Describes classroom word games and reading activities that encourage students to think for themselves. These include word substitution drills, reassembling sentences, and spelling-related words. Notes that encouraging students to analyze, synthesize, and apply their knowledge teaches them the skills needed to succeed as independent learners. (MDM)

Presents an integrated math/science activity in which families work together at an activity station and design and make a track for a marble to travel down using rules attached to a board. (MKR)

This article is a reproducible page for students in grades four through six. The stated objective is the student will organize information about unfamiliar animals and infer other information. Students read clues about five newly discovered species and use a chart to organize this information in a more meaningful way. (PR)

The on-off settings of a series of eight switches determines the code to open garage doors. Presented are two problems asking the probability that two people would have the same garage door opener code or whether a specific person would have the same code as another person in the neighborhood. (MDH)

Applies Pascal's Triangle to determine the number of ways in which a given team can win a playoff series of differing lengths. Presents the solutions for one-, three-, five-, seven-, and nine-game series, and extends the solution to the general case for any series. (MDH)

Presents a series of challenges, problems, and examples to demonstrate the principle of mathematical induction and illustrate the many situations to which it can be applied. Applications relate to Fibonacci sequences, graph theory, and functions. (MDH)

Presented are the solutions generated by a fifth grade class to the problem of finding the sum of the number of blocks in a pyramid with a bottom layer containing seven blocks. Three methods were recorded: a levels method, a columns method, and a vertical slice method. (MDH)

Describes a classroom experience in which the teacher experiments with integrating mathematics history into a calculus class by presenting a historical problem taken from L'Hopital to be solved by the students. Extracts the role that history can play in teaching mathematics from the experience. (MDH)

Compares seven positions on media influences on learning that were presented in a previous journal issue; discusses the conflict between advocates of a given approach versus integrated approaches to the solving of complex problems; and presents a model that links cognitive processes to computer-based prescriptions for improvements in learning. (35…

Describes a science competition challenge that has students solve several hands-on physical science problems, thus reinforcing both problem-solving skills and science knowledge. (PR)

Explores what creative drama is, why it should be included in the teaching of both expository and creative writing, and how language arts teachers can implement creative drama activities to increase student success in writing and to improve learning. Describes how using creative drama to enhance creative writing restores authority to students for…

This article describes an integrated activity that can teach students important lessons in recycling, manufacturing, measurement, art, and ecology, while at the same time putting old crayons to good use. The activity involved organizing fourth-grade students into a manufacturing company that would melt old crayons into molds to form a new product…

It is widely acknowledged that sustainable development is a long-term goal, which both individuals and institutions (and countries!) need to pursue. This important theme is characterized by an intrinsic complexity, since it encompasses ecological or environmental considerations on the one hand, and economic matters, social influences and political…

A little imagination, a little drama, a little mystery. Using the guided inquiry model in this updated, second edition, students become detectives at Information Headquarters. They solve a mystery-and enhance their problem-solving and literacy skills. Middle school is a crucial time in the development of problem-solving, critical-thinking, and…

The Ocean Drilling Project brings together scientists and governments from 20 countries to explore the earth's structure and history as it is revealed beneath the oceans' basins. Scientific expeditions examine rock and sediment cores obtained from the ocean floor to learn about the earth's basic processes. The series of activities in this…