With the eruption of political, racial, and pandemic-related conflicts and unprecedented threats to U.S. democracy, educators have raised their voices about the need to teach controversial issues in social studies classrooms. However many teachers feel unprepared to take up this challenging practice. They may also avoid it because they fear loss…

Previous studies have focused on how well students are learning economics, how teachers are trained, and other outcomes associated with improved understanding of economics. However, almost nothing is reported in the research literature on economics teachers' views of the curriculum, how they teach their subject, their views on public issues, and…

Discusses California's Middle Grade Task Force and its report, "Caught in the Middle: Educational Reform for Young Adolescents in California Public Schools." Describes the 1987 revision of the California history-social science framework which emphasizes character development through studying the moral and ethical struggles of literary…

Reviews reports from several professional organizations on recommendations about education for participatory citizenship. Reports on a study of 3,000 teachers in grades 1-3 from 7 midwestern states on the characteristics of social studies programs. Recommends four approaches to foster developmental social studies instruction. (CFR)

Reviews data collected in a 1982 national survey of state social studies coordinators which shows the patterns of textbook adoptions in the area of high school geography for the 20 states that use statewide adoption. Concludes that throughout the 1970s and early 1980s Texas's impact on other states' geography selections was almost nonexistent.…

Compares two instructional strategies, prompting and direct instruction, to determine which produces dialogical reasoning in written essays concerning controversial issues. Participants were 45 sixth graders. Finds both strategies equally productive and concludes that the emphasis should be on providing thought-provoking, issues-oriented social…

Describes study which focused on the economic vocabulary used in national and international news magazines and papers. Compares findings with definitions of economic literacy proposed by economists and suggests that economics courses include economic news literacy. (KC)

The familial understanding and locale relationship understanding of young children was investigated. Findings support the theory that social studies and other learning need to be more concrete for young children. (AM)

Preteaching vocabulary terms to fifth-grade students was found to have a significant facilitative effect on their acquisition and retention of social studies content. An instructional sequence for teachers to follow in preteaching concept vocabulary is outlined. (RM)

Seventy six teachers and 737 social studies students from rural high schools in six states were surveyed to determine whether rural secondary social studies programs discuss topics and themes that provide an insight into rural America. Findings suggest that rural life-styles are inadequately portrayed in social studies curricula. (AM)

Presents a study which examined school district scope and sequence patterns for the social studies between 1971-1980 and compared them with revisions being made by the same districts during 1981-1984. Summarizes the research methodology, highlights similarities of the original and revised programs, and suggests how school districts might use this…

Presents a study which identifies experienced classroom teachers' beliefs about what should be included in the geography curriculum. Tables show how questionnaire respondents ranked the importance of specific items in three categories: geographic skills, human geography, and physical geography. Concludes that teacher perceptions must be considered…

Study showed that almost half of all high school social studies teachers cannot perform the basic critical thinking skill of distinguishing between statements of fact and statements of opinion. Teachers cannot teach critical thinking skills, one of the major objectives of social studies education, if they themselves lack the skill. (RM)

Presents results of a study examining the relationship between a social studies classroom environment and the development of student creativity. Questions whether environments conducive to creativity can be encouraged in the Nigerian primary school system. Concludes that most teachers in the study did not foster creativity. Recommends means of…

In 1983, elementary and secondary teachers in West Germany were surveyed concerning the treatment of social themes in school curricula. As in a similar survey conducted in the United States, West German respondents indicated that every theme surveyed was important, with nuclear disarmament and environmental pollution clearly considered the most…