This practicum addressed the problem of decreased participation of fifth-grade students in the science fair. At this grade level, the science fair guidelines mandate that students enter a research-type project. For many fifth-grade students the desire to tackle this monumental task does not match their developing cognitive skills. The literature…

The Comprehensive School Mathematics Program (CSMP) is a program of CEMREL, Inc., one of the national educational laboratories, and was funded by the National Institute of Education (NIE). Its major purpose is the development of curriculum materials for grades kindergarten through 6. This volume describes non-test data collected in spring 1980…

An experimental study among fifth and sixth graders in three inner-city schools (which were predominantly white, predominantly black, and racially mixed, respectively) investigated the effect of simulation gaming as a teaching technique on students' racial attitudes. In each school, an experimental group was exposed to "Equality," a…

This study addresses three questions: (1) whether sex is related to ability and interest in computers; (2) whether a relationship exists between the presence of a computer in the home and a child's ability and interest in computing; and (3) the combination of factors that account for students' perceptions of success in developing programming…

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between suggested practices observed in ten randomly selected middle schools scoring in the lowest quartile, and ten randomly selected middle schools scoring in the highest quartile, on the student attitude section of the 1971 Michigan Assessment Test of Basic Skills, for Grade 7. The study…

What effect varying the phrasing of attitude statements would have across sex and grade was determined. Three content parallel forms were developed to assess student attitudes toward integration. Each form contained 15 items and differed only in terms of item phrasing either positive, negative or a combination of both. Six hundred and twenty-two,…

The study compared two groups of fourth grade special needs children differing in mainstreaming experience--one group was currently receiving more segregated instruction than they had the prior year and the other group was receiving less. Variables investigated included measures of their attitude toward school, social acceptance by regular class…

The effects of modeling procedures on the reading selections of gifted and nongifted students were examined in a group of ten gifted sixth graders, eight gifted fifth graders, and eight nongifted fifth graders. Both adult and combined peer/adult modeling procedures were investigated. Data on selections from the 150 books available in the classroom…

A research study assessed the awareness of a group of fourth through sixth graders about current events, including busing, energy, inflation, and the Bicentennial. Awareness was found to differ significantly according to location of school and grade in school. Causes for the differences may include life style, curricular emphases, and teacher…

Sixty-four 10- to 12-year-olds (N=64), identified as gifted, average, or educable mentally retarded (EMR), were administered tasks in which failure/success were manipulated. Assessment indicated that gifted students credited success to low task difficulty, had initially high expectations which lowered following failure, and persisted more with…

Investigated fifth graders', teachers', and school psychologists' assessment of acceptability of three types of group contingencies (dependent, independent, and interdependent) that entail a consequence of positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior. Fifth graders rated all three types of group contingencies mildly acceptable. Teachers and…

Eleven fifth-grade teachers received Jigsaw training and conducted Jigsaw in their classes for one year. Process evaluation revealed the quality and frequency of Jigsaw implementation varied greatly. Jigsaw had no positive effect on the outcome variables (student attitudes, achievement, attendance, behavior), even in proficiently implemented…

This study assessed the effects of an activity-centered health education program on the general health beliefs and self-reported behavior of fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. This program and a more traditional, science text-based program, were compared. Methodology and results are reported. (JL)

Examined the effect of a program for positive self-esteem development on alcohol related attitudes for selected fifth grade students (N=84), via the pre- and posttest design. Analysis supported the hypothesis that the development of a positive self-esteem decreased the potential for alcohol and drug use. (Author/ABL)

Investigated the effects of classroom guidance on children's classroom behavior, attitudes toward school, and achievement in language arts and mathematics. The implications for improving elementary school children's behavior and attitudes, and for preventing problems through counseling, are discussed. (Author/KS)