The implementation of the C3 Framework has unfolded unlike any previous standards project. A grassroots movement rather than a top-down mandate, the C3 effort calls on teachers to be at the forefront of social studies reform. In New York State, the C3 Framework provided context and inspiration for the New York Social Studies Toolkit Project.…

Asserts that using children's literature to present life stories can reinforce young children's understanding of life span and help them better understand how goals formed in childhood may help determine an individual's future. Briefly reviews and recommends 15 children's books focused on life stories and decision making. (MJP)

Discusses instructional uses for the "Carmen Sandiego" software series to encourage interest in geography. Suggests "Carmen" be incorporated into the curriculum by teacher-directed grouping that adds teacher instruction into cooperative and competitive arenas, curriculum integration linking diverse specialties, and isolated…

An analysis of the use of the Project materials during the 1970-71 school year indicated that the materials were most frequently used as supplementary readings; teachers usually learned about the materials through professional literature rather than from publishers agents, teacher educators, or from teacher workshops; the contribution of the…

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)

The decision-making process for choosing social studies instructional materials is outlined in five steps. (KM)

Discusses diffusion problems of new social studies curriculum materials, exploring roles of external and internal agents of change. Recommends that subject specialists, curriculum designers, evaluators, and educational sociologists cooperate with teachers to diffuse materials. (CK)

A listing of the various organizations involved in the improvement of women's studies and education offers services, addresses, and materials available for a classroom teacher. (JR)

Examines eight reasons diffusion efforts fail to produce instructional change. Recommends a model for change which focuses on teachers, the instructional program, and the school system and uses a team of an internal change agent, external change agent, and a consultant or diffuser. (CK)

Provides an annotated bibliography of current women's studies resources. Included are women's studies curriculum guides, women's periodicals, women's publishers, projects, audio-visual centers, and ERIC documents. (JDH)

Publishers' representatives responded to questions concerning textbook content and use and a series of questions are presented which provide an effective means of evaluating textbooks. Analyses of a few of the presently available textbooks and textbook programs reflecting curriculum reform in the social studies are included. (JB)

Presents a brief overview of ethnic material available to elementary school social studies classroom teachers, suggests criteria for selection of materials, presents examples of ethnic materials on different complexity levels, and gives some general pointers to teachers on what to avoid when selecting ethnic materials. (DB)

Trends in the production of social studies instructional media are described. (DE)

This article deals with the selection process of social studies curriculum materials, introducing readers to the major ideas contained in the NCSS's Social Studies Curriculum Guidelines and SSEC's Curriculum Materials Analysis System. (SM)

Describes two methods to incorporate problem-solving into social studies classes. Project REACH, a five-step method, teaches students the process of problem solving while using a variety of materials and classroom situations. Project USMES incorporates problem solving into a set of specially developed curriculum materials. (Author/AV)