Investigating the origins of place names provides pupils with a wealth of language arts experiences in vocabularly, research, and writing. Activities based on place names are suggested. (MT)

Eight reproducible pages are offered for teachers to use as a summer send-off package which contains activities extending from a child's backyard to outer space. A list of books for summer reading is included. (MT)

Ways to perk up language arts instruction include skits, choral readings, and full-length plays. Ideas for putting a show together, from making the curtain to having a cast party, are covered. Two readings, a skit, and a play are appended. (MT)

Illustrates the variety of materials available in the ERIC system, from lesson plans and teaching guides to classroom games and descriptions of individualized activities, for planning language arts lessons. (DD)

A primary/intermediate starter unit which explores circus life and history is presented. Activities range from constructing a circus time line beginning in ancient Rome to research on the treatment of animals by circuses. (MT)

This article contains ideas for turning a language arts center into an imaginary underwater playground. Activities involving poems, riddles, and word play are suggested, as are questions to investigate and art projects. (MT)

A language arts unit on the shape "round" is described. Useful materials, references, and activities are suggested. (MT)

Discusses why and how writing can be taught in the elementary school and suggests some materials that can support an elementary writing program. (HOD)

Presents ideas for getting elementary students to explore the meaning of cliches and idiomatic phrases. (SJL)

The article describes ways to tell fairy stories and nursery rhymes to increase deaf students' prereading skills. Teachers are advised to repeat lines and phrases, repeat lines visually, identify linguistic structures, find recurring themes, express a moral view, build cognitive skills, recognize linguistic rituals, and provide opportunities for…

Assigning enrichment articles that are of an appropriate readability level will discourage plagiarism.

Suggests a method for teaching research and other media center skills by integrating them in the reading and language arts curriculum with the media specialist and classroom teacher team-planning relevant activities. Advantages and disadvantages of this approach are summarized. (MES)

Presented are several word and sentence puzzles, both simple and complex, for student use. All involve various-shaped grids made up of squares for letter or word fill-ins. (Author/SJL)

Explores the philosophy behind Haiku and discusses 11 characteristics basic to this form of poetry to help teachers better understand it. (HTH)