Investigates high school student exposure to education about state government by examining student enrollment, course offerings, textbooks, and curriculum guides. Concludes that there is a need for more extensive treatment of state government politics and political behavior, and less coverage of details of institutional structures. (Author/DB)

Discusses the Bradley Commission on History in School recommendations as part of the 1980s curriculum reform movement. Examines the problem of too many social science disciplines competing for space within the limited core curriculum. Analyzes several major reports published on social studies curriculum reform. Concludes with further questions…

This second of three units to the 12th-grade first-semester "Comparing Political Experiences" course provides 20 student activities that examine political resources such as wealth, skills, status, information, and ideas. The activities and readings are divided into six sections which stress the alternative patterns of political resources…

Background, rationale, and promising practices for teaching about science-related social issues in the science and social studies classroom are presented. Material is divided into five sections, each introduced with a topical question. The first section considers the challenges associated with the pervasive influences of science and technology in…

This paper focuses on the current trends and issues in social studies education based on the literature that passes through the ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social Science Education (Indiana). Four trends pertaining to teaching content in history, geography, civics, and science in society have emerged from a review of the literature.…

Efforts to strengthen instruction in U.S. history and government resulted in the development of "Lessons on the Constitution," a book containing 62 lessons for use with high school students. The curriculum development process used in writing the book is described, and the objectives, format, and content of the lessons are discussed. (RM)

Studying ideas from the Federalist papers provides high school students with an opportunity to examine the first principles of U.S. civic culture. By increasing their knowledge and appreciation of the basic ideas in the Federalist papers, students develop civic literacy that is likely to enhance their participation in a free society. This volume…

Education for citizenship in a free society has long been a primary goal of social studies education. Knowledge of the Constitution, its principles, values, history, and application to contemporary American Life is an essential of citizenship education and this book is intended to stimulate interest and improvement in teaching practices on the…

The U.S. Constitution and the Northwest Ordinance are foundations of U.S. civic culture. Since they are among the most important legacies U.S. citizens have, they deserve a prominent place in the curricula of schools and the general education of citizens. But most people do not adequately understand the Constitution and lack both awareness and…

This report discusses what should be taught in history and social sciences courses, and how the material should be taught. Differing views of educational leaders as well as results of recent research and studies are summarized. The following propositions are offered as stimulators of inquiry and as tentative guides to practice: (1) the greatest…

This first of three units of "Comparing Political Experiences", a first-semester course, provides 18 activities which introduce 12th-grade students to political system concepts that they will work with in-depth in succeeding units. The activities and readings, divided into seven sections, stress the development of political knowledge,…

In 1994 the Center for Civic Education published "National Standards for Civics and Government," content standards clearly defining what students should know and be able to do as the outcome of civic education in school. This standards project has been an attempt to standardize the best in civic education and to make the Standards…

The third unit to the first-semester course, "Comparing Political Experiences," provides 16 activities to help 12th-grade students acquire in-depth knowledge of various kinds of political activities, such as decision making, leadership, communication, and participation. The activities and readings are divided into six sections which…

This document addresses the questions of what teachers have achieved during the U. S. Constitution Bicentennial celebration in the areas of curriculum development and instruction and whether or not the celebration has been accompanied by educational renewal and improvement in secondary schools. Persistent problems in teaching and learning about…

This teacher's guide to unit one of the first-semester "Comparing Political Experiences" course provides teaching instructions to meet the unit objectives. After an introductory review of the general objectives, the guide outlines specific instructional objectives and procedures for each of the 18 activities described in the 12th-grade…