Presents an annotated bibliography of trade books by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children's Book Council (CBC) for grade K-8 students. Includes information about the thematic strands of the NCSS social studies standards and discusses the criteria used to select books for the list. (CMK)

Presents an annotated bibliography of trade books selected by the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children's Book Council primarily for grades K-8 that emphasize human relations, diversity, sensitivity to cultural experiences, originality, high literary quality, and a pleasing format. Indicates the thematic strands of social…

Exemplary career education programs and materials for grades 7,8, and 9 are surveyed. A model program suggests content and activity emphases. (KM)

Provides a bibliography of literature for young adults and selected references on the Great Irish Famine. Presents hints to six riddles of Ireland and includes the answers to the riddles on page 15 of this issue. (CMK)

Presents the story of Megan O'Rourke and her family from their life in Ireland, the experience of living through the Great Irish Famine, and their journey to New York City. States that this is a work of historical fiction. Includes a glossary of terms, questions, and activities. (CMK)

Contends that geography teachers are always looking for ways to excite their students while engaging them in geographic skills development. Describes using "Wanted Posters" as a springboard to geographic learning in middle schools. Includes sources for obtaining wanted posters from government and social service agencies. (CFR)

Presents three activities adapted from the "How Big Is Africa?" Curriculum Guide developed by the African Studies Center of Boston University. Includes activities designed to make students aware of the diversity extant in Africa and the vastness of the continent. Targets students at the upper-elementary and middle school levels. (DSK)

Describes an easy project that uses postcards to engage elementary and middle school students in reading, writing, and social studies. Students write letters to the editors of different newspapers asking their readers to send postcards to the class. Follow up activities include response letters, maps, and writing assignments. (MJP)

Using South Africa as its focus, outlines a middle school lesson plan for teaching geographic themes and location and place. Provides students practice using geographic skills. Includes instruction about major cultural and ethnic groups living in South Africa along with three maps for classroom use. (NL)

Presents a lesson plan centering on the importance of Fort Hancock, the military facilities that defend the harbor in New Jersey. Instructional materials include maps, photographs, background material and history, and suggested activities. The lesson could be part of a unit on U.S. foreign policy, military history, or technology and society. (MJP)

Provides an annotated list of the many and varied educational resources on Sub-Saharan Africa. Briefly describes related university programs, African Studies Associations, nonprofit organizations, history and political studies, and biographies. A separate section outlines Internet resources including newsgroups, World Wide Web pages, and…

Provides a thorough and useful evaluation of two interactive multimedia US history programs. "Vital Issues: Reshaping and Industrializing the Nation" covers US history from European contact to the present. "Powers of Persuasion" focuses on the art of propaganda in World War II. Includes extensive information on both products.…

Reviews a series of teaching activities that revolve around family photographs, letters, and artifacts. Outlines how these items can be used to teach recommended National Council for the Social Studies strands and provides classroom examples. Discusses developing a unit of study and includes a form for a Family Artifact Report. (MJP)

Contends that teacher's decisions regarding textbook use can be understood through public choice theory. This theory claims decisions are made balancing competing interests of scarcity, time, costs, benefits, and incentives. Teachers use textbooks because of their efficacy in organizing and providing instructional material. (MJP)

Observes the ever-changing relationship between media technology and political coverage and illustrates this through the use of political cartoons. Briefly reviews political reporting from the days of the early republic and hand-printed newspapers to the current era of the Internet. Includes historic cartoons and suggested activities. (MJP)