Described are ways in which urban "rocks" (building stones, curbstones, sidewalks, etc.) can be used as resources for earth science teachers. Discussed are such activities as: classifying buildings according to rock type and mineral composition, extrapolating geologic history by examining common building materials, economics of stone industry, and…

Using the outdoors, the garden project helped children in Brooklyn to: expand their knowledge of the earth's processes, become more aware of how urban people relate to their environment, and develop concern for the environment and its ecological balance. (NQ)

The traditional pastoralism of American higher education has interfered with efforts to develop an urban mission for the university. In addition, current open-door metaphors of access, political trends, and media coverage are promulgating closed-door, wall-building rhetoric and policies. Now is the time to counter antiurban attitudes by reviving…

Challenges representations of rural communities as inclusive, closer to nature, and therefore ideal places for youth to grow up and of urban areas as alienating and distanced from nature. Presents findings from rural and urban case studies focusing on young people's experiences of public space. Examines how youth describe the sites where they…

Discusses the relationship between community infrastructure and health through the development of the Community Resource Accessibility Index (CRAI) research tool.This area-based index of community services, facilities, and amenities enables comparisons between opportunity structures in the local environment and residents' health and wellbeing. It…

Explores ways in which mothers in two Chicago neighborhoods share the possibility of danger with their children. Ten mothers in public housing and 10 in a nearby community were interviewed. Findings raise critical issues for those concerned with children's mental health and development. (SKC)

Offers a communicative, dialogic approach to studying urban historic districts. Focuses on several contemporary conflicts concerning the meaning of "community" in Ybor City, a national landmark historic district in Tampa, Florida, to reveal how people actively occupy, struggle over, and use such urban spaces. (SR)

Discusses young adolescents' perceptions of nature in the context of urban environmental education. The role of nature experiences in environmental education, the concept of nature from a historical perspective, students' perceptions and experiences of nature and their implications for environmental education are also discussed. (LZ)

An excerpt from the 1994 report, "Healing America's Cities," produced by the Trust for Public Land. Presents evidence of a powerful link between the availability of recreational facilities and the level of urban crime. (LZ)

Analyzes the factors influencing the satisfaction of a sample of 1,018 urban Blacks with their neighborhood. Finds that residential satisfaction is a function of physical environment and socioeconomic factors, including the type of housing, help from family members, social participation in organizations, and marital status. (FMW)

Describes the "Virtual Cities" project, a virtual reality satellite teleconference with students age 12 to 17 from Canada, Italy, and the United States held during the International Council for Educational Media 1992 conference. A visual database overlaid with instructional gaming strategies provided students with the opportunity to…

Describes experiences with first-grade children on two "literacy walks" through the streets around their school. Argues that the print that surrounds children in urban communities can provide an excellent source of literacy conversation and learning, and that by taking literacy walks with children in their community, teachers can learn…

Discusses the factors restricting access to the outdoors and the social and environmental aspects of the changing ecology of childhood. It calls for a new sense of child-biosphere relations and points to the international conventions and other venues where this theme is being taken up. (GR)

Illustrates that teachers in Great Britain select ideas from a set of traditional ecological values, theories, and practices originally developed for rural, not urban, environments. Presents an alternative conceptual and theoretical approach. Contains 51 references. (DDR)

Participants enrolled in a parent training study were interviewed to understand what motivated their participation and what led to drop out. Most enrolled to become better parents. Drop out was mostly due to schedule constraints. Retention was higher when parent's motivation matched program goals. Qualities of recruiter was cited as most…