Since Bunker and Thorpe (1982. A model for the teaching of games in secondary schools. "Bulletin of Physical Education," 18(1), 5-8.) introduced Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU), there has been a growing recognition of advocating approaches to pedagogy that addresses participant learning with games-based approaches (GBA)…

An important aspect of bringing innovation to education is supporting children's own innovative thinking. Teachers are finding that escape room activities can provoke children's wonder and determination to pursue their curiosity, which builds a foundation for innovators of the future.

This article reflects on a school's approach to gamifying the Royal Society Te Aparangi's First CREST Award. The article explains how CREST was reconceived as a quest using elements of live action role playing (LARP) and gamification, and the tools that were used to do this. It describes how progress was measured using a points system and the…

In this work we will introduce the concept of "music coding," namely a new discipline that employs basic music activities and simplified languages to teach the computational way of thinking to musically-untrained children who attend the primary school. In this context, music represents both a mean and a goal: in fact, from one side…

"Energy" is a term often used in everyday language. Even young children associate energy with the food they eat, feeling tired after playing soccer, or when asked to turn the lights off to save light energy. However, they may not have the scientific conceptual understanding of energy at this age. Teaching energy and matter could be…

Students with disabilities often find writing extremely challenging (Harris & Graham, 2016). Special educators can, however, promote tremendous gains in students' ability to write by understanding common challenges students face and mastering specific teaching techniques. Students' writing success depends on reducing how much attention and…

Spatial reasoning--the ability to visualise and play with shapes in one's mind--is essential in many fields, and crucial in any Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics [STEM] discipline. It is, for example, the ability that the engineer needs to build bridges; the chemist to see the three-dimensional structure of a molecule; the architect to…

This webinar provided an overview of the research behind literacy for second language learners, the different variables that influence a second language learners' reading abilities, and strategies to improve instruction for these students. Drawing from her research and experience, Dr. Esther Geva discussed the different skills and variables that…

4Kids.org is an online resource with an accompanying syndicated print publication created to promote safe access to websites and technology literacy. 4Kids.org, created by ALTEC at the University of Kansas in 1995, provides a variety of Internet-based activities as well as access to a database of websites reviewed for educational content,…

Dramatic play games emphasizing creative thinking and listening skills offer an emotional outlet for the entire class. Games involving pantomime, musical instruments, and communication are described. (CB)

Describes two card games to motivate students to understand number sense concepts that can be used at the 2nd-5th grade levels. (ASK)

Describes an activity that springs from the classic fable, The Tortoise and the Hare. Presents a game in which students simulate the race and use a die to move the animals in position. (CCM)

"The Capital Kid" is a cowboy persona used by the author when she teaches capitalization skills. Her teaching style and the games used are described. (SJL)

By combining interactive learning with active learning, untrained teachers and peer tutors obtain results equal to what trained teachers achieve. Some examples are given based on a successful project in the Philippines and an evolving project in Liberia. (Author/JEG)

Describes four game programs--Silly Sentence, Spell-It, Scrambled Word, and Guess the Word--designed to introduce elementary school students with no prior programing experience to key concepts of programing with BASIC. Several immediate learning outcomes that became evident while observing students at work with the programs are also discussed.…