By allowing students to ask critical questions about the places and spaces surrounding them, teachers can empower them to develop problem-solving skills to tackle issues and make a difference in their communities. In this article, Smith and Lowenstein offer three wonderful examples of long-standing environmental place-based education projects that…

Children's background experiences not only make them unique individuals, but also impact their interactions with texts because of their varied schema. Teachers who work with children should keep in mind Gregory Smith's (2002) five thematic patterns (cultural studies, nature studies, real world problem solving, internship and entrepreneurial…

A goal for minority education is "cultural eclecticism," which combines features of assimilationist and cultural pluralist perspectives into an open-ended educational approach that respects cultural diversity. To achieve this, a project-centered approach to curriculum design, blending the academic functions of the school…