Social studies teachers in language immersion settings are tasked with simultaneously teaching students social studies content while also scaffolding target language acquisition. An abundance of resources exists for teaching social studies, yet language immersion teachers often rely on collaboration with colleagues to create lessons and translate…

After a quarter-century with historical thinking skills at the forefront of the history-teaching agenda, the news from history education is not good. In 2012, for example, the American Historical Association (AHA) observed, "the systematic teaching of history had all but ended in elementary schools across the country." In late 2018, the…

This article shares lessons from committed and inspirational educators from across the country with whom the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) worked in 2020. Their experiences reinforce that nonpartisan teaching about democracy is possible (i.e., not teaching who to vote for, but rather how the system…

Many teachers and scholars have written about the importance of inquiry in effective history instruction. At its core, inquiry involves student investigation of a significant historical problem. Experienced teachers, however, often reveal their skill in purposely teaching against the grain. Skilled teachers help students appreciate historical…

A notable feature of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts is the attention given to the teaching of reading and writing in history/social studies, science and technical subjects. The Standards for Reading Informational Text that are included in the Common Core State Standards require students to read texts in depth, understand…

Describes the organization's break with the National Education Association and development of an organizational structure and a code of professional ethics. Discusses the identity crisis and tension between social studies education and the social science disciplines that continue to be issues within the organization. (CFR)

Maintains that although women's history has made great strides in the university environment, it remains peripheral in elementary and secondary education. Suggests feasible strategies to incorporate this subject into the curriculum. Includes Peggy McIntosh's "Five Phases of Curricular Re-Vision with Regards to Gender 1983." (MJP)

This article provides a brief history of the development of the 1984 National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) scope and sequence document and introduces the series of articles in this issue. (JDH)

Describes the Chata Project, a British research project that challenged the prevalent assumption that children will construct sound causal explanations from factual information imparted during history instruction. Their research suggests that explicit instruction is required for children to understand the causal relationships among events,…

Summarizes a Canadian study that attempted to determine how a diverse group of high school students identified and understood events of historical significance. The students' responses ranged from generally objective and analytical to wildly subjective. Includes a recommended exercise for establishing students approaches to and definitions of…

Examines the relationship between immigration and multiculturalism in Australian society, beginning with a brief historical background on immigration. Discusses how teaching immigration and multiculturalism is constructed in the curriculum and probes the nature of the current debate over immigration policy and multiculturalism. (DSK)

Describes how the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) grew into a major professional organization during the years 1947-1968. Discusses the NCSS response to domestic and social issues such as civil rights, the Cold War, and educational reform following Sputnik. (CFR)

Presents the case for adding more political science, economics, and history coursework to existing social science requirements for teacher preparation. Provides examples of how each of the three disciplines can contribute to teaching and concludes with five recommendations for implementing reform. JDH)

Examines the way in which studying history contributes to intellectual development. Identifies five mental attributes it enhances: perspective--gained from placing people, events, institutions against larger background; encounter--confronting great ideas, personalities, etc.; relativism in a pluralistic world--developed from immersion in other…

Describes a textbook and a videotape series that show that geography can be integrated successfully into the teaching of other subjects. Suggests that the textbook takes a subtle approach that focuses on mathematics while introducing geography too. Discusses the video series in which geography and history deliberately are woven together into a…