Presents historical background on various winter festivals around the world including Saturnalia, Christmas, winter solstice, Yule festivals, Hannukah, Divali, and New Year's Day. Suggests how teachers can help elementary school students understand their own culture by studying these and other festivals using maps, mobiles, discussion, and reading…

Contends that teaching multicultural courses in social studies often occurs without a complete understanding of the key concept of culture. Asserts that anthropology can provide this understanding because it is interdisciplinary and comparative. Provides four examples of anthropological models to guide multicultural education. (CFR)

Argues that global or world studies should be a key course in the secondary curriculum. Asserts that knowledge of Western culture cannot prepare students adequately for participation in an interdependent world. Describes dominant and alternative approaches to teaching world studies. (CFR)

Summarizes reviews of research in the "Handbook of Research on Social Studies Teaching and Learning," concerning international perspectives. Analyzes social studies research in England, Eastern Europe, and Africa, seeing modern citizenship as a unifying theme. Stresses the value to U.S. educators of comparative cross-national studies.…

Asserts that U.S. global awareness has been heightened significantly during the past decade. Contends that increasing economic interdependence has been a primary reason for this trend. States that the objectives of the world studies program at City University of New York Queens College help student understanding of global interdependence and…

Discusses recent pedagogical recommendations for cross-cultural lessons that are available in professional journals. Concludes that a large variety of learning activities recommending methodological approaches to cross-cultural education are available to teachers. Suggests that more intensive research in promising learning activities for an…

Maintains that environmental education in New South Wales is supported as an interdisciplinary priority area. Describes an environmental education/social studies unit using children's literature. Describes six lessons and presents samples of student writing in response to assignments. (CFR)