The purpose of this article is to synthesize research on the benefits and use of games, role-plays, and simulations, whilst providing examples practicing teachers may wish to use in their classroom. Therefore, the article presents a discussion of key previous research on the use of games, role-plays, and simulations in secondary history…

This article introduces the social studies field to Dorothy Heatchote's Mantle of Expert (MOE). MOE is a dramatic inquiry approach used in several subject areas and can work at all levels in the social studies curriculum. The authors go into the development of using this approach in an elementary and middle teacher education program. After sharing…

Online role-playing games such as World Of Warcraft represent new participatory cultures in which today's students engage every day. They are appealing to players largely because of the social aspects of game play. Some features of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) can be incorporated into classroom culture to create more…

The Korean War is often given a cursory glance, if that, in U.S. foreign relations today. This article provides all the information necessary to conduct a role-play in one class period to help students understand the events of the war. Introductory and follow-up questions are also included to stimulate discussion and to connect the events of a war…

Set during the Cold War and space race, this historical role-play focuses on Wernher von Braun's involvement in and culpability for the use of slave laborers to produce V-2 rockets for Nazi Germany. Students will grapple with two central questions. Should von Braun have been allowed to emigrate to the United States given his affiliation with the…

Recent studies advocate careful selection of local historic sites and recommend collaboration between stakeholders to create meaningful learning experiences for students. The author describes the efforts of a historical society, a university professor, and a local school district to develop an integrative field trip to a one-room schoolhouse.…

The authors of this article argue that it is the responsibility of teacher educators to provide preservice teacher candidates with the tools necessary to address issues of social justice and equity in their future classrooms. By incorporating a critical literacy approach, primary sources, role playing, and civic debates within the teaching…

Learning about local government seems boring and irrelevant to most young people, particularly to students from high-poverty backgrounds. The authors explore a promising approach for solving this problem, Storypath, which engages students in authentic learning and active citizenship. The Storypath approach is based on a narrative in which students…

Discusses the value of structured simulation games in elementary social studies. Suggestions are given for using simulation games in the classroom, stressing the importance of the briefing and debriefing activities. Teaching instructions for four role-playing simulations are included. (AM)

This learning activity for use with secondary students motivates discussion and broadens students' insight into the kinds of issues raised by a national population policy. The role play involves students in developing a national population policy for an imaginary country. (RM)

Students involved in acting out a role may find it hard to remember what their classmates said; student observers may focus on one roleplayer and not the others. This causes problems in the discussion stage of the roleplay. Solution: videotape the roleplaying situation. An example is provided. (RM)

Suggests that role playing can offset problems in teaching values clarification and moral reasoning at the elementary school level. Because role playing relies heavily on activity, it circumvents the problem of having a dilemma dealt with by discussion only. Role playing also allows students to take the perspective of others. (Author/KC)

Case studies which can be used in secondary social studies classes to teach students about the rights of persons with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities are presented. Examples of questions which can be used to stimulate discussion of the case studies are also included. (RM)

In this article, the author relates the changing nature of international conflict and peacemaking since the end of the cold war to the development of a school curriculum that focuses on pressing international issues that are shared by people around the world. He also analyzes the implications of the changing world for curriculum development and…

Social studies teachers face significant challenges. Because the challenges are substantial, teachers need to help students develop habits of heart and mind that use and transcend the academic content of formal classroom lessons. Yet, students feel pressure to perform well on standardized measures of achievement, so their teachers focus on…