The purpose of this article is to retrace the steps that led to the development of a philosophy statement for the Simsbury, Connecticut School District as well as to focus on the Simsbury Public Schools' library media department's satisfaction with the process. From the initiation of the school district's curriculum rewriting effort to the…

Describes the development of an elementary school curriculum on farms to give students a knowledge and appreciation of the farm as a food source and of the steps involved moving food from the farm to the table. Specific activities are suggested, and appropriate book titles are recommended. (Contains 10 references.) (LRW)

Discussion of the integration of information skills from a junior high school library media program into the curriculum focuses on the use of the Big Six Skills, a model that incorporates six steps for solving information problems. Its suitability for organizing information skills and curricular areas is explained. (four references) (LRW)

Discusses the evolution of literacy in American society and considers the importance of information and media literacies. Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives is used as a framework to describe a set of intellectual skills and abilities that students are expected to master, and examples of activities are included. (LRW)

Discussion of the use of poetry in the classroom highlights 15 poetry books and suggests numerous activities appropriate for grades 2 through 5 in the subject areas of African Americans, birds, color, discoveries, families, food/eating, haiku, multiculturalism, Native Americans, nature, New England, Paul Revere/biographies, seasons, trains, and…

Discusses geographic information systems (GIS) and their use in elementary and secondary education. Databases are described, including a graphics package for maps and an alphanumeric database; and resources are included. (11 references) (LRW)

Discussion of learning resources focuses on collection mapping to facilitate learning resource plans and application to learning standards and resources tied to curriculum needs. Presents sample learning resource profiles that include specific student performance objectives for selective knowledge content areas organized by school level. (LRW)

Discusses the importance of including topics dealing with economics in elementary and middle school curriculum. Content standards for economics education are described, and three lessons are provided as examples of how to incorporate economics topics, including activities dealing with fiction, vocabulary, and group work. (LRW)

Reviews Web sites for current events news that are appropriate for students of various ages. Discusses the possibilities for second language learning and curriculum connections and lists television sites, news magazines, classroom magazines, newspapers, and lesson plans. (LRW)

Focuses on "organizers," tools or techniques that provide identification and classification along with possible relationships or connections among ideas, concepts, and issues. Discusses David Ausubel's research and ideas concerning advance organizers; the implications of Ausubel's theory to curriculum and teaching; "webbing," a…

Distinguishes between critical and creative thinking and discusses critical-thinking in relation to modern instructional programs and information literacy. Outlines goals in critical-thinking curriculum, critical thinking skills (student disposition, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, presenting argument, and reflection), and…

Discusses four critical questions raised in curriculum planning, based on cooperative librarian/teacher efforts at Miliani Mauka Elementary School (Hawaii). Questions focus on what to assess (knowledge or skills, process or product), reasons for assessing, when and how to assess, and who should do the assessing. Includes a sample assessment form…

Explores changing curricular designs and the differences between traditional and authentic learning. Identifies significant design features of authentic design, and provides examples of these features with instructional units. (AEF)

Notes the importance and use of interviewing skills. Discusses technologies used in interviewing; use of interviews in the curriculum; ways to contact potential interviewees; and planning, conducting, and ending the interview. (AEF)

Discusses scope and sequence plans for curriculum coordination in elementary and secondary education related to school libraries. Highlights include library skills; levels of learning objectives; technology skills; media literacy skills; and information inquiry skills across disciplines by grade level. (LRW)