This study sought to fill the gap in the literature concerning intrinsic motivation in elementary students in Grades 4-6 by examining 155 elementary school students and in-depth interviews with three elementary grade teachers. This study used data collected from the self-report survey called the Children's Academic Intrinsic Motivation Inventory…

This report contains the results from the first administration of the fourth and sixth grade science and social studies portions of the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP). As such, they are an important part of the state's efforts to educate all students to a higher level. Science and social studies data for grades 4 and 6 are summarized…

A study of 168 students and eight teachers from grades six through eight showed that entering achievement level and teacher use of objectives during instruction are significant predictors of student achievement. Allocated learning time and absenteeism were not found to be significant variables in explaining achievement. (Author/RM)

Intercorrelations among the Metropolitan Achievement Test (social studies) and three cognitive abilities tests (verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal) were calculated for a sample of fifth grade pupils. (JKS)

Fifth-grade social studies students who were presented a highly structured lesson achieved significantly higher in comprehension and rated the lessons higher than did those students who were presented a less structured lesson. (CJ)

Presents results of a study of whether simulation leads to improved understanding of economic concepts among fifth grade students. Reports that simulations were used in instructing 300 children in 10 classes in the southeastern United States. Concludes that the use of simulations and role-playing activities increased student performance in…

This study examines the relationship between the amount of time sixth graders reported spending on homework and their achievement gains on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) between the spring of 1988 and the spring of 1989. Selected for participation were one or two classes in each of 30 public elementary schools in Chicago. Of the 30 schools,…

This action research project developed and implemented a program to improve student knowledge of social sciences and application in the real world. The targeted population consisted of fourth grade students in a K-5 accelerated elementary school in a midwestern state. The problem was documented through the results of standardized tests which were…

With advances being made in the area of technology and increased emphasis being placed on use of technology in the classroom, teachers and administrators are questioning the effectiveness of technology driven teaching aids. The present issue revolves around whether students' academic performance can be enhanced by using and incorporating…

This paper describes a program to increase motivation and interest in social studies among fourth-grade students in a growing middle class community in central Illinois. The lack of motivation and disinterest in social studies is evidenced by student attitude surveys, teacher surveys, teacher observations of student time on task, and student…

Test components and results of the Grade 6 Social Studies Achievement Tests in Alberta, Canada administered to 28,566 students are described in this booklet. All questions were drawn from three prescribed topics: Topic A--"How People in Earlier Times Met Their Needs"; Topic B--"How People in Eastern Societies Meet Their Needs…

The results of the 1969-1970 research program for the Law in American Society Foundation, on the use of Law in American Society materials in grades five, seven, nine, and eleven, are summarized in this report. Two general questions concerning improved achievement on the concepts covered by students using the materials and more positive opinions…

Performance of 100 middle school students during and immediately after instruction showed that (1) students exposed to pre-instructional concept lessons have a higher achievement rate, (2) the Taba and the inquiry methods yield better performances than the expository method, and (3) field independent students are somewhat superior to field…

Effects of sex, ethnicity and their interaction on initial status and year-long change in (1) Language Arts and Social Studies achievement; (2) attitude toward school, and (3) self-rated coping were examined. Subjects included 1657 sixth graders from 51 classes in Austin, Texas. Each class was comprised of a mixture of Anglos, Blacks, and Chicanos…

This booklet contains a set of elementary and secondary social studies performance objectives for the state of Michigan. In the introduction, the developers comment that the objectives are to be considered as minimal, and that most students will move beyond them. The objectives stress social studies skills and concepts; they are relatively content…