Utilizes the 17th-century fur trade rivalry between the French and the English for a classroom experiment in the writing of history. Students produce their own account of a historical event based upon a reading of primary source documents. Peer reviews and teacher comments guide the students through several drafts. (MJP)

Describes a project in which an inquiry approach to learning and teaching in an urban first-grade classroom resulted in a student-created database. Illustrates how computer integration in reading/language arts instruction caused students to participate more in group inquiry, using their individual abilities to contribute to group projects; it also…

Provides a concise introduction to the integration of oral history projects into the social studies classroom. Identifies five goals for student use of oral history: content acquisition, skill development, affective growth, historical understanding, and content production. Includes interviewing techniques, related web sites, and teaching…

In a doctoral pharmacy course, student pairs were assigned presentations on topics related to specific anemias or blood disorders, and given one-and-a-half hours to present the material, with posters as visual aids, and to answer questions. The method is seen as promoting active learning, critical thinking, and professional presentation skills,…

Describes the production of news broadcasts on video by a high school class in Le Center, Minnesota. Topics include software for Apple computers, equipment used, student responsibilities, class curriculum, group work, communication among the production crew, administrative and staff support, and future improvements. (LRW)

Describes a project whereby geography students were charged with designing an urban trail (city walk with informational markers) that would accommodate specific groups. Chosen groups included people with physical disabilities, 10-year olds, and those interested in local street art. Discusses the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective objectives of…

Outlines a dozen alternative formats for oral book reports that can turn this often boring ritual into an engaging learning experience. These creative formats emphasize the inherently important concepts of the books and build in listener accountability through authentic assessment. The formats include creating comic books, mock trials, and…

Reports the extracurricular activities of the Civil War Study Group at O'Neill High School (New York) that studies the 124th New York State Volunteers. Activities include battle reenactments, research using primary sources, presentations before school and historical groups, and the preservation and cataloging of a collection of historical letters.…

Asserts that teachers should educate students to use historical research methods, even in the elementary and intermediate grades. Argues that, although history should be taught as a "story well-told," it should also be discovered, just as historians discover it in the course of their research. (CFR)

The use of cognitive social learning theory to help students plan independent study projects is examined and illustrated in the context of a Manchester Metropolitan University (England) senior project program. The theoretical model drawn from the theory focuses on self-regulated learning, and its application emphasizes students' development of…

Contends that during the Great Depression the federal government gave the visual arts unprecedented support. Presents a classroom lesson on a public controversy regarding a Works Progress Administration sponsored mural in an Idaho city. Includes teaching suggestions, recommended topics for student projects, and four primary sources. (CFR)

Asserts that elementary music education has been influenced by three approaches to learning: (1) the conceptual approach; (2) the child development approach; and (3) the activities approach. Presents six steps to designing an interdisciplinary project in music education. (CFR)

Describes a pilot project of the Park/School Program which involved graduate students in environmental studies conducting field studies in ecology with 46 fifth graders. Provides an overview of the project's potential for effecting change inside and outside the classroom, and presents recommendations for future programs and research. (LZ)

Maintains that the recent introduction of SPSS for Windows allows for data analysis to be employed in substantive courses as well as methods courses. Describes the use of the program in upper-division sociology classes where substantive themes are developed in depth. Presents and discusses several classroom activities using the program. (CFR)

Presents a geography program to show students why the European Community was formed. Involves student research of economic data, creation of a computer database on the European Community, and simulation of trading. Emphasizes geographic themes of movement, region formation, and change in response to economic forces. Includes game rules, sample…