Outlines a lesson examining architectural and social history by investigating the changing uses of color in public and private buildings from 1830 through 1920. Describes several activities including examining historical black-and-white photographs of buildings and attempting to determine their true color and examining the chemistry of paint. (MJP)

Describes a workshop used with classes doing Web research for their English papers in a computer lab. Shows how this is a good opportunity for students to learn to find, evaluate, and save Web sources, how to read critically and annotate the sources, and how to weave them into working drafts and avoid plagiarism. (SR)

This brief paper describes a school class project in which students "write" their own history books, based upon extensive research and writing activities. The guide advocates this as a way to create more interest in the subject area and allow students to become more involved in their own learning. Sections include: rationale; who could use; goals;…

Part 2 of this five part project asks students of the Tasmanian region of Australia to explore the history of Port Arthur, a 19th century penal colony located in Tasmania. The project is based on three ideas: (1) studying history can be educational and enjoyable; (2) imagination is an essential part of studying history; and (3) history is most of…

Interest in a science fair is low when students feel undirected and lack the information they need to produce a successful project. For many students, parents, and teachers, planning and carrying out a science fair project may be very frustrating. This book is designed to be a reference that helps teachers guide students through this process. The…

This booklet is a program management tool designed for use by high school students and teachers participating in science research programs throughout the United States as well as overseas. The program consists of a symposium during which students are invited to conduct original research in the sciences, mathematics, humanities, and computer…

This teacher's guide was developed for the last of four courses in Valencia Community College's Interdisciplinary Studies program, a 2-year core general education curriculum which chronologically examines the major developments in the evolution of human knowledge. The guide provides an introductory overview of the semester's content (i.e., the…

This packet includes the syllabus of a trimester-long senior elective course on India, designed to begin with two writers of Indian descent, Salman Rushdie and Bharati Mukherjee. The packet contains the daily assignments for the first half of the trimester, which include all of the reading assignments from Rushdie and Mukherjee, as well as the…

In this unit, students prepare a report on China, specifically on the relevance of key events in China's recent history (The Communist Revolution, The Great Leap Forward, The Cultural Revolution, Tiananmen Square) to its current economic and political changes. Students assume the role of presidential advisors who are expected to know the present…

On February 19, 1942, at the height of U.S. involvement in World War II, President Roosevelt authorized military leaders within the War Department to place all Japanese Americans residing on the West Coast in detention camps. The following months saw the relocation of some 120,000 Japanese Americans, of whom 77,000 were U.S. citizens. The decision…

In view of the fact that some government agencies and businesses are now using flexitime work schedules, particularly for clerical workers, the author suggests projects and study for office education teachers in their office procedures classes to help students prepare for integrating work with personal life. (MF)

Presents an activity in which students create presidential prints using a technique called linoleum printmaking. Discusses the process for creating the prints in detail and states that the students also do research about the president whom they selected. Includes a list of learning objectives and presidential facts. (CMK)

Considers how school library media specialists can collaborate with teachers to transform conventional topical units into problem-based projects and gives examples from classrooms in Hawaii. Highlights include focusing on real-life problems; seeking and using information for the projects; hands-on learning; student roles in making decisions; and…

Focuses on thematic units in elementary social studies, arguing that theme studies engage students, reduce boredom, and encourage cooperation, and more effectively use textbook information. Explores the selection process for choosing themes and subthemes. Illustrates two themes--festivals and buildings/houses--and suggests several activities…

Presents a two-month historical research project for use in a sixth grade social studies class. Includes student use of artifacts, photographs, news clippings, maps, and oral histories obtained by interviews. Suggests that children compile a chronological history of their community to analyze, organize, and record what they have learned. (DK)