Writing often serves as a medium for students to express their feelings as well as share their perspectives gained. Students can benefit from learning to articulate through authentic and relevant writing. Writing can be beneficial in all core subjects (not just English Language Arts) as well as special programs (such as Fine Arts and Physical…

Jeremy Thomas and Russell McBride are social studies teachers in North Carolina and, until recently, were colleagues at a charter school outside of Raleigh, serving students in grades 6-12. After learning about the Inquiry Design Model (IDM), both teachers implemented it into their classrooms and immediately saw how the blueprint helped deepen…

If world religions courses are created at all in public school districts, they often are designed to encourage cultural fluency and tolerance. It is a teachable moment for the teacher to witness in an hour these far-flung students moving beyond tolerance to collaboration. Taking on a world religions program typically is viewed as a risky…

Brief descriptions of course offerings in the social studies for grades 9-12, Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, Maryland, are presented. Courses are listed according to required or elective. Required courses are United States History I and II; National, State, and Local Government, and Contemporary Issues. In addition, over 45 courses…

The Problem Panel Project is an instructor-developed, one-semester course in contemporary problems. Based on the inquiry approach, the course is structured for independent research and group work and requires no traditionally-structured daily lesson plans. The course is divided into six procedural points. First, students decide which contemporary…

Describes the political machinations resulting in Manitoba's downgrading of Canadian history from a compulsory to an elective subject. Argues that this reflects a broader nationwide educational trend rejecting the humanities in favor of science and technology. Criticizes a view of society dominated by market forces and self-interest. (MJP)

This report describes a program that was designed to provide non-academic disaffected students as well as college-bound high school students with a meaningful and positive educational experience in science in order to bridge the gap between science and the citizen in a technological world. The program, designed as a full year elective course,…