Advocates teaching constitutional history and principles to middle school students in accordance with the 1988 California History-Social Science Framework. Reports findings of a survey of 118 California middle school and high school teachers that revealed a need for improved teacher knowledge about the U.S. Constitution. Recommends steps to ensure…

Reprint of a presentation to the National Council of Geography Teachers in 1952 stating that a fundamental error in popular thought about geography is that the land masses of the continents are the basic divisions of the world. Analyzes the U.S. world position and claims the United States has a responsibility for the world's future. (NL)

Argues that it is impossible to teach U.S. history without discussing how law influences economic and social behavior. Examines five ideas associated with political science through six chronological periods of U.S. history. Includes an annotated bibliography linked to the political ideas and historical periods. (CFR)

Maintains that General William T. Sherman deliberately changed the text of his valedictory message to troops at the end of the Civil War to create a public memory in line with national goals. Provides an annotated bibliography and a copy of the original draft of the speech in Sherman's handwriting. (CFR)

Asserts that the PBS series "The Civil War" presents historical information that can encourage critical thinking by students. Offers a lesson plan based on one program in the series, "The Cause." Provides questions for student discussion and outlines writing assignments based on the series. (CFR)

Asserts that, although pressures to publish have detracted from the quality of teaching at the college level, recent innovations in educational technology have created opportunities for instructional improvement. Describes the use of computer-assisted instruction and databases in college-level history courses. (CFR)

Reviews the origin and growth of Afro-Cuban communities in Ybor City and Tampa, Florida, that began in the late 1880s as the cigar-making industry grew. Calls for more research into the history of black Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans. (CFR)

Presents a teaching unit on the global impact of the abolition of slavery in the Western Hemisphere. Asserts that abolition of slavery brought economic disruption to many African states and parts of the Western Hemisphere. Provides a chronologically based map, five student handouts, and questions for each handout. (CFR)

Describes government efforts to mobilize U.S. women during World War II. Discusses the need for women's participation and the problems confronted by women who joined the wartime labor force. Describes efforts to increase participation by women in the armed forces. (CFR)

Contends that the "historical detective work" of oral history helps students break free of their textbooks and become active collectors of information. Provides five recommendations, six teacher guidelines, and seven student guidelines for implementing oral history in the classroom. (CFR)

Asserts that the Cold War era has little historical meaning for today's students. Maintains that the use of feature-length films on videocassettes can be used effectively with appropriate reading and writing exercises. Provides a filmography focusing on social issues and a lesson plan. (CFR)

Discusses the economic factors and the emerging black leadership involved in African Americans' migration northward in the early 1900s. This lesson plan includes background material, learning activities, and tips for teaching. Handsomely illustrated, any part could be photocopied for a handout. (MJP)

This booklet reports on the 1994 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in U.S. History for 4th, 8th, and 12th grade students. The booklet contains the following sections: (1) Why We Assess History; (2) Preparing the 1994 NAEP U.S. History Assessment; (3) What is NAEP? (4) Creating a Framework for the U.S. History Assessment, with What…

This resource represents a virtual library of still and moving images, documents, maps, sound clips and text which make up United States history from the Pre Columbian era to the early 1990s. The interdisciplinary range of materials included is compatible with standard textbooks in middle and high school social science, social studies, history,…

This workbook is designed for use with third, fourth, or fifth grade elementary school students and focuses on African American history and culture. Of the workbook's 14 lessons, Lesson 1 asks students to consider what they already know about Africa. Lesson 2 focuses on the geography of Africa. Lesson 3 presents current scientific theory about the…