This study investigated the effect of different gender and ability composition on students' behaviors, interactions, and learning outcomes during small cooperative group activities. The study involved Year 6 children (N=440) who were assigned to one of 12 four-person groups that were either gender-balanced or gender-imbalanced with different…

The introductory section of the first of two related guides provides information that describes and assists in teaching a curriculum on HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). The introduction discusses the scope of the problem and includes an overview of the curriculum, a review of teaching strategies,…

This guide is designed to assist counselors responsible for the development and implementation of guidance programs at the elementary school level, and is based on the philosophy that guidance programs should be both comprehensive and developmental. The following areas are addressed: (1) program planning; (2) counselor job descriptions and role in…

This handbook of group procedures presents classroom activities that are designed to assist elementary school children in learning more about themselves and others, and to provide them with experiences in interpersonal communication. More specifically, the group procedures are intended to facilitate growth in several developmental areas: (1) the…

Describes children's games from around the world that can be used to broaden students' global awareness. The games are cooperative, authentic, representative of a variety of cultures, and developmentally appropriate for children of 4 through 12 years. (BB)

Presents the results of an ethnographic study of cooperative learning experiences in one fourth- and one fifth-grade classroom. Describes the types of conflicts which arose during group work and offers four guidelines for making cooperative learning experiences more successful. (JDH)

The authors briefly describe their research on teaching cooperative classroom behavior to students; outline the essential components of a curricular activity designed to foster cooperative behavior; and explain how teachers can promote in their students both the skills and the affective components of cooperation. (SJL)

Presents activities for K-4 students that explore two areas of body mechanics--bones and joints--with an emphasis on the human hand. Relates knowledge of how the body functions to comparable examples in robotics such as the "hand" of the Canadarm of the space shuttle. Activities are geared for students in pairs. (AIM)

Evaluated effects of a reciprocal peer tutoring (RPT) intervention on arithmetic performance of 12 low-income, underachieving elementary school students. Results indicated that merely teaming students and providing them with positive attention for constructive team activities had no clear effect on arithmetic performance. RPT condition that…

Suggests that young pupils find collaborative learning hard to sustain, and discusses interpretations of this observation. Suggests that theory and research have neglected situational continuities between formal and (more successful) informal collaborations. Argues for attending more carefully to the environments of joint problem solving and how…

Describes classroom word games and reading activities that encourage students to think for themselves. These include word substitution drills, reassembling sentences, and spelling-related words. Notes that encouraging students to analyze, synthesize, and apply their knowledge teaches them the skills needed to succeed as independent learners. (MDM)

Through cooperative games and play, children learn to share, empathize with others' feelings, and get along better. The article makes suggestions to physical educators on how to design games to teach students cooperative behaviors and how to incorporate them into class, noting four important game-design principles. (SM)

Describes the use of reading guides as an interactive technique to stimulate comprehension. Provides an example using a popular novel. (MG)

Introduces a class project on oceans, fishes, and fishing industries around the world. Groups of students make a mural of the world, filling the oceans with accurate drawings of fish, fishing boats, and fishing equipment. Students learn about the importance of fish in various cultures and about the migration routes of fish. Includes a resource…

Presents an activity for upper-elementary students that correlates the actions of archaeologists, patrons, and artists with the sequencing of events in a logical order. Features ancient Egyptian art images. Discusses the preparation of materials, motivation, a pre-writing activity, and writing a story in sequence. (CMK)