The booklet suggests approaches and methods to help the teacher or program leader maximize students' learning from their community involvement. The purpose is to provide practical suggestions for encouraging young people to reflect on their participation in the community programs. The suggestions will help secondary students think about their…

This article explains the use of a community mapping methodology to identify natural learning environments and inclusion opportunities for young children with disabilities. Four steps are discussed: (1) selecting kinds of learning opportunities for mapping; (2) gathering information about community learning sources; (3) developing an informational…

Designed for teachers of students in grades 4-8, this program provides specific, easy-to-do activities for use with volunteers, parents, and students. Following a brief introduction explaining program procedures, the document is organized into four chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on jobs, including ways to do a job well, find useful jobs in school and…

This handbook introduces the Teaching-Learning Communities (TLC) system of implementation for an integrational model of career education in grades 7-10. (The TLC system involves the participation of such non-teaching personnel as retired workers to interact with students in creative activities in arts/crafts/humanities to help students develop…

Since 1979, a coalition of lawyers and educators in Sacramento, California has put on a one-day law-related education (LRE) conference in the local courthouse that draws hundreds of students from area high schools. The conference includes mock trial and moot court competitions, panels, debates, and simulations. This handbook was developed by the…

Social studies fairs provide opportunities for citizenship education and for involvement in activities that emphasize thinking and inquiry skills. The Louisiana local, regional, and state social studies fairs present exhibitions of projects prepared by elementary and secondary school students to portray applications of basic principles,…

The Oakland (California) Explorers is a program to help children learn about the city. The project is part of a long-term effort by the Junior Center for Art and Science to make Oakland a better place for children to be raised. Project goals are to create the following: (1) a living museum of Oakland that will include children and adolescents in…

Exercises and techniques are presented which will help young people and adults working in youth-serving organizations develop cooperative work relationships. Youth empowerment is defined as the process by which young people learn, through active participation in the relationship, events, and institutions that affect their lives, to develop and…

This guide for 4-H leaders and volunteers offers information to help integrate youth with disabilities into various 4-H programs. After an introduction, a section on 4-H and mainstreaming reviews the mission of 4-H; considers what 4-H has to offer youth; defines mainstreaming; notes the benefits of mainstreaming; and distinguishes among the terms…

This curriculum guide is designed for educators who want to teach youths aged 5-18 about the interactions among energy, economics, and the environment. This guide contains five chapters of activities, each focusing on a different topic related to this interaction as well as several sections that guide session leaders in helping youth along the…

This document presents learning materials designed to support school and community activities dealing with the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, and particularly with New York State's role in the nation's constitutional history. The following materials concerning school and community activities are included: "'Congress Shall Make No…

This booklet is written for communities and their schools to help them design educational programs and activities that use local historical and cultural resources. This approach to teaching and learning is often referred to as heritage education by preservationists, museum educators, site interpreters, and folklorists. The document addresses the…