As a teacher of history in the early 20th century, Henry Johnson believed in the importance of making history meaningful to students. He hoped that it would teach critical inquiry skills which could be used throughout life. He also emphasized the developmental aspect of history to explain how the present grew out of the past. Johnson studied the…

Emma Willard had an important impact on teaching social studies and on the education of women in general in the 19th century through her efforts in training teachers and through her writing. Willard's writing included both textbooks and books on educational philosophy. She began teaching at age 17 in a village school. After further education, she…

Social studies classroom teachers can enliven high school history courses and motivate students to learn about history by using dramatic or heroic biographies in teaching history. The biographical approach centers on study of the lives, beliefs, and surroundings of historical actors. This approach differs from the "great man" theory of history in…