Findings reported in this paper derive from data in state curriculum documents, reports, and phone interviews with state officials in New York, California, Florida, and Texas. Evidence from the burgeoning state-level curriculum control systems for high school mathematics and social studies in these states suggests that both advocates and critics…

This resource packet contains three lessons on issues relating to recent debates over illegal immigration. Each lesson is designed to provide the teacher with a background reading, a directed discussion strategy, and one or more interactive classroom activities to address the topic presented. The first lesson, "Coming to America--Undocumented…

Through reading a selected piece of literature and developing an imaginary city, students learn about the functions of local government and the incorporation process. They learn about the basic structure of the U.S. government and participate in a simulated city council meeting. Government is defined as the people and groups within a society with…

During kindergarten students learn that being a good citizen involves acting in certain ways. In grade 1 students study about making rules by direct democracy and by representative democracy. This concept is developed further in grade 2 as students learn about electing the people who make the laws, carry out the laws, and enforce the laws. This…

Explores and contrasts early efforts to set standards in mathematics and social studies, juxtaposing California's revisions of its history and social science curricula and the standard-setting approach of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Both programs achieved success in part because of their development strategies. (SLD)