Reviews the literature on debriefing and identifies the essential elements and phases of the debriefing process. A model for systematic assessment of debriefing is presented which consists of five sets of questions that focus on learning objectives, situational constraints, the debriefing strategy, implementation of the strategy, and the…

Presents a crossword puzzle and a word-find puzzle. Provides clues dealing with Canadian history and government. Includes an answer key for the crossword puzzle. (SG)

Lists reasons for teaching Spanish through centuries old games from Spain and Mexico. The article describes and gives specific instructions for several games suitable for middle school students. It is concluded that most children love to play games and learn from their play. (13 references) (Author/(CK)

Notes that puzzles, the cornerstone of table-top or manipulative learning areas in early childhood programs, are structured materials, self-correcting toys that help children in a variety of developmental areas. Suggests that handmade puzzles are less expensive and can be tailored for specific concepts, themes, or skill levels. Provides…

Presents ideas to help elementary educators teach their students thinking skills through word splashes (collages of words and pictures that help students think and make connections). A student page offers a word splash activity. (SM)

Describes three simple games that do not involve numbers and that can be used to teach children problem-solving strategies and math skills. The games are Tick-Tack-Toe; Jest, a game that uses a blocking strategy; and Nim, a game that uses a capturing strategy. All three games force students to plan ahead and calculate possible outcomes using…

Presents a board game in which students pretend to be American Indians, settlers, or traders. Explains that students learn about people and life in Canada in the nineteenth century. Suggests that players will learn vocabulary, a sense of value, and bartering methods. Includes designs for the gameboard, commodity cards, and score cards. (DK)

Describes two word games useful in secondary writing classrooms: "illot-mollo," in which freewriters announce words they just wrote which the other members must use in their subsequent freewriting; and "secret" in which students each write a secret (usually made-up) and then put them into a hat--students then pull out a secret and write about it.…

Describes educational toys that are made from natural and readily available materials in Ghana. Directions and diagrams for the pawpaw-leaf horn, milk-tin helicopter, pen-top propeller, bow and arrow, spinning top, and feather helicopter are included. (DDR)

Presents a game designed as a chance-and-data activity that can be used to illustrate the use of probability-tree diagrams and multiplication and addition rules of probability. (ASK)

Evaluated the effectiveness of gaming to create an interactive, stimulating learning environment as a review format for the Dental Hygiene National Board examination. Students (n=28) participated in either the gaming or a lecture review format. The gaming group scored higher on the exam on eight of 12 topics as well as on the case-based learning…

Describes a lunchtime math club that was a pivotal aspect of a whole school initiative to raise achievement in basic skills in a British girls' school. Discusses student recruitment, types of games played, links to the British national curriculum, and staffing implications. (JOW)

Presents a common knowledge puzzle in which it becomes possible to reason about other people's responses to the puzzle. (ASK)

Recounts historical uses of wordplay. Discusses how wordplay has been used in writing in the past and in the present. Describes efforts to create the first dictionary of wordplay. Presents 15 basic wordplay terms and around 30 more additional wordplay terms, giving examples of each. (SG)

Explains methods for introducing high school students to the issue of the declining amphibian population. Plays the game Frogs' Futures following a seminar as an instructional strategy. Describes the game, procedures, and rules. (YDS)