Presents elementary school science activities with a Halloween orientation. One activity teaches students to appreciate and understand bats. A second activity has students group and classify monsters by individual characteristics. Activities for integrating science across the curriculum include creating monster myths, conducting surveys of…

This 20-minute videotape is designed to help parents understand why mathematics teaching has changed, how it will benefit children, and what they (parents) can do to help. The tape shows adult recollections of their experiences in mathematics classrooms, elementary mathematics classroom vignettes, and adult workers who use mathematics in their…

Presents a seven-step activity for researching and presenting information in the form of nonfiction big books, allowing children to read for information and write to inform. (MG)

A study investigated the effectiveness of a program to improve writing performance across the curriculum. The targeted population consisted of students (n=73) from the elementary sector of a middle-class community in a south suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The problem of deficiencies in student writing throughout content areas was documented through…

Answers questions about collaborative learning and offers some strategies to use with students. (MG)

Presents a three-phase process that connects writing and cooperative problem solving to each other and to mathematical skills and concepts. The three phases are: (1) writing to communicate mathematics; (2) cooperative learning; and (3) problem solving. Provides examples illustrating each phase. (MDH)

Describes how to create a quality learning environment by setting tone and context, using cooperative groups, and setting up success for students. Outlines a thematic unit on fairy tales which can be used in a faculty workshop to model new beliefs and skills associated with writing programs. (MG)

Presents the method of employing student-written playlets and a technique called "stage freeze" to help students identify appropriate operations during problem solving. Provides five sample playlets, a description of the method, and several beneficial results from using the method. (MDH)

Contends that effective use of time is critical in today's elementary classroom. Describes a curriculum development process in which 75 preservice elementary teachers created an integrated geography, language arts, and arts curriculum. Maintains that the approach could be used at all levels to teach about geographic features. (CFR)

Demonstrates teaching citizenship through student involvement in current issues. Presents We-Search--a process using the whole-language approach for group research projects in a Fairbanks, Alaska, third grade class. Highlights class projects, including one concerning transportation of plutonium across international borders. Emphasizes how…

Proposes the method of student-generated story problems to supplement textbook problems, generate student interest, and bring real-life situations into the mathematics classroom. Gives steps to initiate the method that incorporates small groups and peer teaching to develop problem-solving and problem-posing abilities. (MDH)

Asserts that teaching social studies in the primary grades can be an exhilarating experience for teachers and encourages long-term interest in investigating the world among students. Maintains that cooperative learning, student research activities, integration of children's literature, writing and the arts, and the use of educational technology…

Presents a collection of 100 creative teaching ideas from educators nationwide. The suggestions cover across-the-curriculum teaching tips for language arts, math, science, and social studies; tips on classroom management, cooperative learning, computers, thinking skills, and self-esteem. A bonus page for students is included. (SM)

The 14 lessons in this guide are intended to enhance elementary students' personal correspondence skills. The activities encourage creative personal interdisciplinary expression in language arts, visual arts, social studies, science, and mathematics through lessons that can be presented independently or integrated into existing lesson plans. Each…

Describes programs of the Close Up Foundation for young students. Discusses group projects developed for the Civic Achievement Award Program that emphasize community service and cooperative learning. Concludes with a description of plans to develop Close Up programs for the elementary grades. (CFR)