Recommends including tradebooks in social studies. Suggests ways teachers can utilize literature in social studies instruction. Points out that targeting relevant social studies content in literature can deepen and enrich the learning experience. Argues using literature helps develop critical thinking, promotes citizenship preparation, and helps…

September 11, 2001 is a day that will live in the hearts and minds of Americans for a long time. During the classes following the events, some teachers were asked by students about the events. Although some teachers may not have been specifically trained to deal with individual or societal crises, many were skilled at taking advantage of the…

Provides a lesson plan on the geographic and civic aspects of municipal wastes. Offers action activities for students. Maintains that students will become familiar with the geographic, moral, and political features of municipal waste disposal. (RW)

Investigates the differences in political attitudes among high school students of different ability and grade levels. Finds that low ability subjects are more dogmatic. Recommends the Value Analysis Model of instruction as a means of improving political attitudes and citizenship values. Suggests that overemphasis on basic knowledge objectives may…

Identifies and discusses four keys to improved constitutional rights instruction: (1) systematic emphasis on core ideas and issues; (2) analysis and appraisal of core ideas and issues in primary documents; (3) analysis and appraisal of core ideas and issues in judicial cases; and (4) active learning by inquiring students with the help of…

Describes teaching children about historical documents as a way of illustrating the reasons behind U.S. government. Explains that the course examines the U.S. Constitution, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, and Bill of Rights. Argues that children have firm opinions about fairness and justice. Describes a project comparing U.S. government with that…

Describes an in-depth approach to infusing the fundamental dimension of human dignity into the social studies curriculum. States that students' awareness of individual dignity results from three main school program influences: (1) planned instruction, (2) teacher-child interaction, and (3) school responses to unacceptable behavior. (DB)

States that cultural pluralism has been important in U.S. society since the founding of the Republic. Identifies four conceptualizations of pluralism, two based on assimilation and two based on the persistence of multiculturalism. Concludes that a multicultural society that acknowledges common core values is essential to the success of the U.S.…

Described is a curriculum development effort in U.S. history--the "Reasoning with Democratic Values" series--aimed at stimulating higher-order thinking. Features of cognitive developmental psychology and of the new social studies materials are used in the lessons that ask students to examine and discuss ethical controversies. (RM)

Discusses the impact on social studies education of events following World War II, including the Cold War and McCarthyism. Examines the professional literature to determine how the emphasis in social studies education changed from stressing broad societal and international goals to rote learning of civic duties. Concludes that after the 1950s,…

Discusses the role of social studies education in a developing nation, both in theory, and as it is practiced in the English-speaking Caribbean. Diagrams a dynamic for teaching social studies in developing societies. Contends that social studies education has a unique role to play in the enterprise of nation building. (DB)

Argues that economic education is an integral component of social studies and citizenship education. Maintains that adolescents are more likely to believe that one's life is controlled by fate rather than conscious choices. Asserts that teaching economic reasoning can improve students' critical thinking skills and citizenship education. (CFR)

Asserts that the social studies classroom is ideal for the development of students' civic decision-making skills explaining that decision making must include elements of group interaction and creative expression. Describes traditional decision-making models and decision making as a process and performance. Addresses group interaction, cooperative…

Reviews an array of resource organizations useful for developing, implementing and evaluating service learning. Reviews practical "how-to" guidebooks, motivational materials, and resources for academic discussions of service learning. Formats reviewed include workbooks, field guides, ERIC digests, monographs, and anthologies of articles. (MJP)

Explores how to teach religion in the social studies classroom in public schools. Asserts that religion should be taught to educate children about beliefs that differ from their own and about the role of religion in U.S. society. Provides suggestions for teaching about religion to students in kindergarten through sixth grade. (CMK)