This book presents performance-based projects to provide elementary school students both the structure and the freedom to become actively engaged in their own learning. The approach is based on the concept of authentic learning, which advocates a relevant, real world experience to personally engage students in learning. The book is divided into…

Sciencing with Watersheds, Environmental Education, and Partnerships (SWEEP) is a professional development program designed to help elementary teachers improve the way they teach science using partnerships among teachers and resource professionals. SWEEP follows a thematic approach using watersheds as the core concept of an integrated elementary…

Argues that both religion and the arts provide primary evidence for understanding human history. Maintains that the marginalization of both subjects denies students insights into some of the fundamental subjective experiences of humankind. Provides a few examples of the interconnection between the arts and religion. (MJP)

Discusses religious music as an extraordinarily rich resource supplementing multicultural education. Considers the divisive and problematic nature of some religious music, exemplified by a trio of Jewish students refusal to sing "St. John's Passion" because of alleged antisemitism in the text. Presents a concise overview of cultural…

Provides six fully developed library media activities that are designed for use with specific curriculum units in creative dramatics, language arts, social studies, reading, and science. Library media skills, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, activities and procedures, evaluation, and follow-up are described for…

Briefly describes activities and questions designed to integrate the study of electricity into any of the specific social studies disciplines. Meeting the performance expectations of the National Standards, the activities are connected to archaeology, anthropology, geography, history, economics, political science, law, religion, philosophy,…

Recommends organizing U.S. history courses around central ideas rather than chronological periods. Argues that this method affords a better grasp of the principal developments in the nation's history by treating issues in depth. Lists eight broad themes around which a U.S. history course can be constructed. (MJP)

Criticizes the traditional approach to teaching U.S. government as being de-contextualized, piecemeal, incoherent, and ineffective. Summarizes an alternative approach that follows historical development but emphasizes the emerging character of the U.S. political system due to the interaction between values, context, and institutions. Text readings…

Presents a series of lesson plans to be incorporated into an interdisciplinary unit on Japan. Uses the five themes of geography as a framework for a broader exploration of the culture and history of Japan. Specifically addresses women and their role in Japanese society, and other cultural ideas. (MJP)

Provides eight fully developed library media activities that are designed for use with specific curriculum units in art, science, mathematics, reading, language arts, and social studies. Library media skills, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, procedures, evaluation, and follow-up are described for each activity.…

Presents seven reading activities involving the preschool classroom writing environment, using big books and predictable books, using cereal boxes to foster emergent literacy, using editorials, visual-auditory links, reading outside the classroom, and ownership of writing. (MG)

Examines teaching styles, technology use, and implementation of thematic units among preservice and practicing teachers. Findings indicated that teachers' instructional styles influenced the ways computer technology and thematic instruction were implemented. Suggests that successful integration of technology and thematic instruction requires…

Presents suggestions to help elementary teachers organize learning centers and activities around the themes of Peter Rabbit (Grade 1), weather (Grade 3), and bees (Grade 5). Suggestions are given for activities in centers for listening/reading, language arts, computers, math, science, cooperative learning, research, and writing. (SM)

Provides five fully developed library media activities that are designed for use with specific curriculum units in reading, language arts, science, and social studies. Library media skills, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, procedures, evaluation, and follow-up are described for each activity. (LRW)

Provides five fully developed library media activities that are designed for use with specific curriculum units in art, reading, language arts, and science. Library media skills, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, procedures, evaluation, and follow-up are described for each activity. (LRW)