CHANGING YOUNGSTERS' PERCEPTIONS OF AGING: AGING EDUCATION'S ROLE

Abstract

Aging education in elementary school curriculum that provides appropriate learning experiences in the classroom will influence affective behaviors. The goals in the affective domain are to acquaint students with attitudes and values that they may learn to incorporate as part of themselves, from awareness to internalization. A broad range of teaching approaches, used creatively and with flexibility, help students move beyond cognitive learning and gain a balanced attitude about aging. The goals of this article are (1) to suggest an orienting perspective that guides the teaching of aging education in the elementary school classroom; (2) to share approaches to teaching an aging education unit; and (3) to draw educational implications for teaching aging education.