Developing student self-efficacy and conceptualizing the importance of core ideas are seen as important learning areas in science education. Such core ideas can be elucidated with respect to the science discipline as well as interdisciplinary learning. Schools can be expected to promote high levels of students' self-efficacy in acquiring major…

The "Australian Curriculum: History" has emerged out of a neoliberal federal education policy landscape. This is a policy landscape where pragmatic and performative, rather than pedagogic concerns are clearly foregrounded, and this has implications for curriculum development and implementation. A useful way to conceptualise the features,…

Every aspect of teaching, including the instructional method, the course content, and the types of assessments, is influenced by teachers' attitudes and beliefs. Teacher education programs play an important role in the development of beliefs regarding teaching and learning. The purpose of the study was to document pre-service teachers' views on…

Designed for teachers and school districts wishing to include family life education in the curriculum, this teaching guide presents a program for seventh and eighth graders which includes material on biological development, emotional issues, values, and sex fairness. The guide begins with an introduction dealing with the need for such programs,…

Describes a project that was inspired by a previous article in "Arts and Activities" entitled "The Same Old Contour Drawing...Not!" Explains that students learn basic drawing skills by drawing shoes while learning about contour shapes. Lists the needed art materials. (CMK)

Argues that first-year algebra should be taught in eighth grade. Outlines an algebra course that could provide average students with a working kowledge of algebra. Proposes that this would require students to have experiences with variables, equations, formulas, and graphs during previous years of study. (TW)

Describes the comprehensive curriculum approach and teacher training program on the Jewish Holocaust that has been developed for adolescents by Facing History and Ourselves, a nonprofit organization. Course objectives, problems teachers will encounter, and student response are discussed. (MBR)

This manual was developed to assist classroom teachers responsible for implementing the grades 8 and 9 integrated occupational social studies program in Alberta, Canada. It contains: (1) information about the goals and objectives of the curriculum; (2) thematic contexts for the delivery of prescribed knowledge, skills, and attitudes; (3)…

Introductory Physical and Earth Science 8AB, a required course in the Los Angeles Unified School District, covers skills and concepts related to matter, energy, space science, weather, and oceanography with particular emphasis on the investigative approach. This instructional outline contains teacher guidelines and course content information.…

Completed in 1982-83, this is a manual of science competencies and proficiencies for the Moorestown Public Schools, New Jersey. The document's seven major sections include: (1) a statement of philosophy of the science department stressing science education's role as the link between science, technology, and society; (2) suggested science…

The research report describes a study measuring the effects of two teaching approaches on 7th and 8th grade students' perception and achievement during a twelve day social studies unit on modern Japan. Two approaches were studied: Method A, which strives to bring about personal identification of students with American culture; and Method B, which…

This content guide is designed for a seventh-grade geography course and an eighth-grade United States History course. Each course section is divided by the three levels of skills to be developed: basic skills, developmental skills, and extensions. The geography course features economic geography, cultural-regional geography, map skills, and study…

This curriculum guide provides a one-year course in social studies for grades 7-9. The guide is intended to serve as a resource to teachers, students, department chairmen, guidance personnel, curriculum planners, and anyone else involved in present or future curriculum planning. The course is divided into 37 section areas covering the topics of…

Presents data from the National Education Longitudinal Study (1988) concerning attitudes and academic experiences of eighth graders. Includes academic requirements for different geographic regions; number of hours spent watching television and recreational reading; emphasis given to English topics; time spent on English and social studies…

As part of the language arts curriculum framework developed in accordance with "Rules, Regulations, and Minimum Standards" of the Tennessee State Board of Education, this reading curriculum guide of the Basic Skills First Program is designed to identify the minimum reading skills for eighth grade students. After brief explanations of the…