This document reports on an examination of lifestyles, cultures, and heritage of Arab communities within the United States. After a historical overview of the arrival and settling of Arab-Americans in wave after wave of immigration, the work provides close-up views of different communities across the country. Each of those views introduces a few…

This book is the second in a series of works that seeks to examine the Arab-American experience. The original 1984 publication, "Taking Root, Bearing Fruit: The Arab-American Experience" featured surveys of 12 communities in all geographic regions of the United States. Such was the response to that report that its creators decided to…

This learning packet is divided into two parts with eleven chapters. Part 1 provides background information retracing Alexis de Tocqueville's 1831-32 tour of North America which led to the publication of "Democracy in America." Part 2 contains a short description of the seven primary themes emphasized by de Tocqueville with issues more…

This teacher's guide accompanies the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) four-part videotape documentary about the journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as they made their way from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. The guide introduces the documentary's major themes through 4 lessons which focus on the geography and events that shaped…

Discusses the Salem witchcraft trials as a reflection of the social and moral values of colonial Massachusetts and New France. Traces the history of the trials. Describes other instances of witchcraft and folk superstitions during that same historical period. Provides primary sources of a picture, map, and excerpts from letters pertaining to the…

Presents the annual annotated bibliography of children's trade books, recommended by the Book Review Subcommittee of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)-Children's Book Council (CBC) Joint Committee. Selects books written for children in grades K-8, emphasizing human relations and cultural diversity. Selection also reflects…

American Memory is a Web site created by the Library of Congress which provides public access to more than 7 million historical items, presented in over 100 thematic collections through the World Wide Web. These items reflect the collective American memory, its history and culture, and include unique and rare documents, photographs, films, and…

This student book encourages an understanding of U.S. history through song, and of American song through history. The book is organized in two main parts, the first focuses on the nature of popular music. It examines "What is Popular Music?" and looks at pop themes, lyrics, melodies, rhythm, the composer, performer, and publisher. The…

Intended for use with grades 5-12, this book offers 201 titles of carefully selected novels as an antidote to students' laments about history being boring--good historical fiction that animates the data found in textbooks. The book is an expanded and updated edition of an earlier publication and includes 86 new titles, as well as 40 titles…

Outlines topics for comparative study of Canada and the United States. Includes geography, politics, settlement patterns, economics, education, religion, and sports. Suggests materials to aid teachers in formulating comparative approaches to Canadian and U.S. studies. (DB)

Presents an introduction and overview of the field of oral history. Briefly explores the broad range of subjects with which oral history techniques can be utilized. Covers recent trends and developments including the use of oral history interviews in plays, radio dramas, and documentaries. Lists seminal and current works. (MJP)

The senior author of a textbook presenting U.S. and Canadian history in a comparative framework criticizes U.S. history textbooks for their interpretations of Native Americans and for their mystifying tendencies. Explains how "Canada: A North American Nation" presents a more detached perspective and offers a second opinion on some of the…

This curriculum unit analyzes the common cultural images people have about the western United States and how incomplete those images are. The lessons are divided into five sections. The first section, "Investigating Images and Assumptions," presents four lessons to engage students in beginning the examination of their images and…

The activities presented in this handbook are designed to help students envision the locations and landmarks of sites along journeys described in popular young adult literature (e.g., "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,""Born Free,""The Call of the Wild,""Catcher in the Rye,""I Know Why the Caged Bird…

In this grade 5 social studies and language arts interdisciplinary unit, students are required to investigate key battles in the Revolutionary War for independence. Working in groups, students research eight battles to try to determine which was the most important battle leading up to victory for the U.S. colonists. The battles to be investigated…