Analyzing the ways newspapers cover different racial and cultural groups can stir provocative discussions among middle school students, as one teacher found. In one day's news, students unearthed mostly negative images and citations involving blacks; few references to Hispanics, Indians, Greeks, or Native Americans; and unrealistically favorable…

Explains how pop-up art can be used for research projects by taking newspaper articles and transforming them into visual displays in which the various parts of the articles--pictures, captions, and headlines--are glued onto the display. Suggests that such work is especially useful to students who are not especially strong linguistically. (TB)

Inspired by Miep Gies's selfless hiding of Anne Frank, a class of urban middle schoolers came up with definitions and characteristics of "ordinary," nonglitzy heroes. One student suggested that the school create its own ordinary hero hall of fame; students then researched possible nominees and held an induction ceremony for those…

Describes four computer-assisted teaching strategies for nonfiction (originally used for teaching fiction). (SR)

Description of a writing project for sixth graders includes hearing excerpts read from Brent Staples' memoirs, then creating their own multimedia memoirs drawn from their life experiences. Project topics include observing the decay of a neighborhood or death of a relative or neighbor. A list of 17 memoirs written by ethnic minorities for use with…