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Elementary preservice teachers (n=185) in a blocked program of methods courses developed integrated thematic units focusing on social studies and science that viewed reading, language arts, and mathematics as tools students use to study the major content areas in the elementary school program: social studies and science. This was a complex task requiring both content and pedagogical knowledge. Those individuals subjects having the greatest difficulty conceptualizing and teaching the unit also sought the least help from course instructors. They had difficulty in constructing a unit rationale, choosing nontraditional assessments, and in choosing strategies other than lecture. Many could not initially integrate mathematics. Although cooperating teachers strongly encouraged the continued development of integrated thematic units they acknowledged that they were not sure that social studies was a major subject that should be taught daily and were uncertain that language arts, reading, and mathematics should be considered tools children use to learn. (Author/SG)

1Boy Crusoe

By Allan Eric

Also published as" A Yankee Crusoe" . A 15 year old hard working and studious farm boy finds the lure of adventure on the seas as a merchant seaman more than he can resist. This is his story. " I was born in a little town in the State of Maine, near the close of the Civil War. My boyhood life did not differ materially from that of the average farmer's son in the remote country districts of New England--except, perhaps, that I read more and thought more. Hard work on the rugged soil, two terms each year in the little yellow country schoolhouse, a day's fishing now and then filled the early years of my life full to over-flowing. " What he gets is enough excitement and adventure to overflow his wildest dreams. How he experiences disaster and uses his wits and knowledge to overcome every problem makes for a great read. - Summary by Phil Chenevert