Presents ideas for getting elementary students to explore the meaning of cliches and idiomatic phrases. (SJL)

Presented are several word and sentence puzzles, both simple and complex, for student use. All involve various-shaped grids made up of squares for letter or word fill-ins. (Author/SJL)

Describes a teaching unit on portmanteau words, such as "smog" and "petrodollars," which are created by truncating two words. (SJL)

This article explains the components of the reading box and trading program wherein each student creates an activity box based on books. The boxes contain books, comprehension folders, and games and activities for developing language arts, reading and thinking skills. (KC)

The four mini-centers described here give a sampling of themes and activities for small classroom learning centers on writing. Short descriptions are also included of 20 other possible themes to interest students in writing activities. (SJL)

Described is a fourth-grade classroom teacher's approach to studying English grammar. She adopts a surgical approach to analyzing grammar, with students acting the part of surgeons. For example, an adjectomy is the removal of adjectives from a sentence. (KC)

Described is an activity designed to maintain a good working environment during the difficult last week and first week of school. It is a letter-writing unit that has graduating eighth graders recall their feelings about junior high school for the fall's incoming seventh graders. (KC)

Tracking down the similarities between two beloved stories (the Wizard of Oz and Star Wars) led to a critical analysis of other tales. Through this process, students discovered why some books are classics, became more discriminating readers, and applied what they learned to their own creative writing. (Author/KC)

Described is a "joke center" where elementary school students not only learned about various kinds of humor and practiced language skills but had a terrific week of laughter as they shared favorite jokes and made up new ones. (Author/KC)

In these 20 activities for grades 1-6, children translate from numbers to words. Five language objectives focus on quantitative expression, comparisons, sequence, logical continuity, and elaboration. Each objective includes a math exercise followed by a related language experience. (Author/SJL)

The author presents four teaching activities that link language arts and history: historical dialogs, the Bible as literature and history, student-made history books, and historical graffiti. Each includes a rationale, activities, and evaluation methods. (SJL)

Instructions are given for a class or school-wide art/language arts project in which students learn to evaluate and design book covers. (SJL)

With "mice" as a theme, this classroom learning center is designed for independent use by kindergarten and first grade children, whether or not they have yet learned to read. Its activities focus on reading, language, thinking, and writing skills. A bilbiography of children's books about mice is appended. (SJL)

Suggests teaching elementary students to type by providing a typing learning station and one 30-minute lesson each week. Includes ideas for relating typing to other curriculum areas such as punctuation, spelling, and writing. (SJL)

These learning stations use questions about television and film stars, as well as famous historical figures, to motivate students in problem solving and other technical language skills. (Author/SJL)