Compares post-emancipation societies in Haiti, Jamaica, Russia, the southern United States, Cuba, Brazil, and Zaria, relative to the acquisition of land by former slaves. Suggests that this information might provide a comparative perspective for instruction about the efforts of Blacks and Whites after abolition. (KO)

Contends that "The Federalist" has been an intellectual beacon for the U.S. Constitution since it was written in 1787. Presents a secondary school lesson plan that focuses on the Constitution's ratification process, particularly the development of and campaign for the Bill of Rights. (CFR)

Describes the contributions of anthropometric history to the understanding of standards of living in the past. Defines anthropometric history as a methodology that uses body height as a proxy measure for economic variables determining how well the human organism thrives in its socioeconomic environment. Suggests that anthropometric methodology…

Presents a lesson for teaching about the era of the Harry Truman presidency. Includes step-by-step procedures, a bibliography, and an outline of important events during the Truman years. (CFR)

Contends that historical geography helps teachers understand the link between history and geography. Presents an annotated bibliography of recommended geography books for teachers. Asserts that the most essential volume is an atlas of U.S. history. (CFR)

Describes 21 World Wide Web sites devoted to various aspects of judicial history. Includes for each entry the site name, address (Uniform Resource Locator), and brief description of site contents. Focuses primarily on United States judicial history but also includes some resources for Anglo-Irish legal history and world legal history. (DSK)

Discusses an activity called "The Dating Game" that is based on Willa Cather's "My Antonia." Explains that students determine the year Jim Burden, one of the main characters, arrived in Nebraska, using historical events in the novel. Reports students learn about life in the plains and national events and trends in the 1880s.…

Outlines a lesson plan designed for an eleventh-grade U.S. history class in which the students learn about the Progressive Era by reading Stephen Crane's "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets." Explains that students analyze point of view, role play a talk show, write an essay, and complete a long-term research project. (CMK)

Contends that poetry is a particularly useful and engaging vehicle for revealing the complexities of a historical moment. Outlines three exercises on poetry and history designed as adjunct activities that may be used with the specified historical periods. Focuses on the experiences of African Americans. Includes three handouts with reading…

Provides a brief background on Eleanor Roosevelt and the Declaration of Human Rights. Presents a lesson wherein students simulate the creation of the Declaration of Human Rights and consider the leadership skills of Eleanor Roosevelt. Explains that the activity requires three class periods and some student preparation before the lesson. (CMK)

States that the National Council for History Education (NCHE) promotes interactions among its members and believes that history educators benefit from contact with others. Illustrates the connections between the NCHE and public history identifying workshops, conferences, and other ties having a public history focus. (CMK)

Focuses on the National Park Service's Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) program that has more than one hundred classroom-ready lesson plans. Describes the standard format of the lesson, the flexibility inherent in the TwHP lesson plans, and the role of the Internet. (CMK)

Provides a lesson that enables students to explore the idea of historic sites as contested symbols and the meanings of liberty. Presents background information on the Lexington Common (or Green) as an historic site that has been utilized as a forum of political expression. Includes three lessons and copies of primary sources. (CMK)

Provides background information on Robert Portner and Jennie Dean focusing on their contributions to the community of Manassas, Virginia, and the events leading up to their legacies at Manassas. Considers the importance of family history as U.S. history and includes an assignment that enabling students to create their own stories derived from…

Provides citations with abstracts from the ERIC database focusing on public history. Includes background information and teaching materials on such topics as museum resources in K-12 social studies, using historic sites to study western women's history, and teaching about the Oregon Trail. (CMK)