This document contains a study that was designed to examine the attitudes of fourth, fifth, and sixth grade social studies teachers in the public schools of an eight-parish area of southeast Louisiana regarding the teaching of certain selected values. A survey composed of 17 selected statements was mailed to the teachers. The 17 statements…

A longitudinal study of growth in reading ability employed two new indicators of print exposure that use a checklist-with-foils logic and that have very brief administration times. Subjects, 52 boys and 46 girls from 4 different fourth- and fifth-grade classes in a religiously-affiliated private school, completed the Title Recognition Test (TRT)…

Educational research on the factors of student achievement has been limited by its failure to consider the multilevel or hierarchical nature of most data. This study used a nonexperimental regression-based procedure, hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), to empirically develop a predictive model of fifth-grade achievement in reading and mathematics…

A study investigated the extent to which positive moral values are included in reading and social studies textbooks. Random samples of social studies textbooks (published by Harcourt Brace, D. C. Heath, Scott Foresman, Silver Burdett and Ginn, and McGraw-Hill) and reading textbooks (published by MacMillan/McGraw-Hill, Harcourt Brace, and Houghton…

This issue of the "Goldfinch" focuses on the Iowa state fair. The magazine begins with a map of the fair as it looks today. The article explains that the first Iowa state fair was held in 1854. After traveling from town to town for several years, the fair settled in the capital city of Des Moines in 1878. Eight years later, in 1886, the…

During the last three decades there has been a growing interest among social scientists in studying the attitudes of young people toward the elderly and the aging process. This study explored children's attitudes toward the elderly and aging using interviews and drawings. Third, fifth, and seventh grade students (N=162) were asked to "draw a young…

This guide is a seven-lesson, fully illustrated curriculum unit that offers middle school students in grades five through eight an enjoyable opportunity to understand emotions and strengthen their communication skills. It is one of a series of curriculum units designed to provide educators with the curricular tools necessary to challenge students…

The Irving, Texas, Independent School District developed and implemented Project Eureka, a 1 year program, with Elementary Secondary Education Act Title IV, Part C monies, for grade 5 middle school gifted students. Of the 1,750 students tested on the School and College Aptitude Test and the Scientific Research Associates Achievement Test, and…

Enrichment activities for fifth-grade mathematics are presented. They are intended to be a continuation of the program started in the fourth grade. Some of the activities reinforce principles taught in the regular program; others introduce new concepts to challenge students. The activities are divided into the following categories: number…

This study was undertaken to gain insights into children's understanding of rational numbers as quantities; that is, the extent to which they associate a size with a fraction like 2/3. Eight children in an experimental group in DeKalb, Illinois, chosen to reflect the range from low to high ability, were observed during 30 weeks of experimental…

Differences between high and low perceived physical self-concept and actual motor performance of 120 fifth grade boys were investigated. Self-concept was measured by the Physical Self-Concept Scale. Motor proficiency was measured by a four-item advanced agility/coordination test battery: hand-eye coordination; foot-eye coordination; whole body…

This study investigates the impact upon pupil's achievement and personality development for those who are enrolled in an open plan school and those enrolled in a traditional school. (DEP)

This language arts lesson designed for grade five involves drama as a focal point in preparing children to write a short story similar to the one they first create through improvisation. Included are the objectives of the lesson, materials, the children's previous experience, the step-by-step procedure with accompanying teacher points, the writing…

A study examined the effect of gender, age, and cognitive task on three types of reading recall. Subjects, 40 boys and girls in the second grade and 40 in the fifth grade from a suburban Northeast school system, all reading at or above grade level, performed cued or free recall on four high-interest short stories. Reading recall was assessed via…

This study investigated the effect of a direct instruction program in fractions, on achievement and self-concept. A pretest-posttest, quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group design was used to compare the two groups of upper elementary school students (N=337). Treatment group students received instruction in fractions via a…