This report from the field presents a field-based program designed to prepare teachers to serve diverse children and families by emphasizing the "actual" practices that inform family-teacher partnerships. We argue that collaborative relationships across and among families and teachers can result in "mining gems" of knowledge…

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)

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)

Presents basic information for teachers about how to use role-play, dramatic play, and simulations in the elementary social studies classroom. Explains how to proceed through the introduction or warm-up, the activity itself, and the follow-up evaluation. (AV)

Describes an activity for primary students on bees. Demonstrates life in a beehive using students playing bees. Reports the effects of this activity on student learning. (YDS)

Over the past 50 years the U.S. population has shifted from rural to urban areas. Most of the students in U.S. schools today live in urban environments. As a result of this, most students have little knowledge of natural resources and their management. Since these students are the future decision-makers of the country, it is important that they…

The complexities of courtroom procedure and rule of evidence often dissuade the classroom teacher from using the mock trial strategy. This model has been designed for role playing and for focusing on the judicial decision-making process: deliberation on the issues of a case. (Author/JB)

Discusses the use of clinician-designed thematic role-play scenarios during auditory training to enhance the conversational skills of preschool and elementary children with hearing impairments. Transcripts of two sample scenarios are provided with data analysis. (DB)

Contends that teachers must help students overcome their dislike of history by utilizing strategies that focus on children's interest in stories as a means for encouraging their students to connect with history. Discusses dramatization, children's literature, and storytelling, and provides a bibliography of children's literature. (CMK)

Recently, emphasis has been placed on curriculum implementation of character development. The elementary school counselor can function as a curriculum consultant by providing a delivery system for affective goals and objectives in the curriculum. Elementary counselors can help administrators and teachers to define learning problems and establish…

A game designed to introduce elementary and middle school students to the primary election process and its operational elements through simulation and role playing activities is presented in this document. A hypothetical town of Notae which has been controlled by one political party for years without resulting change is described. Issues in the…

Ten lessons provide techniques for teaching about conflict in grades kindergarten through six. These lessons, developed to accompany the teaching guidelines outlined in SO 009 795, illustrate how the guidelines might be used in any elementary social studies classroom. Five sample lessons are described for each of two levels: grades K-3 and grades…

This article describes how the second-graders of one school performed a first-person historical presentation using all of the presidents of the United States as their characters. In connection with Presidents' Day, students presented a one-minute overview of the president's life in first-person characterization including costumes. Rationale,…

Describes the Grampion Primary Industry Project, a curriculum development project which used games, role playing, and simulation to teach students from kindergarten through grade seven about the business world. Outcomes showed the project succeeded in achieving objectives all across the primary curriculum. Specific games are described. (three…