Elementary students are often hampered by a tendency to ascribe innovation to increasing human intelligence or individual agency rather than increased information, better access to information, or collective and institutional agency. As a result, they struggle to build evidence-based interpretations of the distant past. A fifth-grade…

The number of middle school students with learning disabilities (LD) taught social studies in general education classes continues to rise. Providing general education teachers with additional ways to support students with LD as they navigate social studies reading materials could help planning and teaching for all students. In middle school, when…

In the current era of high-stakes testing and accountability, many social studies teachers struggle to find creative ways to add depth and authenticity to a broad, shallow curriculum. Teachers can use the time after tests are administered for students to reflect back on the social studies curriculum and select topics they want to study more deeply…

Describes projects funded under Part C, Title IV of the Elementary Secondary Education Act. Part C funds projects to develop new and creative approaches to education and projects that adopt the validated programs of other educational sources. Funded social studies programs include citizenship, consumer, environmental, law,…

Reviews and summarizes some of the most influential articles concerning history instruction and computers. Articles appeared in various social studies journals over the last five years. Most included specific guidelines and software reviews. Includes information on the journals reviewed. (MJP)

Describes an innovative program involving sixth grade students in all aspects of archaeology, including an archaeological dig. Individual units on weather, geology, the metric system, and map reading are pursued. Specific archaeological techniques such as compiling site and field records, cataloging, and surveying are studied. (RM)

Classroom teachers should depart from the accepted practice of placing the field trip at the end of a unit of social studies instruction and, instead, plan the field experience for the first week of activities. Reasons are discussed, and a sample unit on state government for the middle grades is described. (RM)

Recent national survey results underscore the importance of economic and financial education: It appears that many Americans are making poor financial choices in such basic areas as saving for long-term goals and managing personal credit. Social studies teachers need to reexamine the contribution that the social studies curriculum can make in…

Described is the City-Wide Learning Community program, a "school without walls" project that involves students at Cincinnati's Hughes High School in teleconference question-and-answer sessions with prominent persons throughout the United States. The students are now planning a half-hour international teleconference with young people in…

Discusses how four different teachers utilize active instruction in their social studies classrooms. Addresses how the textbooks should be used. Covers materials and objectives, the reactions of community members to new methods, and the benefits of active instruction over an increased workload. Discusses how to begin and provides a bibliography of…

Discusses the use of virtual expeditions in the social studies classroom through a real-life journey documented on the Internet using images, sounds, and text. Addresses how virtual expeditions work, includes four web sites to locate virtual expeditions, and explores such issues as the computer system requirements, support, and cost. (CMK)

Illustrates the use of multigenre research reports, a collection of student responses to a topic that incorporates several different writing modes. A ninth-grade global issues class was assigned a multigenre research project on Latin America. Reveals the results of the projects and provides an appendix. (CMK)

A national opinion survey of social studies teachers revealed that the overwhelming majority of teachers (1) had regularly used inquiry as a teaching strategy; (2) believe inquiry is currently less emphasized than it was in the 1960s and 1970s; and (3) perceive the back-to-basics movement as contributing significantly to the deemphasis of inquiry.…

Outlines a method for modifying the current social studies curriculum so it can be taught from an issue-centered approach. States that conventional courses in history and geography would be organized around the study of a select number of important issues and illustrates the way these classes would be taught using this approach. (SLM)

Contends that active learning allows students to become involved in learning by exploring issues and ideas under the guidance of the instructor. Describes the Market Game as an example of active learning that is an interactive game that simulates the behavior of a competitive market. Explores the students' reactions to the game. (CMK)