The study of acid rain provides ample opportunities for active, interdisciplinary learning. This article describes 12 hands-on activities designed to expand students' understanding of acid rain. Background information on acid rain is included. (LB)

Eight ways parents may help develop and sharpen their children's reading skills, especially those that are critical, are described. (JL)

A study of fourth and fifth grade classes suggests that competitive math activities give boys an advantage where cooperative math activities generally give girls an advantage. Suggestions to help teachers balance their teaching methods to decrease disparities between boys and girls are made. (MT)

The use of drama in the classroom provides concrete opportunities to explore such higher-level thinking abilities as synthesis, evaluation, and divergent thinking. Suggested activities for use with upper elementary and secondary students involve pantomime, verbal improvisation, expressing emotions, and developing characters. (JDD)

Describes a project in which students research and describe a career using a book report format and then produce a videotape based on the "What's My Line?" television series. (CLB)

The Academic Lab involves gifted intermediate-grade students in a minicourse concentrating on one topic with activities including research, competition, and fun. The learning activities stress problem-solving, creative thinking, communications, and self-direction, and the minicourse culminates in team and individual competitions. A sample…

Describes a four-volume reference set for elementary and middle school students called "The Middle Ages: An Encyclopedia for Students" edited by William Chester Jordan. Provides a sample lesson which includes library media skills objectives, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, activity and procedures for…

These units of study will help students in grades five through nine understand the effects various crimes have on individuals, families, and communities. They can be used by teachers, police departments, boy and girl scouts, and community groups. The units deal with shoplifting, buying stolen goods, employee theft, and vandalism. Each lesson…

Sensory development, activities in language arts, problem solving, science, health, physical education, and art are listed along with resources for making students more aware of their senses and of visual impairments. (CB)

The use of creative dramatics in the library media center allows children to bring characters and stories to life, and encourages verbalization, experimentation, improvisation, and problem solving. Dramatic play activities are presented for grades two through six. (Author/AEF)

Explains how school library media specialists can create and use crostic puzzles to help sixth graders learn references skills. Teaching basic reference skills and research skills is discussed with emphasis on index skills, and three sample crostic puzzles (with answers) are provided. (LRW)

Describes Math Safari, a mathematical, scientific, geographic, informational adventure for fourth grade students. It integrates all curriculum areas and other skills by using information children must find in books to pose math problems about animals. It encourages cooperative learning, critical reading, analysis, and use of research skills. (SM)

Issues in making small-group instruction effective are addressed in this theme issue, which focuses on an approach called Complex Instruction (CI). Developed by Elizabeth Cohen at Stanford University (California), the approach is designed for middle school students in heterogeneous classes. The program is based on four goals to help teachers…

Planning ideas and follow-up activities are described for a reciprocal exchange program between groups of 5th and 6th grade students in Manitoba who are "twinned" with another school in the province. Emphasis is on providing learning experiences which help students become familiar with the economic activity in the area, with the local government…

This guide to developing "Activity Days" for gifted children is a product of a New Jersey consortium of eight school districts in Burlington County, New Jersey. Briefly considered are the consortium's philosophy and program rationale. Goals and objectives of the gifted program are specified. The origins of the Activity Day program…