Presents a Project WET water education activity. Students rank and compare different uses of water in order of their importance. The class develops a "Water Index," an indication of the group's feelings and values about water and its uses. (LZ)

Describes one elementary teacher's strategies to help students learn spelling using cooperative learning groups. Mixed-ability groups of four children are established, and students take turns being the caller, recorder, reader, and checker. Students retain more because of the amount of repetition. A weekly classroom spelling schedule is presented.…

Presents interactive activities and games designed to help teachers get to know new students quickly and help the students become comfortable with each other and their surroundings as the school year starts. The article addresses how to explore the new environment, handle concerns and conflicts, and work in cooperative groups. (SM)

Describes three games for all ages, used in adventure- and experiential-education settings. Includes target group, group size, time and space requirements, activity level, props, instructions, and tips for post-activity group reflection and processing where appropriate. The games demonstrate the tenets of adventure programming, involve group…

Three activities are described to teach campers the importance of minimizing their impact on the environment. Soil Buggy Bingo shows fire's impact on living things in the soil; Food Web demonstrates how everything in an ecosystem is interconnected; and Camouflaging--Field versus Woods shows the difference between wooded and cleared areas in the…

Notes that because of the strong connection between food and feelings of safety, love, and well-being caregivers should carefully look at eating activities. Suggests the following procedures: choose small- or whole-group snack routine, organize snack trays, plan transition ritual before snack, define students' personal space, sit at eye level with…

Introducing computers to the early childhood classrooms at a Provo child care center proved challenging. The center's play-centered approach to discovery encouraged teachers to explore different software programs and to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge in small groups. Challenges included resolving turn-taking conflicts and…

Provides activities for teachers to use in studying characters' motivation in literature. Suggests books and describes the action and motivation for each; considers evaluation methods that include group activities, individual activities, and writing; and includes a student assignment worksheet on motive. (LRW)

Describes universal challenge programs, in which all participants, regardless of ability or disability, work as an integrated group. Discusses planning for participant needs and creating a physically and emotionally safe environment. Presents brief instructions for 12 universal activities, including games, problem-solving activities, and high and…

Considers that one of the challenges of introductory and sophomore-level college business communication courses lies in coaxing students out of those comfortable academic spaces and showing them the need for differentiating one audience from another and viewing each writing context afresh. Presents findings from (and describes implementation of) a…

Fluency instruction can be seamlessly incorporated into any elementary classroom with the help of this indispensable guide. Provided are fluency development ideas that are effective and motivating, including whole-class and small-group lessons, student-managed activities, and procedures involving classroom volunteers. The emphasis on partner-based…

This training manual contains material from the book "Listen to Me, Listen to You--A Practical Guide to Improving Self-Esteem, Listening Skills and Assertiveness" set out in the form of exercises and handouts. The manual provides a series of 14 group exercises and 19 related handouts suitable for use in workshops or group training…

This paper is divided into three parts. The first explains concepts in the design of group activities that encourage learner cooperation, and ways in which they differ. Activities are distinguished by: (1) whether or not they involve learner time for planning language use before interaction; (2) whether they have one predetermined correct answer…

This paper discusses cooperative learning, a technique in which students work in small heterogeneous learning groups. Following a definition of cooperative learning, the paper describes the most widely used cooperative learning methods, including Student Teams-Achievement Divisions (STAD), Teams-Games-Tournament (TGT), Jigsaw, Learning Together,…

This teaching unit is composed of six parts: (1) a content outline, (2) unit goals, (3) objectives, (4) activities, (5) evaluation procedures, and (6) an annotated bibliography. The content of this unit focuses on the personal attributes, education, interests and skills which go into choosing an occupation; the types of occupations; education and…