Exposure to propaganda can lead to biased attitudes that change the way people speak and act, sometimes without their conscious awareness. Propaganda has historically contributed to systemic discrimination, bias-motivated violence, and even genocide. By comparing historic and contemporary propaganda, students come to understand how people's values…

AP World History is the ideal history course. It introduces students to 10,000 years of world history, and demands critical reading, critical writing, and critical thinking skills on the part of both the teacher and the students. It requires students to build their expertise in reading their textbook, and places demands on the teacher to assign…

The author started teaching world history during his first year of teaching at Harlingen High School. To be given such an assignment, because of the breadth of the course, in one's first year might be considered a great misfortune. However, looking back, the author would not have preferred it any other way. World history quickly became his…

Planning a world history course presents a nearly impossible task. One cannot complete a world history course, or even a European history course, without casting a huge amount of historical information onto the curriculum planning scrapheap. An emphasis on the twentieth century means leaving out significant information from earlier times. "But how…

The most common activity in a social studies classroom should be the analysis of primary sources. Students are intrigued and engaged by edited and unedited documents, written statements, transcribed speeches, photographs, pictures, charts, graphs, cartoons, and even material objects. Ideally, the goal of social studies teachers is to prepare…

This article presents four stories of personal experiences of China. In "A Journey Between China's Past and Present," Peter Hessler, a former Peace Corps volunteer and author, highlights misconceptions between Chinese and Americans and the desire both peoples share for knowledge about one another. In "Life on Liberation…

Provides historical information on Cuba. Addresses early colonization, the advent of plantation agriculture, the role and presence of the United States in the Caribbean and Cuba, and the social and economic developments in Cuba after the revolution in 1959 led by Fidel Castro. (CMK)

Discusses keys to success that secondary teachers should keep in mind when trying to teach world history to urban students deficient in basic skills. First, the objective of the lesson must be relevant to the student. Second, skill deficiencies must be provided for when planning the lesson. (RM)

A modified chronological or narrative historical approach for teaching world history is suggested and evaluated for both positive and negative factors. Essentially a topical-chronological approach, this technique allows for the grouping of materials under broad units that may overlap in time. (Author/JR)

Offers a rationale for including study of the holocaust in the world history curriculum at the secondary level. Suggests materials and resources. (Author/DB)

For the purpose of exposing teachers of world history to the story of the legendary twelfth-century sultan of Egypt, Saladin, the article offers details of Saladin's life and times. (DB)

Describes the idea of the null curriculum in the context of teaching about genocide. Explores obstacles that prevent educators from teaching about genocides other than the Holocaust. Explains how teachers can begin teaching about other genocides in their classrooms. (CMK)

Asserts that the primary purpose of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is to provide instructional materials and staff development for teachers and students. Describes the services and resources of the Museum and how to obtain them through the mail, via the Internet, in the museum shop, or in person. (CFR)

Based on the premise that world history courses should stress general educational goals, Fenton examines his curriculum package which focuses on six major objectives: developing positive attitudes, self esteem, learning and inquiry skills, acquiring knowledge, and valuing. (JR)

Advocates of social foundations view education as a means for social change. They seek to study and understand the larger social role of the educational system and the complex relationships between teacher, children, school, and society. However, in reality, teachers often fail to be social change agents. The constant bombardment of standardized…