Offers suggestions and learning activities for the teaching of science fiction and fantasy at both the elementary and secondary school levels. (FL)

Explains why free-choice time, also called child-initiated time, is an essential daily part of all Head Start programs. Children have the freedom to initiate their own activities among the learning centers in the classroom, allowing them to develop their intellectual abilities, find solutions to problems, explore, inquire, and become adept at…

An analysis of the use of English by some Chinese postgraduate students and visiting scholars in Britain, in terms of the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), identifies the frequency and level of difficulty of certain activities that involve the use of English and the most helpful activities for improving a given…

Presents an art activity that improves student drawing skills. Explains that students use the chiaroscuro technique to draw a still-life that focuses on restaurant take-out containers as the subject. States that the students learn about adding and subtracting from the value in their drawings. (CMK)

Presents an interdisciplinary approach for helping students develop listening skills through activities which involve anticipating and paying attention to what is heard, as well as responding to oral directions. Provides worksheets, answers, and directions. (RT)

Describes a case study which collected journals from, interviewed, and observed 23 children as they participated in a 6-week creative drama workshop using the Rutgers Imagination Method. Finds improvement in specific areas of learning, including vocabulary, imagery abilities, and dramatic behavior. (SR)

Provides three activities that help develop library skills for elementary school students. One describes a riddle card game that reviews research book terms; one explains a book report activity; and one focuses on cooperative problem-solving activities to find titles by favorite authors. (LRW)

This study suggests that group viewing of television in a daycare setting can be used to encourage prosocial behavior in young children. Children (aged three to five years) participated in eight days of group viewing of videotaped segments of "Sesame Street," followed by participation in activities. (AEF)

Presents a collection of teachers' ideas on instruction for musical improvisation. Includes suggestions for ascending grade levels, spontaneous composition, and creation of sound maps. Recommends making technique training fun and creative through improvisation. Suggests that children be taught to think in sounds and to experiment with variations.…

The functional skills activity, "On Your Own," provides an opportunity for adolescents with mild disabilities to apply cognitive and academic skills in the program's four phases (choosing a career, finding an apartment, furnishing the apartment, and learning to budget) involve direct instruction, hands-on activities, small-group discussions, and…

Stresses the importance for wind instrument players to have the skill called tonguing that is the ability to clearly articulate notes. Provides tips and guidelines for beginning and intermediate wind players to develop different types of tonguing and a learning sequence that offers students an introduction to multiple tonguing. (CMK)

Describes an art activity that enables beginning art students to practice their skills and techniques using watercolor as a medium. States that the students use paint, paper, and an inexpensive stencil set of the alphabet. Explains that students create a symmetrical design that fills the sheet of paper. (CMK)

Provides accounts from readers of "Arts and Activities" on how articles from the journal have helped them. Includes the title of each article and states that the original articles are available online for other readers to use. (CMK)

This article describes my efforts to improve student skills in solving unstructured problems in a junior-level undergraduate business course by employing a problem-based learning (PBL) design. A rationale for adopting a PBL approach for this course is articulated. A 7-step problem-solving model is then presented. The course's design is described,…

This book provides descriptions of 76 engaging activities that can be used to teach children, adolescents, and adults valuable social, emotional, and problem-solving skills. Some of the skills taught include identifying and expressing one's own emotions, identifying emotions in others, coping with stressors, making and keeping friends, setting…