Topics suggested by 101 elementary school teachers in Illinois, intended for teachers of writing in the elementary grades (also adaptable for junior and senior high school classes), are divided into the following categories: (1) Description (e.g., Me, My World, My Dreams); (2) Characterization (e.g., Personal, Plant and Animal); (3) Dramatization…

Over a period of months, illiterate and disruptive Black and Puerto Rican junior high school students in New York City developed and staged an updated version of "West Side Story." Although by professional standards the results were poor, students were able to participate in a highly rewarding activity which demanded discipline,…

This study compared the creative self-direction, creative behavior, and creative activities of preschool children to determine if students and teachers trained in the creative process and in observation techniques can, with reliability, observe the creative potential of young children. Creative abilities of 155 children from four preschool centers…

The purpose of this study was to test the teachability of creativity. An experimental design (including pretesting and posttesting, control and experimental groups, and a teaching unit) was used to test the general hypothesis that creativity can be enhanced by the treatment of a teaching unit using audio-visual materials. The subjects were 101…

Learning through the arts has the potential to stimulate open ended activity that encourages discovery, exploration, experimentation and invention, thus contributing to children's development in all areas of learning and helping to make the curriculum meaningful to them. In this book, the author draws on her extensive experience of promoting young…

This article explores the use of movies as valuable instructional tools. When students are engaged with the content through a medium they love, they learn better and retain more. Incorporating motion pictures as part of classroom instruction has been spurred by the endorsement of both of the major reading and language arts organizations in the…

This paper reports on one dimension of a longitudinal study that researched the impact on student creativity of a unique intervention program for elementary (year 6 and year 7) students. The intervention was based on the Australian National Profile and Statement for the curriculum area of Technology. The intervention program comprised…

This activity provides arenas in which students can brainstorm and discuss the different types of materials used to build houses in various climates. Small models of houses are built and tested against different climates. This activity requires a 75-minute time period for completion. (Author/SOE)

In this activity, students work with specified materials to create aqueduct components to transport two liters of water across a short distance in the classroom. The goal is to build an aqueduct that will supply Aqueductis, a Roman city, with clean water for private homes, public baths, and glorious fountains. By introducing various ideas and…

This curriculum guide presents lesson plans for outdoor and environmental education at the Cispus Learning Center, a camp in Randle, Washington. Objectives for the Cispus experience cover student learning of content, socialization as a team member, development of aesthetic awareness of nature and art, and increased physical wellness. Lesson plans…

Gives the guidelines for a unit of study based on creative activities. Defines procedures, rules of the game, and basic information. The exercises provide instructions and suggestions to stimulate the learners to gradually build a fictional world as a backdrop for the interaction of characters emerging from group work and discussion. (MES)

Suggests parents use catalogs to help children increase reading and math skills. Points out that catalogs link language and print, that children can increase vocabulary through picture naming, and that sorting pictures and classifying objects can increase thinking skills. Suggests that children can practice adding, counting, and comparison…

Defines creativity as the process of being original, spontaneous, and/or unique, using prior knowledge and available information to think or act in a new way. Creativity can be fostered by acceptance and encouragement, by an atmosphere of trust, and by selection of classroom activities and materials. Children need uninterrupted work time for…

Explores the use of dialogue and dramatization to reconstruct the formation of mathematical concepts. An appendix provides the synopsis of a 6-scene play that portrays the rise of negative numbers over a period of 300 years. (MDH)

Describes how art history and art criticism in the art curriculum benefit Trainable Mentally Retarded (TMR) students. Shows how these students enjoy looking at and talking about art and maintains that the experience will be successful if the requirements are kept basic. Outlines objectives that incorporate art history and criticism into the TMR…