This book presents a view of the place of drama in foreign language teaching with the intent that student motivation for learning a foreign language can be activated through the use of a number of activities grouped under the heading of "drama." Drama here is defined as any activity which asks the student to portray self or another person in an…

Sex differences in children's physical activity levels, and associations between girls' activity level, childrearing characteristics and parent-child play behavior were investigated in a quasi-naturalistic situation. As part of a longitudinal project, 144 third grade children were videotaped in a 1-hour play session with one of their parents. A…

Intended to help compensatory education personnel better understand the role of the arts in cognitive growth, this booklet provides practical suggestions for using arts strategies in basic education. Following a discussion of the role of the arts in the learning process, the booklet presents a number of activities that involve the interaction of…

This study attempted to determine the relationships between the dramatic play of children aged three to seven and their self-concept; between dramatic play and two components of self-concept--self-esteem and identification with friends; between dramatic play ability and self-concept; and between dramatic play and the teacher's attitude toward…

This collection of papers represents an extension of analytic approaches and concepts from animal social ethology to the study of activities among stable groups of young children. A major emphasis of this research was on the description of organizational patterns in social behavior observed during periods of free play. The papers are: (1) "An…

The first section of the manual for developing career education in existing Louisiana elementary school programs is an introduction to the concept and rationale of career education and to the roles of educators and parents in infusing career education into the curriculum. Section 2 discusses the availability and use of career education materials,…

This report describes a comparative study of methods of home-based infant and parent education. The study involved 108 children, aged 1 to 2 1/2 years, in six groups of 18 each. In three groups a home visitor worked with the children and their mothers using a curriculum which focused on either play, language, or social development. In a fourth…

This research study examined ways in which exposure to a children's television show (Misterogers' Neighborhood) would enhance the spontaneous imaginative play of children after several weeks. The project, which is detailed extensively elsewhere, involved a comparison of three groups of preschool children in a day care center who either: (1)…

The playgrounds pictured and discussed in this book are called Workyards. They are places where children play--in any way they elect. Limitations are set only by the space that is available and by the always changing and abundant supply of materials: lumber, nails, tools, old machinery, rope, sinks, stoves, pickets from an old fence, barrels, and…

This handbook is intended to provide information for the family seeking day care for its children, the family wishing to begin a family day care service, and an agency considering implementing a network of family day care homes. The first section of the handbook is especially intended for parents who are trying to decide which type of day care…

This paper presents a review of research studies and theories involving sociodramatic play and its effect on the learning power of middle class children. Discussion centers on definitions, criteria, and principles of play, and ways for teachers to identify and encourage sociodramatic play in the classroom. Play, and especially sociodramatic play,…

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,…

The purposes of this study were (1) to investigate the influence of anthropomorphic models as a therapeutic vehicle to help 5-year-old Indian children to appropriately handle, and thereby decrease, physical and verbal aggression, and (2) to investigate the influence of group counseling with Indian mothers as it affects agression in their preschool…

This resource book is based on the premise that dramatic play, or creative dramatics, should be an integral part of the language arts curriculum and that the child himself is a principal resource for material. The first chapter presents a philosophy of creative dramatics based on what the experience can provide to a child. The second chapter…

This paper presents suggestions and guidelines for planning creative outdoor learning environments and experiences for young children. The discussion focuses on the fact that children learn more readily and develop better physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially when their play is allowed to be creative and innovative in nature. The…