During the past two decades, youth-focused professionals have increasingly called for social-emotional learning (SEL) education in schools. A holistic approach to youth development suggests that, given the interconnected nature of development in the domains of career development and SEL, children and youth are better supported whenwe provide…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe SPARK, an innovative elementary school that highlights the possibilities for elementary education as COVID-19 continues to unfold. Design/methodology/approach: The authors' analysis is based on a research synthesis of the main features of the SPARK model, as it was operating when schools in Arizona…

Gränsöverskridande Nordisk Undervisning/Utdanelse (GNU, meaning Cross-Border Nordic Education), the larger Nordic project, under which this case study was carried out, aims at developing innovative, cross-border teaching models in different subject domains in elementary school, including mathematics, language, science, social studies and history.…

In the age of standardized testing, science and social studies are not given the same priority as mathematics and reading in the curriculum of United States schools. High stakes testing is viewed as having heavily biased schools toward teaching tested subjects and away from less frequently tested subjects. This paper is premised on the notion that…

The purpose of this article is to review current models for curriculum and pedagogy used in elementary school physical education programs. Historically, physical educators have developed and used a multiactivity curriculum in order to educate students through physical movement. More recently, a variety of alternative curricular models have been…

Inquiry-based science instruction can provide a rich context in which to build literacy skills in the elementary grades. The authors discuss the benefits of incorporating reading, writing, and speaking into science instruction. They describe the results of research on two models for combining language arts and science--the Science IDEAS model and…

This article argues for and provides suggestions for new directions in law-focused education at the elementary level. An examination of legal education, criticisms of legal education, the practice of law itself, and children's thinking about law can supply these directions. (Author/JR)

Based on a state requirement that all elementary and secondary schools provide instruction in the wise use of natural resources and protection of the environment, the California State Department of Education has developed this guide to assist local educational agencies in translating legislative mandates into action. It offers a structure and…

Describes an integrated approach to social studies in which students participate in literature studies by reading tradebooks. Explains that the children engage in individual and small group activities to construct meaning from the text. Suggests that children create dioramas, character charts, and a club form of activities rather than just…

Describes a project for building a neighborhood model by a group of primary students. Integrates science, mathematics, and social studies. (KHR)

Discusses and illustrates three models for integrating literature within content studies: single-discipline, interdisciplinary, and integrative curricula. Takes one theme, "Movement in United States History" and illustrates how teachers can use literature within each model. Identifies and outlines suggested methods and materials to plan…

Describes several existing arts education programs that might be successfully adapted by other schools: Connecticut's HOT (Higher-Order Thinking) Schools program, North Carolina's A+ Schools Program, and the Los Angeles-based Different Ways of Knowing program. These programs differ but have a common bond--the conviction that the arts make a…

Suggestions for enhancing the validity of the social study and restoring history to a relevant place in social inquiry were discussed. (Author/RK)

Suggests making insect models to learn more about the world of insects. List of materials needed and recommended procedures are provided. Also suggests other interdisciplinary activities for investigating insects in the classroom, including the preparation of an insect zoo using the student-constructed models. (BC)

Constructing a matrix model not only offers the teacher a theoretical and practical method for organizing his own knowledge about a topic, but provides a vehicle for the student to cope with contemporary knowledge explosion in a realistic and sophisticated manner. (Author)