Research topics are described for class projects on the American Civil War and presented in the following seven categories: causes of the Civil War; The Election of 1860; Abraham Lincoln; music and poetry of the era; slavery; Civil War soldiers; and women during the war. Web resources are shown for each section in box displays. (AEF)

Investigates ways of introducing media theory into the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) practical production module in Media Studies. Describes how the author developed and critiqued his approach to what he taught and how it should be assessed. Argues that the subtlest understandings of audience were gained as students reflected…

Describes the development of a course at Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Web Site theory and design for undergraduate and graduate students. Highlights include the classroom configuration; software; hardware; teaching strategies; and the project-based approach for a course model, including student assessment, student projects, work groups,…

Describes lessons and units that allow the author's high school English students to make important connections with members of their community, publish their efforts, and thus bridge the gap between young adults and their communities. Describes a "literary cookbook" (published and distributed in their community) in which each student wrote one…

Describes the "Postcards from America" project carried out by a class of high school students, all recent immigrants to the United States with little or no prior English. Discusses two events (an exhibit of students' photographs and writing, and a multimedia performance of nine performance pieces portraying personal stories of the immigrant…

Describes a range of community-based writing projects that the author used with her middle and high school students of all levels. Discusses how these projects (ranging from simple interviews, to short biographies to profiles published and distributed in the community) not only became part of students' home town, but also helped students distill…

This article discusses the concept of professional/parent partnerships and the legal, attitudinal, and logistical barriers to providing an appropriate education for many gifted learners. A parent describes her role as an instructional partner in the development of an individualized program for her gifted child. (Contains references.) (CR)

A teacher of fifth to seventh graders with learning disabilities describes a community-based gardening project which served elderly residents of a rest home while exposing the children to elderly people and encouraging development and application of environmental, writing, mathematics, and communication skills. The project integrated curriculum in…

Discusses the training and preparation for the transition to block scheduling. Provides a summary of some of the aspects of the four-by-four block schedule and describes strategies employed to modify instruction and curriculum. Includes two sample interdisciplinary activities. (DDR)

Describes a project in which students at a school in Ghana develop an authentic but fictitious character who is captured and sold to the Europeans on the coast. Notes the stories are mailed to partner schools in the United States who write about what happens to these characters after becoming slaves. Notes students' intense interest and…

Provides guidelines for implementing portfolios in the social studies classroom that focus on the Vietnam era and incorporate Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences. Outlines the portfolio project, lists eleven portfolio components, and addresses the intelligence of each. (CMK)

Discusses the importance of collaboration between teachers and parents to help support students and describes teacher-created Web pages that help simplify communication and planning. Explains Web page design that can include general class descriptions, unit outlines and timetables, unit and project information, and student progress reports. (LRW)

Describes an exercise designed to encourage active learning in which groups of students compared and contrasted the content of historical introductory psychology texts with contemporary ones. Reports that student evaluations suggest the exercise helps students understand the history and development of psychology. (CMK)

Let's Get Real, a competitive program in its 5th year, challenges teams of secondary students (in public, private, and home schools) to solve actual problems posed by corporate co- sponsors. Proposed solutions are presented at corporate headquarters and judged by corporate executives, scientists, and engineers. (MLH)

Details a garden project as an example of how Reggio Emilia-inspired, long-term projects can enhance young children's representational thinking. Includes samples of children's conversations and drawings. Discusses the teacher's role in locating information and documenting the progress. Notes that well-planned, continual, active, concrete…