The zoetrope, ancestor of the motion picture, is a spinning cylinder in which a strip of drawings take on movement. This article provides instructions for building this device and outlines an animation project for third- through seventh-graders. (SJL)

Describes a program at Stone Middle School in Melbourne, Florida. (JM)

This book offers ideas about using primary sources to enhance students' understandings of history. It discusses the following resources, methods, and ideas: types of primary sources; tips on finding and preparing primary sources for student use; personal, local, and remote history activities; detailed descriptions of diverse projects; guidelines…

Talking with local merchants helps sixth-graders explore the impact of change in their community. (Editor/SJL)

Two teachers describe their junior high school's involvement in National History Day. Participation in History Day provides students with the thrill of competition and the satisfaction that comes from really getting into a topic of their choice. (RM)

This is the first book in a series that features folk art and everyday crafts for each century in the history of the United States. The book covers the period from 1598-1697. Based on museum and private collection artifacts, the book's objects are interpreted in paper and other accessible materials creating quality art projects for the camp,…

After discussing J.R.R. Tolkien's "Father Christmas Letters," fifth- and sixth-graders undertook a class project to answer second-graders' letters to Santa Claus. (SJL)

Describes a stock market investing project for fifth graders. (SJL)

The booklet describes an approach to serving gifted education in low cost enrichment experiences using preservice teachers as mentors. The Mentor-Assisted Enrichment Project (MAEP) at the University of British Columbia has served 105 native English speaking and 20 English as a Second Language students in grades 5 through 7. Students are nominated…

Provides classroom procedures for adapting the nineteenth-century-style song slide show to middle school history instruction. Suggests student production of song slide shows as individual or group projects. Argues that the activity can capture the drama of history and stimulate student curiosity about the past. (SG)

This story, written by middle school students and their teacher at Kingsbury School in Michigan, concerns the Ancient Roman Empire and is designed to be used to teach other middle school students. The story depicts a quest to reconstruct the Roman Empire from its beginnings as Ancient Italy, as a republic in the sixth century B.C., to the height…

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)

A sixth grade teacher discusses how she enhanced student writing and thinking skills by having them collaborate on a class monster story. The article describes how they created the story. A copy of the story is included. (SM)

Learning magic tricks permits behaviorally and emotionally handicapped children to become magicians in the eyes of adults, their peers, and themselves. The self-contained classes of handicapped boys in grades 3 through 6 have put on numerous magic shows since 1984. Program objectives include building self-esteem, teaching team cooperation,…