Presents a thematic approach to French culture education which stresses active student participation and use of primary sources. (AM)

"Bridging World History" is a multimedia course for secondary school and college teachers that looks at global patterns through time--seeing history as an integrated whole. Topics are studied in a general chronological order, but each is examined through a thematic lens, showing how people and societies experience both integration and differences.…

In this teaching activity, students track and present information about specific regions in the world on a bi-weekly basis. Emphasis is placed on the five themes of geography to develop a working knowledge of assigned regions. Students use Microsoft Publisher and PowerPoint to create presentations. The activity packet contains several documents…

The theme for 2004's National History Day is "Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History." This is a broad theme, so topics should be carefully selected and developed in ways that best reflect student talents and abilities. Studies should include an investigation into available primary and secondary sources, analysis of the evidence,…

This curriculum project provides insight into the transformation processes in which the nations of Hungary and Poland have been participating, from approximately 1979-2002. A major focus of the project is to organize a set of information that teachers and students can analyze and understand the Hungarian and Polish quality of life during the…

In response to the recommendation that teachers incorporate more statistics into their mathematics classes, this paper offers several ways in which students can work with real data. Among the ideas included are their birthdays. Having the students generate a data set that includes their month of birth, exact time of birth, day of the month, and…

This article is the result of an investigation of students' conceptualizations of calculus graphing techniques after they had completed at least two semesters of calculus. The work and responses of 27 students to a series of questions that solicit information about the graphical implications of the first derivative, second derivative, continuity,…

One of the major problems with the English curriculum is that literature, language, and composition, the three major strands of the curriculum, have been separated rather than integrated within the curriculum. This inservice program, which was given for English teachers at Niles High School in Skokie, Illinois, advocates the use of conceptual or…

This thematic unit for teaching descriptive writing is organized around 10 days of lesson plans. The unit begins by asking key questions about descriptive writing and providing information on grade level, ability level, number of lessons and length of classes, and prior knowledge students should have. It also offers a unit rationale and key…

This curriculum unit, intended for students in grade 6, covers the Mayas, Mayan history, and ancient civilizations. The unit was developed using Roger Taylor's collaborative team model "Connecting the Curriculum: Using an Integrated, Interdisciplinary, Thematic Approach." The unit addresses multiple intelligences, brain research,…

This curriculum unit focuses on the contributions of the ancient Mayan people and how these contributions have been interwoven with contemporary society. The unit is divided into the following sections: (1) "Preface"; (2) "Mayan Civilization" (geography); (3) "Mayan Contributions" (written language); (4) "Mayan…

The official theme of Law Day 2003 (May 1, 2003), "Celebrate Your Freedom: Independent Courts Protect Our Liberties," is reflected throughout this planning guide. The guide offers teachers the tools for programs and discussions on the rule of law and the role of independent courts. It can also assist in developing programs and…

Standard 3 of the California History-Social Science Framework requires that students in grade one know and understand U.S. symbols, icons, and traditions, such as the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. flag, essential documents, landmarks, and national holidays. The flag is a unifying theme for this unit of study. Students analyze the symbolism of the…

This book is intended as a resource for preservice and practicing teachers who want to build, extend, or enliven a program in which students explore the expanding world of children's literature. The book's author draws on her 30 years as an elementary school teacher and student of literary/literacy learning to present a theoretically grounded and…

This learning module aims to engage students in problem solving, critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and cooperative learning. The module is appropriate for use in any introductory or intermediate undergraduate course that focuses on human-environment relationships. The module explains that land use/cover change has occurred at all times in all…