Traces the history of the Plessy v. Ferguson case. Includes copies of the U.S. Supreme Court mandate to the Louisiana Supreme Court denying Plessy's request to overturn the Jim Crow law and ordering him to bear the court costs. Provides teaching suggestions for interpreting the document and highlights related topics and questions for research and…

Based upon his belief that students tend to view mathematics as a closed and already perfected system, the author contends that the history of mathematics is an appropriate cornerstone from which the classroom teacher can humanize mathematics and, thereby, improve the learning of mathematics. Many examples are given. (JJK)

Reconsiders myths about Christopher Columbus. Discusses the importance of presenting students history in all its complexity. Suggests that students must see that the people who have occupied center stage at crucial moments are not without weakness and fears. Urges students to raise critical questions concerning historical figures. (MG)

Outlines the history of the ideals and enactment of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Includes a discussion of the origins of the concept of human rights, the impact of World War II, the role of nongovernmental organizations, and the process of drafting and adopting the UDHR. (DSK)

This document, intended for elementary students, contains articles and activities designed to acquaint young people with the history of Des Moines, Iowa. The articles are short, and new or difficult words are highlighted and defined for young readers. "The Raccoon River Indian Agency" discusses the archeological exploration of the indian…

This course, one of 16 sequential courses comprising phase one of a part-time Bachelor of Arts degree program in Australian Studies, focuses on debates about Australia and Australian national character from 1788 to the present. It also introduces students to the forms of intellectual debate and the skills of essay writing. The course is designed…

Briefly reviews the history surrounding the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Presents a facsimile of Delaware's 200 year-old ratification document and suggests six activities for its use with secondary level students. (JDH)

Describes how the diary of Ada Millington, a twelve-year-old who traveled with her family from Keosauqua, Iowa, to Santa Rosa, California in 1862, was used to involve children from a variety of socio-economic, racial, ethnic and national backgrounds in social studies experiences which integrated language arts and math skills. (JDH)

Tells how one fourth grade teacher used the Berkeley Children's History Trunk, which contains memorabilia from the turn of the century, to help her students understand the importance of artifacts in learning about the history of their own society. Describes how the children created three trunks representing their own, their parents', and…

Presents a bibliography and suggests a number of topics around which a college level history course on Latin American women could be organized. Course topics include migration of women, definition of sex roles, legal status of women, women's work and society, feminism, politics, religion, women and the family, and women's education and…

Describes Ptolemy's map of the world. Discusses the idea of mapping the ecumene or known world. Lists Ptolemy's map making conventions still in use today including location of north at the top, 90 degrees latitude between the equator and each pole, and style of representing physical features. Emphasizes Ptolemy's view of the world as dynamic. (DK)

Explores instruction concerning the Irish role in Canadian history. Suggests that the Irish influence has been downplayed and presented to students in a biased manner. Discusses particular incidents in which Irish people have been portrayed negatively in textbooks and instruction. Argues that Irish Canadians achievements should be celebrated in…

Describes the life and work of Samuel Read Hall, an innovative educator who influenced the future of education. Includes information on his early life, his innovative use of the blackboard, and his development of the first school for educating teachers. Describes some of his methods of teaching history and geography, some of which are still used.…

Early tendencies of peace education in Sweden are discussed in this document. The time span is from the second part of the 19th century to the beginning of World War II. Peace education put special emphasis on exposing the contradiction between religious and history education. Religious education preached love and reconciliatory spirit, while…

The purpose of this guidebook is to give teachers in British Columbia, Canada a practical resource that will help address issues pertaining to the 500th anniversary of the first European contact with the Americas. The document is a resource teachers can use to get students to think about, talk about, or reflect on the 500 years of contact between…