Most students find poetry easier to write if they have some kind of framework for their words. Teachers are given a guide for helping students in middle grades write poetry, utilizing animals and their characteristics as a framework. A reproducible activity sheet is provided. (IAH)

The article describes innovative activities for presenting legal principles to fifth- and sixth-grade students involving the importance of rules and rulemaking. (CB)

This article describes how to improve students' notetaking skills by having them pretend they are journalists wiring in a story. Students must pare down information to the essentials and calculate telegram costs. Sample exercises and a reproducible page are provided. (JL)

Several activities covering garbage and its disposal, decay and composting, recycling, and environmental action are suggested. A reproducible page is included. (MT)

This article presents a rationale and technique for stimulating students' interest in literature. An example, featuring author Donald Crews, is provided. A list of authors of books suitable for primary and middle grades is included together with an author information resource guide. (IAH)

Writing is a key component in developing mathematics thinking and understanding. Four strategies to encourage student writing to describe thinking and reasoning are offered. Teachers can use this writing to verify student understanding of mathematical concepts. (MT)

Presents an inexpensive class activity to teach elementary students about light reflection off various surfaces. The activity involves aluminum foil, waxed paper, magazine pages, newspapers, overhead transparency film, construction paper, fabric, and a hand lens. A student page includes questions to make students think about reflection. (SM)

Calculator riddles can interest elementary students in math. Solving riddles where a numerical answer turned upside down reveals a word answer provides an amusing way to practice mathematical operations and learn about calculator functions. The paper explains how to create word riddles and includes student work pages. (SM)

Using ordinary household items--vinegar, ammonia, and cabbage juice--teachers can demonstrate properties of acids, bases, and neutrals. Students are encouraged to discuss results and hypothesize about experiments. A guide to the project is provided. (JL)

By scrutinizing products and their advertisements, students can learn how to make smart consumer decisions. Activities are described which focus on evaluating advertising claims and designing and administering a poll. Techniques used by advertisers are identified, and a reproducible worksheet for collecting product test and comparison data is…

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)

Describes a map skills unit used in a second grade classroom in which teachers and students engaged in activites that moved from the concrete to the abstract and from trips around the school neighborhood to a "trip" to Europe. An insert includes two map study ideas for use in intermediate grades. (SM)

A whole-language approach to science can enhance student learning. Curiosity about science leads to research, reading, and writing. An example of a two-week unit on ants is presented, in which students begin by watching the ants, then organize their thoughts, research ants, write about ants, and create final projects. (SM)

Students can explore temperature and heat conductivity by examining materials that make good cups for hot cocoa. Using temperature probes from computer-based science packages, students can measure gradual change in the liquid's temperature, watch as data are plotted on the computer, and explain why they chose a specific material. (SM)

To make elementary science students grasp the scientific concepts being taught, teachers must not ignore their preconceived ideas. Instead, teachers must identify misconceptions then help the students test them. The article presents a step-by-step approach that can serve as a model for teaching any science concept. (SM)