Many previous contributors to "Teaching History" have demonstrated the power of site visits to stimulate young people's engagement and enrich their understanding of history. It is usually assumed, however, that the young people themselves will have the opportunity to visit the site in question--an assumption that cannot always be…

The new history in Britain and the new social studies in the United States each grew out of a desire in the 1960s to reform education and to create an inquiry-based mode of instruction. Although the two movements shared many similarities, the British movement succeeded whereas the American movement largely failed. The failure of the new social…

One of the key requirements of the Common Core State Standards for Reading is that all students must be able to comprehend texts of steadily increasing complexity as they progress through school. By the time they complete the core, students must be able to read and comprehend independently and proficiently the kinds of complex texts commonly found…

Describes a national, world-studies, curriculum project in the United Kingdom, with the main goal of promoting world studies in secondary schools. Defines intended outcomes and describes the pilot schools. Traces the project development from 1980-89, through publications, expansion, evaluations, and international links. Lists projects main…

Describes a curriculum development project developed in the United Kingdom to help students write histories based on local case studies. Topics discussed include reasons for writing local history, gathering historical evidence, primary source materials, procedures, and advantages of a local history project. (Author/DB)

Discusses how empathy is promoted in the United Kingdom's National Curriculum. Notes that the concept is ambiguous, especially as it is used in the subject of history. Describes how this concept impedes planning, teaching, and assessment. Suggests that understanding how children reason is more productive that making assumptions about how they…

This article deals with the use of alternative texts, such as the Harry Potter book series in classroom teaching. In this article, the author discusses a wide range of themes that could be addressed in the classroom. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone deals with issues of greed, self-sacrifice, fear of the unknown, and self-confidence. Harry…