This article describes a lesson plan that encouraged the usage of digital tools to enhance inquiry as a key tool in teaching elementary social studies. The lesson revolved around a field trip to the home of Civil War Governor Oliver P. Morton (Centerville, Indiana). The active, investigative, and questioning nature of inquiry in social studies…

The number of English language learners (ELLs) in the United States has increased dramatically. Given this increase it is vital for teacher education programs at the pre-service level and professional learning programs at eh in-service level to address the needs of ELLs. This article presents a teacher preparation model--"a language-based…

Incubators in the Classroom is an extension program designed to teach fourth-graders about egg hatching. More than 15,000 Indiana students have used the learning materials, which include incubators, lesson guides, and CD-ROM learning guides. The Purdue extension service is in the process of conducting critical evaluation of the program. (SK)

In seven Indiana schools, fourth graders received hands-on instruction with incubators; seven schools were controls, with a total of 736 students and 39 teachers participating. The treatment group increased agriculture-related science knowledge. Students from communities smaller than 5,000 scored better than those in larger communities. (Contains…

It was the purpose of this study to determine the readability level of all social studies textbooks authorized for purchase in the adoption made by the Textbook Commission of the Indiana State Board of Education on December 12, 1968 for five years beginning July 1, 1969. A thorough search of the literature and research did not reveal that their…

Despite initial high expectations for the impact of television on classroom teaching, quantitative studies conducted during the 1950's and 60's indicate that television instruction is not significantly different from conventional methods in its effect on student achievement. In 1972 the City School District of East Chicago, Indiana, introduced the…

This report provides selected results from the 2002 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for Indiana's public-school students at grades 4 and 8. Since 1992, reading has been assessed in four different years at the state level (at grade 4 in 1992 and 1994, and at both grades 4 and 8 in 1998 and 2002). Indiana participated in the 1992,…

Describes the process of creating a slide-tape show which outlines the culture of Middletown (Muncie, Indiana) during the 1920's and 1930's. Presents the program developed by the Center for Middletown Studies (Ball State University) for use in elementary schools and retirement or nursing homes. Urges the completion of similar projects in other…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students in the United States know and can do in various academic subjects. The 1996 NAEP in mathematics assessed the current level of mathematical achievement as a mechanism for informing education reform. In 1996, 44…

In 1990, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) included a Trial State Assessment which, for the first time in the NAEP's history, made voluntary state-by-state assessments. This 1992 mathematics report marks the first attempt of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to shift to standards-based reporting of National…