This study reports the instructional effects of issue investigation and action training on the environmental behavior of middle school students. Discussed are the methodology including training and modules, the design of the study, instruments used, scoring protocols, and analysis of results. (Author/CW)

Children in the United States and other industrialized countries grow to adulthood in an age of science and technology. Satellites, television sets, microprocessors, and microwave ovens are as common as the sun and trees. The context of socialization to adulthood in the last half of the 20th century is far different in kind than any previous…

Reports on a study which investigated the effect of instructional objectives on seventh grade students' attitudes toward science. Results indicated that students in the integrated science program had better attitudes than those receiving traditional instruction. (TW)

Assessed the level of cognitive demand inherent in the manner in which students were held accountable for activities and tasks in seventh grade life science classes. Notes that most tasks placed minimal cognitive demand on students, as they involved copying or simple step-by-step procedures. (SKC)

Examined is the role of middle school science textbooks in dealing with sensitive social and scientific issues. Ten widely used textbooks are compared to determine the amount and depth of content presented on five major global issues, including nuclear weapons. Implications are discussed within the context of a television culture. (KR)

This paper examines theories of human development within the context of the models presented by the schools of cognitive learning, behavioralism, psychoanalysis, and humanistic views of growth. Stress is placed on the stages of human development that provides a means of better meeting the needs of students ages 10-14 in the middle school milieu.…

The context of socialization in the second half of the 20th century is far different than any previous socialization environment. Children in the United States and in other industrialized countries grow to adulthood in an age of science and technology. Despite these changes in the socialization environment, there has been little systematic study…

The context of socialization in the second half of the 20th century is far different than any previous socialization environment. Children in the United States and in other industrialized countries grow to adulthood in an age of science and technology. Despite these changes in the socialization environment, there has been little systematic study…

Certain groups are underrepresented in mathematics courses and do not achieve to their potential. Black students and female students are among those groups. During middle school years boys begin to outperform girls in mathematics. White students begin to outperform black students even before the middle school years. Previous research has indicated…

Reports on a study comparing the effects of two types of instructional language on students' attitudes and conceptual understanding of recorded orchestral music. Finds that students who were taught using a combination of analytic and figurative language scored significantly higher than those that were taught using only analytic language. (CFR)

The objective of this study was to begin to examine middle school classrooms for examples of either gender equity or gender bias. Data were collected by visiting 80 classes in 10 middle schools in central Connecticut. Classes observed included 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes in social studies, mathematics, science, language arts, foreign language,…

This practicum addresses the need to organize a structured problem solving program for fifth and seventh grade students. The improvement of the students' problem solving skills and the enhancement of students' attitudes toward problem solving in mathematics were the main goals. The program implemented consisted of a structured problem solving…

Reports on a content analysis of all pictures of music-related figures appearing in grades six, seven, and eight music textbooks published in 1988. Finds females underrepresented and stereotypes common. Calls for more research on equity in curriculum materials and gender-related issues in music education. (CFR)

This paper reports the effects of thematically integrated mathematics instruction on achievement, attitudes, and motivation in mathematics among middle school students of Mexican descent. A school-university collaborative effort led to the development and testing of a thematic approach undertaken as a means of contextualizing instruction for…

Investigates ethnic acceptance among 613 Israeli middle grade students. Using self-reports determines the degree students wish to be involved with their homeroom classmates. Finds lower ethnic status peers accepted more readily when they score higher on indices of sociability, academic track level, and achievement. Discusses implications for…