Describes "World Studies 8-13," a curriculum project of the United Kingdom concerned with four themes relating to the global village, spaceship earth, or world society. Themes include getting on with others, learning about other peoples, understanding the news, and the world tomorrow. (RH)

Potential benefits for learning that the outdoors may hold have been brought into increased focus in the UK by the recent introduction of a manifesto for learning outside the classroom (DfES, "Learning outside the classroom: manifesto"; Nottingham, Department for Education and Skills, 2006). This article draws on two recent studies of…

Comments on Margaret Spear's work dealing with sex differences in handwriting and cultural stereotyping. Presents evidence of substantial differences between the handwriting of boys and girls. Finds that cultural stereotypes are accepted by teachers. Reports that children are able to determine the sex of the writer from examining the handwriting…

The aim of this small-scale study was to investigate the effect of pupil-generated ground rules on peer group learning in a class of 9-year-old boys. The study examined the type of talk used by participants working in a group before the introduction of ground rules and compared this with that used after the introduction of ground rules. It was…

Presents results of study of British elementary school boys aged seven to nine, comparing disruptive behavior to heart rate. Distinguishes this study from earlier ones that found relationship between low base heart rates and low reactivity to mild stress among high school boys. Reports that this study disproves prediction that results would be…