First elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1828, John Ross served his people with courage and honor through a difficult and tragic period in their history. Born in 1790, he grew up when the Cherokees' world was rapidly changing and treaties with federal and state governments ended in broken promises and the loss of Cherokee lands. He…

This unit of study (for grade 5 and up) about the American frontier contains four elements: (1) a set of reproductions of documents; (2) a list of documents with their specific archival reference numbers and a brief synopsis of their historical significance to the unit's theme; (3) 15 separate classroom activities; and (4) an issue of…

Two studies focused on children's reading but employed very different procedures and techniques. The first study examined the link between the levels of children's reading comprehension and the quantity of reading they did. Subjects, 198 children chosen at random from years 5, 6, and 7 of a single elementary school in Adelaide, Australia,…

This history book traces the experiences of Native Americans from the time of their arrival from Asia to the end of the 16th century. The book includes readings on such communities as the cliff dewllers of the west, the Plains Indians, and the Mound Builders. There also are details of the Native Americans' early contacts with such European…

Designed for use in a one-semester course in U.S. history or literature at the intermediate or secondary level, this collection of the Civil War letters of Lewis Bissell, a Union soldier, is divided into two major parts. Part I (chapters 1 though 5) covers the period of time Bissell spent guarding Washington, District of Columbia. Each chapter…

For Dwight D. Eisenhower, World War II was not simply a war but a crusade in the high cause of human freedom. This publication, the third in a series of posters and curriculum materials on the life and times of Dwight D. Eisenhower, covers the events leading up to World War II and Eisenhower's rise to the rank of five star General of the U.S. Army…

This unit of study (for grades 5-8 and up) about the U.S. Civil War features original documents from the National Archives and Records Administration. All the records used in the unit reflect the actions of the federal government or citizens' responses to these actions. These records were selected for their historical value, their legibility and…

Introduces a new series of U.S. history textbooks geared to grade five (or grades four, five, and six). The 10-volume series, divided into short, manageable chapters, aims to make history come alive. An excerpt from Book 6 ("War, Terrible War") about the Civil War is presented. (SLD)

A historical overview of the development of the British middle school system is presented in this paper, with a focus on the impact of the national curriculum established by the Education Reform Act of 1988. Based on field observation, information is presented on curriculum, the role of head teachers and faculty, parental involvement, and student…

This publication, the second installment of the Dwight D. Eisenhower series, spans nearly a quarter century of U.S. history and Eisenhower's life from age 20 to 45. The early military period of Eisenhower's life prepared him to assume leadership roles during World War II and his U.S. presidency. Eisenhower sometimes thought his career was going…

This lesson introduces students to the "blues," one of the most distinctive and influential elements of African-American musical tradition. With this lesson plan, students can take a virtual field trip to Memphis, Tennessee, one of the prominent centers of blues activities, and explore the history of the blues in the work of W. C. Handy…

The integration of the study of art and history in a broad context of social, cultural, and political meaning cultivates a students' creative, aesthetic, critical and art historical sensibilities. This unit of study explores the time of the Roman Emperor Trajan, the decades from A.D. 98 to 180, a period considered to be the height of civilization.…

Studies literature produced from 1920 to 1940 appropriate for children between 9 and 12 years of age. Critiques the values that are transmitted during this period. Maintains that, although children's literature should be integrated into the social studies curriculum, this should be done in a critical way. Includes a bibliography of books reviewed.…

Assesses the United States' experience with physics curriculum development and teacher education from 1955-90. Although there were substantial improvements in the development of hands-on elementary and secondary school curricula, their effectiveness was largely negated by logistical problems in implementation and deficiencies in teacher…

This article examines the formation, structure, and program of the Public Industrial Art School of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the two men who directed it during its brief existence between 1880 and 1916, Charles Godfrey Leland and J. Liberty Tadd. Special emphasis is given to the pedagogical theory articulated by Tadd. (Author/RM)