Puppets provide simple, effective ways to connect social studies and language arts, promote cooperation, and teach about other cultures. The article describes how to make puppets and presents two elementary-level puppet activities. One teaches cultural values using puppets as storytellers; the other explains how to create a puppet play. (SM)

A college professor who invites his students to consider how creativity is at the heart of teaching offers thoughts on creativity. Everyone can learn creatively; creative approaches are essential to learning; there are many ways to learn; in school there is too much fragmentation; the creative teacher does not always know what will happen; and to…

Asserts that learning in arts programs outside of school can be instrumental in improving learning inside the classroom, examining a non-school site for learning (a video arts center) and discussing the interdisciplinary nature of such learning, negotiated versus high stakes learning in arts environments, and implications for school learning…

Presents interviews with faculty members at several institutions of higher education. Discusses moving beyond the traditional classroom by using innovative teaching techniques and creative technology. Describes the benefits of the hybrid classroom, an interdisciplinary, technologically enhanced learning environment. (CB)

Training teachers as artists will develop an understanding of their own cognitive style and a trust in personal intuition. The art student imitates the masters, learns from peers, and develops by experimentation and subjective assessments. Teachers and art students both learn by becoming committed to their work. (JD)

A description is given of the IMPACT II programs which support local staff development efforts by focusing on the improvement of teacher creativity and insure teacher-to-teacher sharing of curriculum and teaching ideas. (JD)

A teacher in an inner-city London school describes how she involves low income, minority group students in learning classics such as Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." Emphasizes cooperative learning and active student involvement using their urban background. (FMW)

Argues that the teaching of statistics can be freed from the tedium of routine and repetitive calculations with the use of several creative approaches. Concludes that these approaches enable students to invent and seek applications as a result of their own initiative and understanding. (MS)

States that teachers' fear of using computers and electronic technology in music education may prevent students from reaching their full potential. Includes suggestions for diagnosis and cure of "technophobia." Suggests that using electronic media to teach music will strengthen teaching and stimulate students' love of music. (LS)

Describes how one elementary educator teaches her social studies students to express ideas with clarity and speak persuasively by completing a critical thinking and speaking activity that requires them to draw on the knowledge they just acquired and resolve an issue. Activities include simulating a Senate hearing and creating a talk show. (SM)

Describes how Lozanov's suggestopedia has influenced other teaching methods to create another approach to second-language teaching. One of the best of these approaches is one that creatively combines elements from suggestopedia with strategies and concepts taken from other communicative based approaches. (28 references) (Author/CK)

One educator presents maritime history to students using technologies available to ancient seafarers. Techniques include dead reckoning, the sandglass, the magnetic compass, celestial navigation, and various navigation techniques of precontact Polynesia that depended upon oral transmission of knowledge. The paper notes differences between…

When older and younger students are paired, motivation, cooperation, friendship, and self-esteem flourish, and extra learning takes place. The article describes how to match students, presents five cross-grade projects, discusses project evaluation, and offers the option of cross-grade tutors. (SM)

Describes how an eighth-grade teacher interested her students in reading and writing using cooperative learning and newspapers. During National Newspaper Week, students grouped into mixed ability clusters then completed weekly newspaper reading activities over the rest of the year. Team members agreed on role assignments and rotated…

Each year, fifth graders at Kamehameha Elementary School produce a play about American history. Students do research, write scripts and songs, design costumes and the stage sets, act, and promote the event. The article explains how the students accomplished this over several months and notes how the activity tied into their schoolwork. (SM)