This teaching guide for grades 4-6 focuses on the 1999-2000 United States Mint 50 State Quarters Program, which includes new quarter designs for the following states: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Virginia. The guide includes six lesson plans that fit easily…

Social studies curriculum is modified for gifted intermediate and secondary students by incorporating strategies designed to foster creative thinking. The strategies are an outgrowth of futures and creativity research and include brainstorming, attribute listing, morphological synthesis, reverse historical chronology, webbing, consequence charts,…

At the turn of the 19th century, the United States was a rapidly growing nation. When the United States acquired territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, the job of maintaining open sea lanes fell to the U.S. Navy. To maintain a strong and well-trained force, the Navy needed to attract personnel to work onboard their ships. It used…

This presents several classroom activities that have been adapted from the Expedition Yellowstone program activities for fourth, fifth and sixth graders. Language arts, science, math, and social studies activities are presented. Expedition Yellowstone activities focus on the geology, ecology, animal life, and history of Yellowstone Park. (IAH)

Discusses the use of primary resources in the teaching of middle school social studies. Describes a lesson in which students were given a copy of the Declaration of Independence, written in everyday language, and were asked to discuss and evaluate it. Suggests another activity based on Thomas Jefferson's writings. (SG)

This document discusses the use of process induction and the proactive action model to teach research skills across the social studies curriculum. Process induction is the ability of an individual to transfer schema related knowledge and skills to other situations and settings, to use knowledge and process skills in new and diverse instances to…

Appropriate for intermediate grades through high school, this social studies newspaper guide suggests learning activities using newspapers. The areas covered are history, geography, current events, the working class, sociology, the political scene, cultures, government, and travel. Suggested assignments include writing a feature or news interview…

Historical dramas, especially war dramas, on television are usually superficial; they provide a simplistic treatment of war. The challenge to teachers--i.e., how they can deal with romanticized history on television--is discussed. (RM)

By reading the novel "From Anna," students will learn about the challenges and problems facing new Canadians and develop a sensitivity to the situations and challenges faced by students with a physical handicap. Learning activities are presented. (RM)

This collection of lessons was developed as a result of a study/travel seminar undertaken during the summer of 1999. The goal of the project was to develop and disseminate exemplary lessons for teaching about the role of the Federal Republic of Germany in the European Union. These lessons are designed so that they may be used individually via…

Describes the framework and 31 model lessons developed by the University of Georgia's Sea Grant Project, the major purpose of which is to make upper elementary and secondary students more aware of coastal and marine affairs. An illustrative lesson is included. (RM)

A middle school teacher describes how his class actually practiced democracy by writing a classroom constitution. Students made rules by which they were governed within the classroom. (RM)

The use of a travel writer's approach to social studies instruction, where students gather information to write travel guides about countries they're studying, is illustrated through activities for studies about Egyptian passport and visa applications, currency, history, language, and art. (CB)

Suggests adding excitement to social studies instruction by using trade books. Cites research associating the reading of historical fiction with increased historical understanding. Describes the benefits of trade books' narrative form. Argues that such books can change students into active learners, help them study a slice of history, and increase…

Identifies works of historical fiction from various periods that can help teach middle school students about family relationships. Suggests having students draw sociograms to help them visualize relationships among characters. Argues that such readings can spur student interest in the causes, effects, and consequences of the need for family love.…