Discusses the value of structured simulation games in elementary social studies. Suggestions are given for using simulation games in the classroom, stressing the importance of the briefing and debriefing activities. Teaching instructions for four role-playing simulations are included. (AM)

Compassion, according to Nancy Rue (1991), is not pity. Compassion, Rue asserts, "involves a mixture of feeling one's kinship with others, being purely selfless (at least for the moment) and having the courage to get involved." P. M. Oliner (1983) wrote that "Prosocial content needs to show people behaving in giving and helping ways toward others.…

Discusses the role of social technology in the elementary social studies curriculum. Describes three strategies designed to enhance the social and emotional well-being of students. Explains the Magic Circle, dilemma discussions, and role playing. Suggests that such social technology methods of teaching will teach students to behave responsibly…

Suggests that role playing can offset problems in teaching values clarification and moral reasoning at the elementary school level. Because role playing relies heavily on activity, it circumvents the problem of having a dilemma dealt with by discussion only. Role playing also allows students to take the perspective of others. (Author/KC)

Presented are four teaching activities for early grades, including one using the Atari PILOT "fill" command. Includes an article ("The Human Computer") by Andy Van Duyne suggesting a role-playing activity designed to illustrate programing techniques and terms. (JN)

Art becomes "moving life" as students portray characters in museum works of art. (Editor/SJL)

Elementary students role-playing people celebrating various holiday seasons of different cultures can learn social science concepts. (JR)

Describes a project in which children improved their own reading skills by teaching their teddybears to read. (DD)

Suggests that using creative dramatics in the classroom reading program can benefit children by improving their reading skills and self-concepts while allowing them to enjoy school and reading. Explains how to create such a program. (FL)

Describes how teachers turned the reality of the nuclear reactor incident at Three Mile Island into a learning experience for children by recreating the sequence of events through creative dramatics. (CM)

Characteristics and types of role-play for the language classroom are discussed. Sample activities for grades K-3 and for grades 4-6 are offered. (Contains 15 references.) (Author/LB)

Presents a curriculum program designed to dramatize the trial experience. Utilizes the fairytale "Little Red Riding Hood" to present the facts of a criminal case. Outlines the mock trial, rules of evidence, criminal code, and facts of the case. Suggests that classroom experience be enhanced with field trips to a real court. (DK)

Elementary school teachers are introduced to role playing as a device for encouraging students to understand and empathize with other people's attitudes, values, and feelings. Two approaches to classroom role playing are discussed. The first, set forth by Schaftel, includes the following steps: warming up, selecting role players, setting the…

Elementary students learn the art of puppet making, write and produce their own shows using characters they have created, and develop their language arts skills by integrating puppetry into their normal classroom studies. (Author/RK)

Children develop knowledge and insight into history when they act out dramatic events of the past. Creative dramatics serve as an impetus to further reading and research. Suggestions for teacher use in implementing role playing in the classroom are given. (DF)