The elementary unit kits, interdisciplinary and self contained learning systems comprised of a variety of learning activities and media which approach a social studies topic through a method of inquiry, are examined. (SM)

The Mary Reynolds Babcock Project (MRBP) is a school improvement effort implemented at the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools during the 1990-91 school year. A total of 24 elementary school teachers, called visiting teachers, visited designated lab sites within the system for 2 weeks each to observe exemplary instructional programs and be…

This paper focuses on nine inservice elementary teachers who received training in the Youth Empowerment and Self-Sufficiency (YESS)!/Mini-Society program at the beginning of the 1996-97 school year. The purpose of the project was to explore these teachers' impressions of the program before and after program implementation. All subjects…

Discusses teacher and principal attitudes toward implementation of the Foxfire approach on a school-wide basis at Rabun Gap Community School (Rabun, Georgia). Presents some of the student-generated experiential projects, including (1) developing and participating in Indian Day activities; (2) making and selling earrings; and (3) writing advice…

Reports investigation of pupils' musical achievement resulting from a "new" music education program using creative instrumental activities. Analysis indicated significantly better achievements for pupils taught by the "new" program than those in a traditional type of program. (JD)

The Master Gardener Classroom Garden Project provides inner-city elementary school children in the San Antonio Independent School District with an experiential way of learning about horticulture, gardening, themselves, and their relationships with their peers. Qualitative interviews indicate that participation in the gardening project had many…

A primary school drug abuse prevention program was evaluated. The program consisted of 2 years of Magic Circle on the Human Development Program (designed to positively influence students' social and emotional development via a teacher-led discussion of a particular topic) and 1 year of Jigsaw (a structured peer teaching method in which students…

The Volunteer-led Investigations of Neighborhood Ecology, or VINE Program, gives children opportunities to discover and investigate the plants, animals, and ecological relationships that exist right in their own neighborhoods through hands-on natural science investigations. It was established by Denver Audubon Society members as an urban education…

Describes an educational program providing structured intergenerational dialogs facilitated by visiting older volunteers for 10- to 11-year-old students. Program evaluation data indicated educational experience resulted in an increase in level awareness of aging issues and of older persons. (Author/RC)

The description provides information on the elementary social studies one-year program designed for use as the basis of curriculum or as a supplement to an existing program. A long term goal is for students to develop democratic human relations. Terminal objectives include affective and cognitive developments, helping students to understand the…

The annual report of Project Kare (Knowledgeable Action to Restore our Environment) reviews the accomplishments of project management, programs, and services, as well as evaluation proceedings and supportive information for 1972-1973. The purpose of Project Kare is to strengthen environmental education in five intermediate units in Pennsylvania,…

The handbook contains information for teachers, students, and parents which should assist in making Jefferson County Public Schools' resident environmental education program a beneficial experience for all concerned. Descriptions of the various camping facilities near Lexington are presented to aid in camp selection. A check list is given for the…

This autobiographical essay depicts a process of development through which an elementary school teacher becomes both expert and professional. With an MA in Medieval History and no teacher education coursework, the writer adopts a personalistic, "unorthodox traditional" approach to instruction. Exposure to controversy among…

Self contained multi-media kits for grades 1 through 6 involve students directly in the learning process. Emphasis is on non-verbal learning which takes place when youngsters examine real objects and engage in learning activities. Involved in the discovery and inquiry process, students hypothesize, classify, and categorize. In an interdisciplinary…

A two-year evaluation of an experience-based curriculum in bilingual education is described in parable style. The proposal for this research design was developed around the question of first-hand field experiences. A review of the first-year project revealed some of its weaknesses and reasons for poor results. For the second year, the public…