Data show that centenarian populations mostly consume a whole-food, plant-based diet, live an active lifestyle, and avoid toxins. Many Americans, however, do the opposite and succumb to numerous health-related diseases at a much earlier age. The lesson presented in this article was designed to help the health educator to use this data in their…

Ageism is highly prevalent, especially among college students. However, efforts to reduce ageism largely take place in helping professions. This activity seeks to promote positive perceptions toward older adults and aging among communication undergraduate students through gerontological education, a positive intergeneration contact experience, a…

The Academic Training in Aging for Florida Educators (ATAFE) Project is a federally-funded education program for beginning teachers, designed to promote more positive attitudes toward aging and older persons among youth through the inclusion of aging education in the preparation of elementary and secondary school teachers. ATAFE provides beginning…

Discusses what schools can do to counteract negative stereotypes about aging. Describes intergenerational programs that can sensitize youth to the realities of older adults. (SK)

This paper contains learning activities on aging for use with elementary, high school, and university students in health, family relationships, social studies, and art courses. The activities are intended to help youth develop a more realistic understanding of the aging process and to become aware of both the problems and benefits associated with…

Discusses childhood attitudes toward aging and the aged and offers 24 concepts for educators for developing educational programs to prevent the emergence of age stereotypes. Concepts include understanding the concept of time related to human experience, recognizing that every stage of life has its special opportunities and rewards, and that death…

Discusses the aging puzzle. Describes some experiments and different theories of aging to explain how and why aging occurs. (ASK)

Presents five learning activities which are designed to enable the student of psychology to better understand the aging and the aged. Activities are concerned with current demographic data, stereotyping, perceptions of personal aging, attitudes about age found in greeting cards, and an examination of popular culture's messages about the elderly.…

Describes an experiment conducted with students in grades two through six and grade nine. States that the focus was on writing about old age. Reveals stereotypes about the elderly. Discusses how students were encouraged to write about the aging process and their feelings about aging. Concludes that aging is thought of as a major human concern, but…

Briefly reviews the gerontological literature on attitudes toward the elderly. Criticizing word association measurement techniques, this article identifies alternative methods for assessing attitudes toward the elderly and considers the pedagogical effects of these methods. (JDH)

Describes topics and activities covered in a communication course for students who plan careers that include working with the elderly. (Offered at undergraduate and graduate levels in the departments of Social Work, Sociology, and Communication.) (PD)

Explains how the use of cartoons and greeting cards in the classroom can help students identify and understand stereotypes of aging and older people. The activity, which takes one class period, involves the students in analyzing, discussing, and thinking of a word or phrase which best describes stereotypes illustrated on specific greeting cards…

Considers several aspects of grandparent/grandchild relationships, and discusses 43 children's books that teachers can use to nurture understanding of those relationships. (SR)

This guide provides background information and learning activities to help teachers provide educational experiences for elementary students regarding older Americans and the process of aging. There are two major sections. The first section contains a facts-on-aging quiz and discusses facts and myths about older citizens. Examined are feelings and…

By participating in these class activities, students will acquire mathematical skills and at the same time learn about aging. Topics related to aging are often quantitative, and therefore, subject to mathematical analysis and procedures. The activities, which contain teacher suggestions and all student handouts, deal with seven topics. In the…