Presents an interdisciplinary unit for high school students in which the students examine life in the American colonies. Focuses on "Moll Flanders" because the students find her to be a fascinating guide to the past, bringing history alive. Gives resources, a handout, and two timed writing assignments. (CMK)

Presents a brief study of the Spanish Borderlands (the southern tier of the United States from California to the Carolinas) and their hold on various cultural and historical imaginations. Discusses the groundbreaking work of historian Herbert E. Bolton and those historians who have continued and/or criticized his interpretation. (MJP)

States that students often utilize sources from the Internet without evaluating the quality of the information presented. Discusses how to use technology in the history classroom in order to help students think critically. Describes different assignments and the problems that were encountered. (CMK)

Traces the history of science in the United States through an extensive bibliography of sources useful to history teachers. Expounds on notable trends in the history of science, beginning with the revolutionary period up to the present. Focuses on the impact of social and cultural ideas on science in the United States. (RW)

Asserts that environmental history is an important component of the history of the American west. Discusses the historiography of the American west in relationship to environmental issues. Concludes that environmental history opened the door for scholars to study the way human beings interact with the physical world around them. (CFR)

Contends that teachers assign essay writing to help students improve their critical thinking skills. Discusses six criteria of a well-written history essay. Includes a five-essay assignment strategy, designed to be implemented over the course of an academic year, to help students improve essay research and writing. (CFR)

Asserts that peace activism should be integrated into U.S. history. Traces the history of the peace movement and peace activism from the American Revolution to the 1980s. Concludes that the peace movement, although diverse and constantly changing, has made an appreciable difference in national attitudes toward war and civil violence. (CFR)

States that the record of relations between early American colonists and indigenous Native Americans generally shows cultural conflict. Asserts that the Society of Friends (Quakers), led by William Penn, developed a different approach to relations with the Native Americans. (CFR)

Contends that studying the opposition to the Mexican American War helps students understand Manifest Destiny and assess foreign policy issues on moral, political, and historical terms. Presents a three-day lesson plan employing a series of primary sources to analyze issues of the time. Includes a political cartoon and eight documents. (CFR)

Classifies types of photographs, describing which are most effective in social studies and history instruction. Explores problems in textbooks' use of photographs. Outlines a six-step question model to help students make inferences when analyzing photographs. Develops three lessons using historical photographs to discover more about a photo's time…

Asserts that social studies teachers generally agree that critical thinking and cooperative learning skills are two primary instructional goals. Describes a class activity utilizing roleplaying and the cooperative "jigsaw" approach to study the U.S. Constitution. (CFR)

Reviews the development of African-American history as a scholarly field within U.S. history. Presents four generations of black historians who have contributed to the development and current status of African-American history. Concludes with a discussion of needed additional research and a 22-item bibliography. (CFR)

Presents an overview of the 1994 National History Day project and its theme, "Geography in History: People, Places, Time." Includes a list of suggested History Day topics linked to broad historical themes. Provides a 17-item bibliography of resources for students working on History Day projects. (CFR)

Summarizes a number of lessons on women's history taken from the "Teaching with Historic Places" program. The historic places include artists' colonies, American Indian tribal sites, personal homes, and public buildings. Discusses fitting the lesson plans into established curriculum. Some of the women profiled include Madame C. J. Walker and…

Traces the historiography of the scientific revolution through a bibliographic essay. Examines trends in recent scholarly publications in an effort to identify new areas of research. Maintains that the study of the scientific revolution is problematic and cannot be reduced to simple analysis. (RW)