A study involving 60 fifth-grade classrooms assessed student growth on integrated science process skills after being taught a 20-36 hour science unit based on the Integrated Curriculum Model developed for gifted learners. Results indicate small, but significant, gains for students in skills when compared to students not using the unit. (CR)

Prior to a curriculum unit on the English colonies in America taught within a U.S. history course, two classes of fifth-graders stated what they knew or believed was true about colonies and what they wanted to learn about them. After the unit, they reported what they had learned about the English colonies in North America. In addition, a…

The study compared two approaches to content area instruction with intermediate grade learning disabled students (N=24). One treatment presented information using an advance organizer in the form of a visual spatial display, the other via text. Results indicated significant positive effects for the group taught with visual displays. (Author/JW)

A study investigated the effects of preteaching vocabulary on students' performance of a writing task targeted to the use of those words. Subjects were 50 fourth grade and 55 sixth grade students. Materials included a pretest narrative writing assignment, a 10-word vocabulary pretest and posttest, a vocabulary instructional booklet with teacher's…

Prior to a curriculum unit on European exploration of the New World, a class of fifth grade U.S. history students stated what they knew (or thought was true) about the discovery of America and what they wanted to learn about it. After the unit, they reported what they had learned about the general topic of European exploration of North America. In…

The purpose of this study was to clarify the psychological impact of nuclear issues education on preadolescents in order to obtain data that might be useful in developing public policy concerning the role of nuclear issues education. Teachers presented "Choices," an educational unit on nuclear war and conflict, to sixth, seventh, and…

Confirms the hypothesis that elementary school science students recall science concepts for which they generate their own examples and definitions better than science concepts for which they do not generate their own examples and definitions. (BB)

The study that is the subject of this document focused on how fifth-graders' knowledge and thinking about the westward expansion of the pre-Civil War United States was affected by students' participation in a curriculum unit on the topic. A stratified sample of 10 students was interviewed before and after they participated in the unit to…

This exploratory research describes results of a thematic literature-based unit in an upper elementary, self-contained class for students with learning disabilities. Social and collaborative activities included reading, writing, and speaking on the topic of friendship. Literacy outcomes are illustrated in three case histories. (DB)

The introductory chapter of this paper asserts that film can be an integral part of the classroom language arts program and shows the relationship of filmmaking to literature appreciation, communication skills, reading, and the development of creativity. Chapter two justifies film as a creative art that should be taught to children; chaper three…

Describes the experiences of fifth and sixth grade elementary students and their teachers (n=3) who taught a social studies unit using the Engle-Ochoa Decision-Making Model, an issues-centered instruction model. Examines the reactions of the teachers and students. (CMK)

Two approaches to testing student achievement are discussed: (1) traditional standardized tests; and (2) testing achievement on an instructional unit. Content validity is a major problem with standardized achievement tests. Even though test publishers typically consider a number of curriculum guides and textbooks in producing a test which is…

Two studies related content coverage to pupil achievement. With ability and socioeconomic status controlled, a correlation of .40 was obtained between content and coverage and achievement. Significant correlations were also obtained between teacher coverage and achievement for two groups of teachers covering two units two months apart. (Author/RD)

Prior to a curriculum unit on Native Americans in a U.S. history course, three classes of fifth graders stated what they knew or believed they knew about these people and what they wanted to learn about them. After the unit, they reported what they had learned. In addition, a stratified sample of 10 students was interviewed concerning the details…

Exploring what happened in the classroom as a teacher used a whole language approach with her culturally varied, urban fourth-grade students, this report tells the story of a unit on personal, narrative writing which occurred from April to June. The report describes how the teacher established routines to make the unit work, and how the teacher…