Eighty-seven fifth graders in Israel were randomly assigned to four different filmmaking courses, covering photography only, scenario design and photography, editing and photography, or all three activities. Filmmaking had a significant effect on the cultivation of eight mental skills. The editing activity cultivated four logical inference skills.…

Investigated 11 to 15 year olds' abilities to understand three-dimensional structures (including sectional views of eggs, cells, stems, and fish) studies in biology. Results indicate two skills needed for success: abstracting sectional shapes and appreciating spatial relationships of internal parts. Gives examples of students "talking…

The article reviews the role of the vestibular system, tactile system, kinesthetic system, visual system, balance, locomotion, body awareness, spatial system, mildline crossing, bilateral integration, form perception, and eye-food coordination in promoting an integrated motor base on which later learning is built. (CL)

Handwriting is an integral part of every child's school experience. In order to provide the best program to children both with and without handwriting problems, elementary educators need to understand the factors underlying the skill of handwriting. This study investigated the relationship between the cognitive understanding of locatives (e.g.,…

Tested recognition memory for items and spatial location by varying picture and word stimuli across four slide quadrants. Results showed a pictorial superiority effect for item recognition and a greater ability to remember the spatial location of pictures versus words for both old and young adults (N=95). (WAS)

Geometry is viewed as the most neglected area of the elementary school mathematics curriculum. Tangram activities provide numerous worthwhile mathematical experiences for children. A method of constructing tangrams through paper folding is followed by suggested spatial visualization, measurement, and additional activities. (MP)

A sample of male and female college students assessed themselves on six everyday spatial abilities in relation to others of the same gender and age. Males consistently judged themselves to have greater spatial ability. Differential participation in sports is discussed as a tentative spatial performance influence. (Author/CM)

Geometry tiles can be used to develop and extend intuitive geometric concepts by helping children visualize geometric shapes and communicate spatial relationships. Eleven activities are described for introduction, basic concepts, geometric figures, transformations, and metric geometry. (MNS)

Stresses the importance of visualization in mathematics education by reviewing research dealing with the relationship between mathematical and spatial ability, and recommends that such findings be incorporated into mathematics instruction. (JJD)

The relationships among preferred handedness, family history of sinistrality, sex of subject, and spatial visualization were examined in college students. Males outperformed females at all levels of handedness when measured as a continuous variable. Extreme handedness was associated with poorest performance. Decreased hemispheric specialization…

It was hypothesized that the experimentation and problem solving involved in design lessons were consistent with features of intellectual development stressed by Piaget. An experimental group (27 students) received art lessons stressing spatial concepts and manipulations. Controls studied art conventionally. Experimentals were superior on some of…

Some ways of thinking and acting geometrically are described which are related to the approach used by ancient humans. The focus is on intuitive geometric imagery, an attempt to resurrect a way of describing possible viewpoints of geometry outside of those commonly accepted. (MP)

Children and adults were asked to place something "in front of" or "behind" a featured or nonfeatured object. Most subjects responded to the object's inherent features. A significant number of adults used the observer orientation cue. Children had more difficulty with the nonfeatured object but also used the observer…

The effects of a networking learning strategy upon facilitating the learning of field-dependent students are investigated. Results indicate that the strategy improves learning behavior of the field dependents on list learning and spatial learning. Learning behavior of field independents and field dependents is also compared. (Author/AEF)

Children are seen to need positive experiences with spatial words in order to be successful at understanding the concepts. If teaching methods used are mindful of the intricacies of understanding spatial communication, pupils will have the necessary positive initial experiences. Teaching suggestions for achieving positive effects are detailed. (MP)