Many newsworthy events have brought with them scientific developments that have furthered the knowledge and understanding of the world and impacted life today. Events such as these can provide the perfect way to link history with science and provide children with the opportunity to make the connection between science and everyday life. As Primary…

Despite a long-standing awareness of academic language as a pedagogically relevant research area, the construct of academic-language proficiency, understood as a more comprehensive set of skills than just academic vocabulary, has remained vaguely specified. In this study, we explore a more inclusive operationalization of an academic-language…

A six-week unit in the study of poetry and the practice of poetics for gifted intermediate students is outlined with daily unit descriptions and information about the principles being applied. The unit results in a poetry anthology for publication. (CL)

The authors describe an interdisciplinary basic practical arts program taught in Hawaii's intermediate grades. Concepts covered are (1) essential needs of people, (2) coping with change, (3) elements of effective management, (4) effective utilization and conservation of resources, and (5) effective provision and consumption of goods and services.…

This handbook contains model lessons on consumer education for use with intermediate, junior high, and high school students. The handbook was developed as a result of a grant which the Social Science Education Consortium received to conduct three consumer education workshops for approximately 100 Colorado teachers and school administrators. Many…

Describes a Resource Recovery Educational Program Kit,'' a multi-disciplinary, multi-media package aimed at the 7-9 grade level. (Author)

Describes an arts unit on music and poetry for upper elementary classes which covers tone color, dynamics, register, tempo, form, and enunciation. Students read poems, write and record their own poems, and listen to poetry readings. The unit concludes with a choral speaking experience. (AM)

About four years ago, a rural Maine middle school abandoned its computer classes and integrated computers into its curriculum. Now, instead of using educational software or spending lots of time on training, students are writing stories with word processors, illustrating science diagrams with paint utilities, creating interactive reports with…

Describes an interdisciplinary instructional approach that links historical content and literature to develop historical literacy in fifth-grade students, fostering understanding and encouraging interpretation of stories told through the voices of the past. (SR)

Many teachers bring caterpillars into their class for their students to see the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. This is exciting and educational, but more can be done using Monarchs across the curriculum. This article describes an integrated butterfly unit for students in grades four to six that starts with identifying the Monarch…

By reading the novel "From Anna," students will learn about the challenges and problems facing new Canadians and develop a sensitivity to the situations and challenges faced by students with a physical handicap. Learning activities are presented. (RM)

The study of acid rain provides ample opportunities for active, interdisciplinary learning. This article describes 12 hands-on activities designed to expand students' understanding of acid rain. Background information on acid rain is included. (LB)

Biggest obstacle to Eugene, Oregon's plans to integrate middle school curricula is finding time to enable staff to develop a common vision of the future to build upon. Despite adoption of a flexible scheduling pattern, more time is needed for staff development, training, and cooperative instructional unit development. Creating teaching teams to…

Two teacher researchers examined the nature of mentoring relationships occurring among and between team teachers at one middle school as they planned for and taught a common group of students. There were five types of (simultaneous) mentoring among teachers: collaborative, clerical, professional teacher, interdisciplinary content, and…

A nine-week instructional unit to increase multicultural awareness of North Dakota sixth-grade students with hearing impairments is described. The unit involved students in such areas as charting family trees, reading and writing about U.S. history and cultural diversity, art, speech and rhythm, and math. (DB)