A model for teaching the Book of Job to high school students, using such diverse media as Peanuts" cartoons and poems, news articles and novels. Describes some of the major themes in Job and their relevance to modern literature. Suggests supplementary reading and themes for student papers. (JB)

The merits of the wide-ranging West Civ" course are questioned. Topical courses are advocated as an alternative. A college freshman history course, using war as the central theme is outlined with suggested reading material. (Author/MB)

Continuing with his suggestion from previous issues that themes of interest to most children can tie together reading, writing and language arts, the author presents classroom activities and reading suggestions based on four more themes: fairness and unfairness; cultural identity; overcoming weaknesses or handicaps; requited and unrequited love.…

The learning center described here, using a city theme, structures movement activities to reinforce basic cognitive skills, including mapping, memorizing, matching, manipulating shapes, categorizing, listening, sequencing, and following directions. (Author/SJL)

Suggests using thematic approach for physics instruction based on the broad theme of energy resources. Presents physics pathways from student and lecturer viewpoints, and describes how the course operates. (SK)

Remarks are made on learning objectives in teaching manuals for second language instruction. These issues are addressed: goals of communication, factors in the communicative situation, the intention behind the expression, focusing on the students, relating content to student experience, and the importance of these factors in learning objectives.…

General objectives of interdisciplinary education are examined and some possible pitfalls of multidisciplinary courses suggested. Guidelines for improvement are offered. (LBH)

Looks at the educational philosophy and goals of integrated thematic instruction (ITI) as used in the daily activity of a fifth-grade classroom. Shows how ITI employs research on how the human brain learns to provide students with a learning environment and an integrated curriculum that provides each student with multiple conduits of formative…

This article describes the New Challenge Program at the University of Texas, which provides enrichment experiences for 125 students yearly in grades K-12, many of whom are Mexican Americans and economically disadvantaged. Students choose courses fostering creativity or special areas of interest taught by experts selected and trained by program…

Analysis of data gathered from surveys, interviews, and student records revealed three major differences between stayers and leavers enrolled in a middle-school thematic choice program in San Antonio, Texas. Stayers were more likely to have been involved in the decision-making process, had more friends in the program, and had higher scholastic…

Suggests that thematic roles might best be viewed as verb-specific concepts and that this conceptual/world knowledge is computed and used immediately in online language processing. Discusses results in relation to other recent treatments of thematic roles as well as constraint-based and garden path models. (68 references) (Author/CK)

Focuses on why and how to integrate music education with children's literature. Discusses the use of the thematic approach. Describes a unit on animals, focusing on books to include in the unit. Includes a bibliography of children's books. (CMK)

Considers how literature can showcase the essence of relationships that enable and support characters as they develop voice, introspection, and the inner strength needed to transcend cultural and societal expectations. Presents a cluster (a group of novels, poetry, picture books, and nonfiction on the same theme) that provides readers with models…