Illustrates how history can be taught through a problem-solving method. Encourages teachers to use critical thinking methods based on experience, helping students develop a systematic approach to thinking about historical problems. Stresses developing students' ability to evaluate historical sources allows teachers to direct a more interactive…

Examines the role of numbers and statistical data in history research and history instruction. Contends that many historians and history teachers are unwilling or unable to use numeric data effectively. Argues that statistical analysis is essential for many historical themes and topics. (CFR)

Reviews relations between the United States and Europe from the American Revolution to contemporary times. Contends that U.S. foreign policy has always been characterized by a tension between involvement and isolationism. Determines that the United States is inextricably tied to Europe and the world. (CFR)

Contends end of the Cold War and demise of communism caught most historians by surprise. Questions whether increased military spending by Unites States was the primary cause of the fall of the Soviet Union and communist nations in Europe. Argues world is still a dangerous place, and the Unites States must be diplomatically skillful and encourage…

Argues that history teachers do not give enough attention to preparing students for major tests. Maintains that the responsibility for test preparation should be divided between the students and teacher. Provides a set of six procedures designed to help students review course content and prepare for examinations. (CFR)

Presents a secondary school lesson plan about Jennie Dean and the founding of the Manassas (VA) Industrial School in the late 1880s. Provides historical background for the lesson, step-by-step instructional procedures, four primary source photographs, and three student handouts. (CFR)

Describes the background and development of the Activities and Readings in the Geography of the United States (ARGUS) project. Indicates that the project is part of a cooperative effort with geographers and educators in other nations. Includes a content outline of the project and four illustrative maps. (CFR)

Provides an overview to the role played by the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in supporting women in their move from rural domestics to urban workers. Specifically details some of the activities of the YWCA chapters across the United States and discusses the architectural characteristics of the buildings. (MJP)

Describes a lesson plan designed for an eleventh-grade honors American Studies course, but also works well for regular-level classes. Engages students in reading, discussing, and writing their own fictional slave narratives. Enables the students to connect literary texts to historical contexts and to experience antebellum history in a personal…

Presents an interdisciplinary thematic unit designed for eleventh graders that uses selected chapters of "The Martian Chronicles" to teach frontier history. Maintains that Bradbury's novel enriches students' understanding of the frontier because it compares the interactions between Native inhabitants of Mars and Earthlings to the…

Argues that the documentary history of the Congress offers a compelling source of primary materials for the classroom. Discusses two types of frequently overlooked documents, petitions to Congress from ordinary citizens and political cartoons by Clifford Berryman, and aspects of United States' history illustrated by them. (DSK)

Enables students to understand the contradictions in the colonization and missionization of New Spain, ongoing processes that lasted through the 18th century. Provides various activities, such as role playing and debate. Includes reflection questions, sources for further study, and Internet resources. (CMK)

Provides background information on the Farm Security Administration (FSA) and the photographic section of the FSA. Identifies six photographers and features three photographers (Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, and Ben Shahn) who were recruited to document farm conditions. Discusses using FSA photos in the classroom and provides lesson plans to help…

Presents a three-day lesson in which students learn how to interpret photographs as texts, learn about the history of social welfare in the United States, and learn about the role of institutions in family life. Provides historical information on social welfare institutions and family life. Includes directions for teachers. (CMK)

Presents a lesson on the creation and work of the U.S. Children's Bureau, the first national agency specifically for children and youth. Includes a document in which Grace Abbott, one of the Bureau's chiefs, expresses problems faced by the Children's Bureau. Offers questions for class discussion. (CMK)