According to Irene Dixon-Darnell, a 75-year-old great-grandmother who runs a chess-education program in the Washoe (Nevada) County Schools, chess can win-over some difficult students. She believes the ancient game of strategy teaches children to focus, encourages them to think critically and creatively, and even cures emotional wounds. Research…

Discusses the use of contests to keep physics interesting and exciting for the students. Includes: balloon car, egg drop, tennis ball catapult, bridge building, mousetrap vehicle, musical instrument, slide photo, electric junk dissection, windmill generator, and solar heater. (MVL)

Presents number loop pattern activities and games designed to interest elementary students in mathematics and encourage computational skills. The activities work as games and cooperative activities and invite math exploration. (SM)

Describes a mathematics review game that can be adapted to any content topic and which calls for the active participation of all students throughout the activity. (MKR)

The differences between drill activities and practice activities and the reasons why there are differences are discussed. Two games that uses playing cards to provide students with untimed opportunities to practice their facts are described. (KR)

Describes six ideas for encouraging student participation in elementary and secondary social studies. The ideas include model parliaments, writing journals and biographies, and using guest speakers. (CFR)

Presents suggestions for helping students learn about probability using coins and a simple spreadsheet. The article details how to brainstorm, gather the necessary data, prepare the spreadsheet, learn from the data, and extend the learning. (SM)

Suggests that the most effective way to motivate student enthusiasm and interest in the social studies classroom is through the use of educational simulations. Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of simulations, and presents three of the most effective commercial simulations available today. (DB)

Describes adaptation of children's Musical Chairs game, illustrating different animals'"quest for cavities." Game uses role play to simulate wildlife "cavity excavators" and secondary-user animals that compete for nesting holes. Classifies 44 animals according to nesting practice and gives hole sizes for 25. Promotes ecology, conservation studies.…

Describes an orientation program that was developed at Northern Kentucky University to supplement the specific job training provided for student employees in the university libraries. Goals that include an increased knowledge of library operations and strengthened commitment to assigned work are discussed, and the program's effectiveness is…

Discusses the significance of play in culture; quotes an old proverb "a lesson taught with an entertaining facet is a lesson retained." Presents 13 children's games that are currently being used in management-training and development programs. Describes the purpose, activity, preparation and debriefing involved for each game. (Author/AEF)

Nurse educators in Saudi hospitals are challenged by diversity, language barriers, and alternative ways of knowing and learning. Gaming (Jeopardy!, puzzles, board games) provides flexibility and a nonthreatening atmosphere in which to mediate different communication patterns and learning styles. (SK)

Presents suggestions for teaching chess to young children as part of the problem-solving component of a kindergarten mathematics curriculum. Discusses the introduction of pairs of chess characters, playing challenge games with teachers to enhance skill development, and writing down the rules of the game. Notes that children's problem-solving and…

Introduces mathematical guessing games to teach algebra that motivate students in learning mathematics by stimulating their curiosity and problem-solving abilities. (ASK)

Introduces games, puzzles, patterns, and drums from the African countries of Rwanda and Burundi. Contains 25 references. (ASK)