This three-part text is a curriculum book for beginners that emphasizes basic ideas and is geared toward the undergraduate student interested in the education of children ages 5-12. Selected alternative practices and programs are presented and anecdotal discussions are incorporated to illustrate concepts and vocabulary. Part 1, "The Educational Environment," is comprised of two chapters. Chapter 1 describes teacher characteristics and some current types of schools. Chapter 2 explicates essential understandings about children and their ways of learning. Part 2, "Areas of Curriculum Development," is comprised of three chapters that specify the elements of curriculum design and provide examples. Topics discussed are establishing a curriculum; examining learning experiences; and established procedures including ways of planning, evaluation, and reporting pupil progress. Part 3, "Areas of Instruction," includes chapters on reading, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art and music, and physical education. Each chapter centers around a curriculum framework of activities, materials, and objectives. Procedures for evaluating, end-of-chapter suggestions, and first-hand experiences in working with children are examined. (Author/PD)