Africa is the cradle of civilization, yet its rich history and culture is undertaught--especially in elementary P-5 classrooms. In this article, we share Adinkra symbols from West Africa which can be used for interdisciplinary instruction and classroom management. We offer Adinkra symbols as an organizing theme for teaching in the spirit of not…

Children in grades one to four completed two sentence construction tasks: (a) Write one complete sentence about a topic prompt (sentence integrity, Study 1); and (b) Integrate two sentences into one complete sentence without changing meaning (sentence combining, Study 2). Most, but not all, children in first through fourth grade could write just…

In Seattle, Washington, an interdisciplinary Soviet-American curriculum exchange (the Kids to Kids project) was created by three dedicated teachers, who planned and implemented the project and finally visited the Siberian town of Novosibirsk. This friendship exchange helped participants appreciate similarities, celebrate differences, and become…

Describes an experimental arts project in which groups of first and fourth grade students designed masks and used them to dramatize stories. The purpose of the project was to provide students with experiences with art forms while increasing their abilities to express feelings. (AM)

Describes the development and content of an interdisciplinary unit for gifted students on hurricanes. Includes activities, games, and resources. (MA)

Describes a visual arts project that integrated science and art for first-grade students. Explains that the students created an ocean life batik on a cloth banner, describing the process in detail. States that the assignment used a cooperative approach. (CMK)

Describes a project for first-grade students at the Friends' Central School (Philadelphia, PA) founded by the Quakers in 1845, in which students learned about the experience of traveling westward during 1845. Explains that the project also focused on Quaker history; the school; and that the centerpiece of the project was a covered wagon. (CMK)

Describes a first-grade lesson that combines art and literature in which students learn how to mix colors. Explains that they listen to the story "Elmer" by David McKee and then create their own patchwork elephants just like Elmer. Discusses how the students made the jungle scene. (CMK)

This first grade environmental education guide is one of a series of guides, K-12, which were developed by teachers to help introduce environmental education into the total curriculum. The guides are supplementary in design; it is the teacher's decision when the concepts, objectives, activities, and resources may best be integrated into the…

Results of an evaluation of a first-grade curriculum plan that integrated social studies, science, and music concepts are reported. The study demonstrated the positive effects of the integrated curriculum on student achievement in all three subject areas. (PP)

Observes that elementary school social studies programs should broaden awareness of other peoples and cultures. Argues that commercial textbooks and programs seldom transmit the attitudes, respect, and feeling of humanness that comes from a child-centered, activity-oriented, interdisciplinary approach to the study of a country. Describes a first…

Describes three integrated science and art lessons: (1) first-grade students created paper sculpture space helmets; (2) fourth-grade students created self-portraits as astronauts using foreshortening; and (3) fifth-grade students created a "Martian community." Includes descriptions of each lesson, materials, and learning objectives. (CMK)

This narrative description of the author's participation in an environmental education program is intended to provide first grade teachers with ideas for incorporating multidisciplinary environmental education into the existing curriculum. Environmental education, within this publication, is broadly conceived. In addition to the more traditional…

Discusses the inadequacies of standard conceptions of the writing process by relating the experiences of one child in a writing class. Proposes alternative ways to expand the concept of the writing process by incorporating related activities in reading, art, and drama. (MS)

The goals for this social studies curriculum are the development of essential concepts, skills, and content that have been identified for the social studies program. The curriculum was designed to meet student needs and interests, to reflect increasing knowledge about child development and learning, and to give attention to the learning…