Introduces eight minicenters that deal with topics such as time, mystery objects, statistical tables, nature, comedy, and war. These materials are aimed for the upper elementary grades and are intended to spark interest in an area and to entice the learner into stopping for a while to browse. (MOK)

Presents traditional and kinesthetic activities for teaching the following relative position concepts to young children: above, below, between, near, and far. Outlines reasons for more kinesthetic activities in early childhood settings. (KB)

Illustrates the project approach by describing a classroom unit on Pueblo Indians. Discusses each phase of the project, including assessment, research, hands-on activities, and evaluation. Includes instructions for the hands-on activities used in the project, and offers strategies to guide the study of Native Americans. (TJQ)

Five articles highlight benefits and organization of field trips: (1) "Field Trips Promote Child Learning at Its Best"; (2) "Planning for Maximum Benefit, Minimum Risk"; (3) "Coaching Community Hosts"; (4) "The Story of a Field Trip: Trash and Its Place within Children's Learning and Community"; and (5) "Field Trip Stories and Perspectives" (from…

This article provides 20 principles to enable educators to identify meaningful creative activities for gifted students and avoid the superfluous "whistles". Activities should: value creative thinking, make children more sensitive to environmental stimuli, encourage manipulation of objects and ideas, develop tolerance for new ideas, and teach how…

This investigation explored the ways in which English language learners (ELLs) included in an English-dominant, mainstream second-grade classroom gained access to classroom activities and to the language that conveyed them, and the ways in which these students came to participate in the classroom context. These questions were investigated through…

A substantial number of 5-7 year old children experience delayed language development which threatens their progress in school, although they have not been placed on speech and language therapy caseloads. Children with delayed language development typically have a limited ability to understand and tell stories. Intervention to develop the oral…

This article describes using helium balloons to introduce students to integers and integer arithmetic. (Contains 9 figures.)

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1989) proposes using everyday objects, such as paper, to enable students to explore geometric relationships and vocabulary. Paper-folding and other types of hands-on activities have been found to increase students' ability to communicate mathematically and foster their understanding of mathematical…

This article provides a picture of the learning environment that is created for the preservice mathematics teacher and how development of spatial abilities can be incorporated into courses for these students. (Contains 3 figures.)

This article explores the algebra that can be uncovered in many middle-grades mathematics tasks that, on first inspection, do not appear to be algebraic. It shows connections to the other four Standards that occur in traditional algebra problems, and it offers strategies for modifying activities so that they can be used to foster algebraic…

This paper reports our implementation of a handheld wireless environment to support Jigsaw cooperative learning activities in a college setting. A quasi-experimental research design was conducted to investigate the effects of using handhelds, as well as issues associated with the use of handheld technology. Two intact classes of fourth-year…

Shooting the basketball is the skill that is the most frequently practiced by those who play the game. Just like any other skill, shooting the basketball requires proper mechanics and adequate practice. This article provides physical educators and coaches with information to help students and athletes become more skilled in shooting a basketball.…

This study compares teaching and learning activities in 4th and 5th grade classrooms that were permanently equipped with one laptop for each student and classrooms that share a cart of laptops that create a 1:1 laptop environment on a temporary basis. The study originated from a question posed to us by Andover Public Schools (MA): "How does…

The most recent advances in information technology have brought wireless communication and mobile devices to education. The wireless technology enhanced classroom (WiTEC) integrates a wireless local area network, mobile learning devices, and client-server architecture to support instruction and learning activities. This article introduces a…