Intended for use in grades 4-8, this book provides teachers and librarians with everything they need for a successful literature-based history program in upper elementary and middle school grades. Through recommended reading selections, extension activities, and other supplementary information, the book integrates historical fiction and nonfiction…

Focusing on the rich heritage of North American cooking, this resource encourages teachers of elementary and middle school students to use cooking experiences when teaching about U.S. history. More than 100 recipes are grouped by historical periods, by the cultural groups, or regional areas which influenced food preferences at that time. Recipes…

This publication features teaching ideas generated by classroom teachers. For grades K-4, fourth grade teacher, Janet Williamson, has developed "Off and Running with Primary Sources" which describes how she introduces students to primary sources using historical advertisements. Appropriate for grades 5-8, a strategy was developed by…

This collection of primary source materials from the National Archives and Records Administration (Washington, DC) humanizes history so that it is real and personal to students. Intended for secondary school history teachers, the collection provides primary source documents, reports, maps, photographs, letters, diaries, posters, and recordings…

Outlines procedures for locating and using primary source materials to supplement state or local history studies, listing possible resources for primary source materials. Points out precautions to be taken when working with these materials. Demonstrates how primary sources can be made available to students. (LS)

Discusses the traditional, revisionist, and post-revisionist approaches to the study of the U.S. Reconstruction Era. Offers the author's book, "Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, as presenting a coherent account of the Reconstruction. Notes that the book stresses the centrality of the Black experience while placing the southern story…

Presents a lesson plan utilizing personal letters of ordinary people to teach U.S. history. Suggests that the lesson can teach about the historical information available in personal letters, develop analytical skills through use of primary sources, and increase students' understanding of minority issues. Includes four letters to use as handouts.…

Presents a teaching unit tracing the last three decades of cultural history in the United States through television programs. Includes objectives, daily routines, questions, and a list of representative shows. Suggests that students compare and contrast situation comedies from each decade and examine new programs for cultural awareness and…

This article describes how to structure a unit on historical fiction around a creative arts center that allows students to explore and express themes they read about. Included are short descriptions of books; suggested materials for a creative arts center; and related activities in music, art, drama, and creative writing. (IAH)

Addresses the incorporation of cooperative learning in the secondary history classroom. Suggests procedures to be followed during the planning stage of a cooperative activity: (1) choose appropriate content; (2) for student teams; and (3) develop materials and directions. Suggests that the involvement of cooperative learning will offer motivation…

Surveys textbooks to examine how the deposing of the monarchy in Hawaii is treated. Suggests that teachers present three questions: (1) was the United States responsible for the overthrow of the monarchy; (2) how was the overthrow treated in textbooks; and (3) is it correct for the United States to deny responsibility? Argues that textbooks…

Discusses the Columbus Quincentenary and its impact on the K-12 history and social studies curriculum. Reviews the differences of opinion about Christopher Columbus and the results of the voyages of discovery. Warns that teachers must be wary of instructional materials that are based on political and social ideologies. (CFR)

Describes the development of a college-level course in the history of animation. Contends that social history is reflected in the animated cartoons made for movie theaters. Includes a selected glossary, a bibliography of print resources, and a recommended list of video cassettes. (CFR)

Places the current educational reform movement in a historical context. Maintains that students today are no more ignorant of history than were previous generations. Distinguishes between memory, remembering, and meaning and suggests the application of these categories to the improvement of history instruction. Describes sample exercise. (RW)

Sometimes literature appears that a social studies teacher can use to create lesson plans for concepts that are difficult for students to master. This article is about such literature and how using it has resulted in students understanding and incorporating one of the most difficult lessons to absorb--leadership. In this article, the authors…