The teacher's of America's one-room schoolhouses long ago mastered the concept of differentiation. Small class sizes were the norm, including children of all ages. Older, or more advanced students, helped others understand their lessons. Students move on to more difficult work as they were ready. Skipping grades was not uncommon. As the population…

Each autumn, the author leads a group of teenagers around Walden Pond, once the home of Henry David Thoreau, and proves that a whole curriculum--from history to philosophy to science--can be taught outside of a conventional classroom. The pond--located in Concord, about 20 miles west of Boston--is where Thoreau built his famous cabin and wrote…

Preparing students for a trip to a symphony concert should include a discussion of the traditions and customs of the symphony, information about the music that will be heard, a description of the physical environment in which the concert will take place, and a discussion of appropriate audience behavior. (RM)

The author, a teacher of developmental English, details her methods for increasing student ability to process and analyze information. Advocates taking developmental classes on regularly planned alternative class site experiences in order to instill a wonder about learning and a willingness to engage in sophisticated information processing and…

Virtual field trips offer a new way for teachers and students to visit historical sites and museums. Most notably, virtual field trips provide access to places that normally would be impossible for classrooms to visit, and this, in turn, provides a plethora of learning possibilities for the classroom. Why should teachers consider creating a…

Examines the role of ecology in science instruction and offers suggestions for integrating it into an existing curriculum. Discusses the value of field work and explains the different approaches and difficulties associated with ecological field studies. Highlights the advantages of using the local environment. (ML)

Argues that student field trips should provide students with learning experiences rather than entertainment. Gives examples of science demonstrations that engage the student in the scientific process using hands-on experiences. (MDH)

This pamphlet on using various learning tools is the sixth of 16 in a series to provide leaders in adult activities with sound introductory material to give practical help in using a method of adult education or working in a particular area. Its objective is to help leaders improve their methods of teaching. Ten articles and how-tos are included.…

Eight examples of innovative and outstanding earth science programs are described. These programs were selected using state criteria and at least four independent reviewers. While Project Synthesis offered a desired state, these examples of excellence provided views of what is already a reality. The goals of an exemplary science program are…

Fifteen innovative college science programs based on survey results about perceptions of excellence in college science teaching are presented. The goals, program origins, special features of the programs, evaluations, and conclusions are described for each. Discussed are the commonalities among this collection of 15 college science programs and…