In this lesson, each fourth-grade student is asked to choose a famous person who was born in his/her state, research the person's contributions to history, write a monologue, and then perform the monologue using a costume and/or a prop. The lesson offers an overview; suggests lesson length and grade level; lists subjects and subtopics; cites…

Described are 16 successful education projects in 11 states. Some are supported by local or state funds; others are approved by the National Diffusion Network, meaning that they have been statistically validated as effective and receive federal funds to train teachers in replicating the project at minimum cost. Addresses are available for further…

Outlines a method to help students through the beginning phases of writing that will also show them the vital relationship between observation and creation. (RL)

Project development activities centered on the components of teacher in-service, classroom activities, curriculum materials, parent/community involvement, and student evaluation. After three years of operation, test scores showed increasingly superior performance in creative thinking on the part of the students. (DLS)

This article describes the Movement Poetry Program, a program designed to increase poetry appreciation and to release, through movement, the excess tension of students with learning and/or behavioral disabilities. The article includes a suggested teaching style, a lesson format, and content for combining poetry and creative movement. (SW)

Describes a middle school program in which students create and produce an original opera. Describes the interdisciplinary learning acquired as students created music, dialog, sets, and costumes. Contends that the project was an exciting and rewarding experience for students and teachers. (CFR)

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics'"Curriculum and Evaluation Standards" envision an interdisciplinary approach to mathematics that allows children to communicate their ideas in the process of solving real problems. This book promotes the connection between mathematics and children's literature as part of realizing that…

This booklet discusses the use of structured table activities in preschool programs in Australia and alternatives to these activities, such as free play. The booklet notes that structured table activities tend to be teacher-directed, passive, non-creative, and focus on goals set by the teacher. They often do not address the learning requirements…

Over 80 short activity ideas covering many areas of the curriculum are compiled for teachers of preschool, kindergarten, and the early grades. Six "readiness roundup" sections, which feature ideas for use in classroom learning centers, give activities for teaching: (1) likenesses and differences; (2) direction; (3) letter and sound…

Cited as a model project for the state of Vermont, this process model helps administrators, teachers, and community members integrate the arts into the elementary school curriculum. Arranged into 10 sections, the introduction in part 1 outlines the development of the program. Three major project goals are stated in section 2 and section 3 is an…

The guide outlines 68 arts activities ideas designed to enhance career and life skills of moderately and severely handicapped students. Arts activities are organized according to three units: social development, daily living, and vocational preparation. Each of the activities within the units are described in terms of instructional goal, related…

A collection of classroom activities for French and Spanish language immersion programs includes descriptions of or directions for a variety of exercises, accompanied by a brief introductory section of notes for the teacher. The activities include audio-motor units, a back-to-back activity, a cocktail party simulation, cultural assimilators,…

In society, information/ideas are communicated through various media (words, symbols, illustrations, etc.). When analyzing comic strips, it is noticeable that each has a different style, point of view, setting, plot, and summary, communicated not only through words, but through illustrations and style--creating comic strips can summarize various…

Scientific challenges are presented to motivate secondary and college students in creative thinking and scientific problem solving. Student solutions to the "Create-a-Creature" challenge are presented and six new challenges are issued. (PEB)

Recommends elementary school projects where children design and make their own musical instruments. Maintains that this familiarizes students with the family of instruments and how they produce sound. The built instruments can be as simple as a washtub bass or as complex as an electronic synthesizer. (MJP)