Presents a critical thinking unit designed to teach students in grades 4-6 to identify propaganda techniques in advertising and to create and evaluate original advertisements. Objectives, directions, and a series of five activities are outlined. Various propaganda techniques are defined. (MES)

Describes a class activity designed to teach students in grades five and six the importance of using an encyclopedia index. (MES)

Describes a program which was designed to improve the reading skills and broaden the reading interests of fifth grade students. Critical and higher-level thinking skills were stressed in the program, which included a reading list divided by genre and such activities as group discussions and a contest. (MES)

The production activities of a video club for grade 5 students includes a daily news show and video documentaries. This program helps students to use their creative talents, gain interaction skills, and develop more positive attitudes toward learning. Equipment used for the project is described, and eight references are listed. (MES)

Noting that intermediate and junior high school students can be motivated to read if high quality, interesting literature is made available, this bibliography will provide teachers, librarians, and resource teachers with a list of books published since 1980 that can be used to assist students in selecting reading materials. The annotations include…

Presents an instructional unit in which grade 6 students used PFS:File to create a computerized database containing information about many countries. Six lessons are described: (1) introduction to a database; (2) selecting topics for the database form; (3) designing forms; (4) beginning research; (5) adding files; and (6) retrieving information.…

Describes a project in which students research and describe a career using a book report format and then produce a videotape based on the "What's My Line?" television series. (CLB)

Discusses the use of literature in the whole-language approach. Examples show the integration of a second grader's experiences with the curriculum; integrating the language arts in the middle school via study of the author as well as the book; and the integration of literature into the study of history. Titles to use in each area are suggested.…

This book helps teachers and media directors to use children's literature to enrich elementary reading programs and to pursue sound educational objectives as they share the books and stories. It provides activities designed to expand and enrich the opportunities for children to become literate. It is a tool which addresses the need for children to…

Reviews the literature of the critical thinking/problem solving approach to learning and discusses how these concepts relate to teaching research skills. Two activities designed to teach critical thinking and research skills in the context of grades 5 and 6 social studies are summarized. (2 references) (MES)

One public library's storytelling program for fourth through eighth graders and their grandparents has preserved grandparents' stories and fostered family communication. Storytelling was done one-on-one, with each child then writing and illustrating the story. Benefits included preservation of oral history and encouragement of storytelling,…

Advocates the rights of early adolescents to (1) information they need on subjects such as AIDS, drugs, and reproduction; (2) information on topics they enjoy which may not be grounded in a school's curriculum; and (3) a sense of history. Seventeen recommended books are described in this context. (MES)

Because of the increasing importance of online databases, school library media specialists are encouraged to introduce students to online searching. Four books that would help media specialists gain a basic background are reviewed and it is noted that although they are very technical, they can be adapted to individual needs. (EM)

Intended to help teachers and librarians stimulate middle school students' reading curiosity, this book provides practical and useful units for the study of literary genres that include stimulating, enjoyable, and meaningful activities. The book contains nine chapters. Chapter 1 presents a curriculum planning blueprint for teaching literature for…

Two studies focused on children's reading but employed very different procedures and techniques. The first study examined the link between the levels of children's reading comprehension and the quantity of reading they did. Subjects, 198 children chosen at random from years 5, 6, and 7 of a single elementary school in Adelaide, Australia,…