One way to approach the improvement of instruction is for educators to learn from student interactions in cultural events that fully engage students' motivation and curiosity. In such a context, educators get to know students in new ways and to connect student strengths to classroom instruction. This can be especially powerful when the learning…

Cold February weather and pancakes are a traditional pairing. Pancake Day began as a way to eat up the foods that were abstained from in Lent--traditionally meat, fat, eggs and dairy products. The best-known pancake event is The Pancake Day Race in Buckinghamshire, England, which has been run since 1445. This column describes pairs of books that…

To provide both an enriching theatre experience for students and faculty and new opportunities for women artists, the Department of Theatre Arts and Speech at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey at Newark held a competition for new plays by New Jersey women playwrights. The winning play, Leni Hamilton's "The Fortress," a story of…

This workshop presentation offers an introduction to and suggestions for a multicultural approach to teaching through music experiences. Experiences presented include: (1) "Funga Alafia," a welcome song from Liberia; (2) "Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree," an American traditional game song; (3) a Japanese version of…

Saint Patrick's Day can be a day to honor the Irish for the contributions they have made to American life. Important historical figures of Irish descent and Irish folk customs are discussed. (DF)

Highlights the benefits of a cultural arts program for elementary schools, using as resources artists, performers, and artists from every discipline. Focuses on program administration, keys to success (e.g., variety and matching artist ability to school interest), financial requirements, and benefits. (DMM)

Most typical high school programs are not meeting the needs of gifted and talented students. Programs for the gifted are often neither interdisciplinary nor differentiated as encouraged by Texas state guidelines. Gifted students can gain much from well-designed extracurricular activities. Grade weighting schemes in which gifted courses are…

Asserts that the Pacific Rim nations of Asia are neighbors to California and that teachers should use that concept as an instructional device. Presents six teaching activities that are linked to the California History-Social Science Framework. Includes step-by-step instructions for implementation. (CFR)

Discusses formalist/universalist, personal response/ antiformalist, and pluralist approaches to aesthetics. Recommends using a pluralist approach because it accounts for the aesthetic principles of non-Western art forms. Discusses pluralism in art education and how the criteria of Western aesthetics are now being challenged by art educators. (KM)

Officially opened to the public in March 1992, the Hanoi Alliance Francaise has quickly become a place for francophones to meet and participate in classes and cultural activities. Its success appears to be the result of enthusiasm on the parts of both French and Vietnamese. (MSE)

Contends that anthropology should provide the focus for the elementary social studies curriculum. Delineates concepts and generalizations for such a curriculum and suggests activities to build anthropological understanding. (GG)

Describes how a local symphony orchestra changed its educational program for children to improve attendance and heighten music appreciation. Discusses the rationale for the new approach and includes descriptions of themes. Concludes that music appreciation programs must identify and utilize various motivational approaches. (CFR)

Describes a summer school program in which secondary students collaborated to build an opera company. Details the activities of seven days in the first stage of the three-stage project. Concludes that the experience built democratic values. (CFR)

Describes a college level course in opera for nonmusic education students. Contends that students benefited from the enriching experience of the course. Includes a list of 10 operas recommended for an introductory course. (CFR)

The "Research in Practice Series" is a practical, easy-to-read resource, offering effective new approaches for those challenging issues which arise in the care and education of young children. Early Childhood Australia's "Research in Practice Series" is an essential resource for those involved in the early childhood field.…