This thematic unit was written by Michele Montas and Luz Cannon, middle school Spanish teachers, who were participants in a summer institute held at the National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center in 2001. The institute, called "Temas Anejos: Recurring Themes in Ancient and Modern Latin America," brought together a talented group of professors.…

Describes Project Austin-East EXCEL, a pilot college preparatory program for inner-city minority high school students in Knoxville (Tennessee). Develops an "academic ethos" through the following components: (1) reading, writing, and foreign language program; (2) "demystification" of the college experience; and (3) career…

Once a week, several classrooms of Philadelphia 4th-grade girls participate in Sisters in Science, an afterschool, intergenerational program sponsored by Temple University that provides hand-on activities exploring urban environmental issues. A two-week summer camp program helps these students explore the rivers of Philadelphia. Participants…

An extended-school program for at-risk first graders was designed to accelerate each child's progress in reading and writing over the summer. The instructional framework for the class consisted of independent reading, shared reading, interactive writing, journal writing, a spelling activity, learning centers, guided reading, and reading aloud.…

Standards-based reform is a strategy that includes specifying what is to be learned, devising tests to measure learning, and establishing consequences of performance for students and schools. Popular support remains strong for standards-based reform, according to national polling data as well as local data in the states implementing this strategy.…

This study examined age and gender differences in global, academic, athletic, and social self concepts in a group of 311 middle and high school students (ages 12-18) attending science, mathematics, or computer science classes at a summer program for the academically talented. The self-concept scores were obtained from the Rosenberg Self-Esteem…

A five week outdoor summer science class emphasizing student involvement is described. (DE)

Northwestern University's Archeological Program has developed a wide range of educational programs which feature direct student (junior high through Ph.D. candidates and out of school adults) involvement in the field. (JC)

Describes an elective biology program offered at Lawrence High School (Kansas) that emphasizes basic field biology, ecology, conservation, camping, first aid, mountaineering, and map reading. Groups of students spend two weeks in the Rocky Mountains developing knowledge and skills in these areas. (JR)

THE OUTCOMES OF THE 1960 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION-SPONSORED SUMMER SCIENCE TRAINING PROGRAMS (SSTP) FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE EXAMINED THROUGH A DETERMINATION OF PARTICIPANTS' CHARACTERISTICS BEFORE, AND THEIR ACTIVITIES AFTER, PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAMS. THIS ANALYSIS PROVIDED A MEANS OF COMPARING PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF THE TYPES OF…

Reports on summer geology courses offered for students desiring more advanced work than was available in the elementary geology program. Instructional format, course objectives, and some learning activities are presented. (CP)

Described is a biochemistry program designed for highly motivated secondary students entering their junior or senior years. The course was organized around lecture-discussions, laboratories, and a research project. Student course achievement and evaluation feedback appear to imply that the biochemistry program was successful. (Author/MA)

Describes a mentoring program developed to reinforce career counseling sessions at a five-week summer institute where students learn about science, mathematics, computer science, and language arts. The program resulted in a convenient method to determine the overall institute effectiveness. (DH)

Presents the objectives, activities, materials, and procedure of a six-week summer course in environmental science for inner-city students at the Horace Mann Junior High School, Omaha, Nebraska. Included in this program are studies of the wildlife, conservation, and natural science of the Eastern Nebraska region. (LC)