Ji-li Jiang's extraordinary memoir "Red Scarf Girl" transports readers to a tumultuous time in Chinese history--the first two years of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Caught between conflicting forces--joining the Revolution's call for rebellion, protecting her family, and fitting in with her peers--Jiang describes how her…

The life of James Madison, the "Father of the Constitution," and his role in U.S. history are discussed in this guide to an educational program designed to acquaint students with Madison prior to a class field trip to his home, Montpelier. An essay on Madison and the Constitution is included, as well as a vocabulary list, a historic…

The key to a successful field trip is planning. This publication, designed to provide guidelines for elementary school teachers, outlines the step-by-step experience of a participatory visit to Montpelier, the home of James Madison. A prefatory article by constitutional authority A. E. Dick Howard, called "James Madison and the…

The focus of this issue is to explore the lives of pioneers who lived during the territorial period (1838-1846). Articles and activities highlight various aspects of pioneer life. "Celebrate 150!" reviews the settlement of the territory and the establishment of a territorial government. Excerpts from actual newspapers and books,…

Presents background information and learning activities about Camp Hoover, the presidential retreat built by President Hoover and later renamed Camp David. Includes three readings, three maps, two photographs, two drawings, and four student activities. (CFR)

The key to a successful field trip is planning. This publication, designed to provide guidelines for the middle school teacher, outlines the step-by-step experience of a visit to Montpelier, the home of James Madison. A prefatory article by constitutional authority A. E. Dick Howard, called "James Madison and the Constitution," provides…

Reports on a field trip by secondary school history students to Fort Malden National Historic Site in Canada. Describes the use of primary sources and battlefield sites to help students understand historical perspective and interpretation. Includes discussion questions for students and recommendations for implementation. (CFR)

This book investigates the value of school-based mentoring (SBM) in the lives of adolescent African America and Latino males and offers alternative, more positive ways in which society can embrace them. Understanding that mentoring is a cultural practice, this book informs schools and communities of the roles and responsibilities that they have in…

This packet contains student materials and a teacher's guide. The materials are designed to make complex international issues understandable and meaningful for students. The unit probes the political, moral, and racial issues raised by the Spanish-American War and the acquisition of an overseas empire. Students compare the values and concerns at…

This lesson focuses on the post-Reconstruction South and the social practices based on race and skin color that hindered the South's growth as a region and relegated many people to the status of second-class citizens, in spite of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. The lesson provides historical background and outlines a task for students to…

Presents a class activity designed to foster an understanding of rules, develop analytical skills, and introduce students to early colonial history. Divides the class into groups who are sailing to the New World, and presents them with ethical and practical problems to be solved on board the ship. (RW)

Designed for elementary school students, the unit presents five brief sessions for teaching an historical event using a fine arts approach. By incorporating dance, drama, art, and music into the study of historical events, students heighten their awareness of themselves and of the characters in history. In session 1, students reenact and discuss…

This activity book for teachers and students presents ideas for lessons on Christopher Columbus. Three sections offer teaching ideas and student activities focusing on Columbus's inspiration and preparation for departure, the science of navigation and the voyage, and the pros and cons of changes brought about by Columbus's voyage. (SM)

Presents activities and resources for teaching about the former Soviet Union in the elementary grades. Describes 13 activities dealing with the historical beginnings of the Soviet Union through 1992. Includes a list of resource organizations and an annotated bibliography of children's books on the topic. (CFR)

Presents a five-page study guide on the site selection of New Orleans (LA). Encourages students to recognize situational advantages determined by different historical periods. Asks students to recommend specific sites based on time and place variables. (CFR)