Reforming instruction is challenging. In this comparative case study of 12 school districts, we investigated the dilemmas that emerged for system leaders as they engaged in system building for elementary science and the approaches leaders took in managing them. We found that system leaders' efforts to manage their environments contributed to the…

Teacher-made teaching and learning resources are an effective way to facilitate relevant and appropriate curriculum content, values and attitudes for students. This is particularly significant when the context is rather unique, as was the case in the remote developing Pacific Island Country of Nauru. Such resources can be deployed in accompaniment…

This is one of a series of units for environmental education developed by the Highline Public Schools. The unit, designed for intermediate grades in the elementary schools, is concerned with the study of air, air pollution, effects of air pollution, and ways of improving the quality of the air. Six lessons are included in the unit; most of the…

Describes a science project prepared in partial fulfillment of a graduate course in elementary school science taken by the writer to improve his understanding of elementary school curriculum and to make social studies more interdisciplinary. An environmental topic was chosen and open-ended activities generated and described. (EB)

Presented is a unit composed of activities for teaching weather. Topics include cloud types and formation, simple weather instruments, and the weather station. Illustrations include a weather chart and instruments. A bibliography is given. (MA)

Surveys the literature, curricula, materials and resources relating to Aerospace Education. Suggests methods for development of curricular materials, resource banks, and teaching and inservice resources. (CS)

This collection of teaching units is one of three volumes designed to assist teachers in bringing relevant, interdisciplinary, environmental learning experiences to elementary students. This first volume is aimed at the K-2 level and deals with the immediate environment of the student. Titles of the nine units presented are: Preparing for Seasonal…

This second of three volumes designed to bring relevant, interdisciplinary, environmental learning experiences to elementary students is written for grades 3 and 4 and is concerned with the student's local environment. Titles of the 10 units included in this volume are: The School Lawn; The Vacant Lot; Giants on the Land: Trees in Our Environment;…

The third of this series of three volumes on interdisciplinary environmental learning experiences for elementary students is aimed at grades 5 and 6 and deals with the comunity environment of the student. Titles of the eight units included in this volume are: Probleem Solving; How to Plan a Clean-up Campaign in the Local Community; Scars upon the…

This is one of a series of units for environmental education developed by the Highline Public Schools. This unit, which focuses on environment and ecology, is designed for upper grade elementary school pupils. Since the five lessons were designed specifically for substitute teachers, each is completely self-contained. Each lesson is developed in…

The current popularity of house plants can provide the basis for numerous classroom activities. Students can make flower pots from tubs and cans, chart plant growth on a graph, make mint sherbert, or expand their vocabulary by learning plant descriptors. Details and more suggestions are included in this article. (MA)

This is one of a series of units for environmental education developed by the Highline Public Schools. The unit for elementary students in intermediate grades is concerned with nutrition, basic food groups, food production careers, future trends in food production and population growth, and ecology. The unit of 18 lessons is to be used over a six…

This is one of a series of units for environmental education developed by the Highline Public Schools. This unit was designed for use with fourth-grade students; it focuses on three forest biomes. Each of the biomes has characteristics of its own. The unit includes eight lessons, as well as additional activities. The unit, which incorporates…

This is one of a series of units for environmental education developed by the Highline Public Schools. This unit is designed for use by a substitute teacher for instruction of intermediate grade elementary school pupils. The kit provides three days of lesson plans. There is closure at the end of each lesson and each day. Much emphasis is placed on…