When teachers in elementary and middle school classrooms portray history as an immutable sequence of certain facts, dates, and events, young learners tend to view the past, and by extension the future, as something fixed and inevitable. Learning about the past through investigating biographies can help counter this tendency by teaching students to…

Where some of the papers in this volume deal with nation building in the democratizing former East European states in the wider ideological context of liberal democratic thought, this paper aims to present a view of democracy and democratization from an alternative, "Asian" perspective. South East Asian nations, such as Singapore, have…

Transfer articulation is an important policy issue in Virginia. With increasing economic strains on federal and state budgets, pressure on key actors in higher education, and critical teacher shortages, an opportunity presented itself to investigate state transfer policy and articulation agreements designed to facilitate student transfer.…

In this article, the author discusses how he began a series of lessons on the French and Indian War era. He incorporates physical activity, paintings, artifacts, diaries and discussions into the lessons, so that students in fourth grade through middle school can get a real feel for what the colonial frontier was like. He emphasizes that using…

This textbook presents the history of civilization, focusing on Europe. The book is in six parts: (1) Introducing the Story of Civilizations; (2) Before History Began; (3) The Cradle of Civilization; (4) Civilization Spreads Northwestward into Europe; (5) How Europe Built the New Industrial Civilization; and (6) The Gains of Civilization.

Activities are described for helping students not just to recognize the historical significance of the Mayflower voyage but also to understand the actual courage of its passengers, through reliving the planning, principles, motivation, technicalities, and conditions of the voyage. (CB)

"Preparing the Next Generation of Oral Historians" is a resource to educators seeking to bring history alive for students at all levels. The anthology opens with chapters on the fundamentals of oral history and its place in the classroom, but its heart lies in nearly two dozen insightful personal essays by educators who have successfully…

Two articles discuss the controversy about exploration of the shipwrecked Titanic. Suggested are questions for discussion and activities to stimulate student interest and to explore ethical issues involved in the treatment of historic artifacts. (CB)

Describes a living history program at the Old Town State Park in San Diego, California for elementary children. Program activities and the roles of volunteers and teachers are discussed. (AM)

Discusses the impact of literary retellings of historical events (specifically the use of informational storybooks to teach social studies) on children's understanding of social studies. Argues that, unless mediated by additional reading and focused discussion, informational storybooks can create a host of problems for social studies teachers. (SR)

Responds to an article in the same journal which argues that the use of informational storybooks creates a host of problems for social studies teachers. Argues that historical fiction must be considered differently than informational storybooks on science topics, and that a detailed examination of historical fiction is necessary before dismissing…

While the intergenerational bonds remain strong for children with elder relatives living close by, increasingly children in the U.S. lack meaningful connections with older adults. Divorce and family mobility are two major causes, and some youth are affected by negative stereotypes of older people. Bringing seniors into classrooms or taking…

Activities are described for helping students celebrate and learn about ratification and the historical debates preceding the Constitution's acceptance. (CB)

Suggestions for a study unit on the Constitution, the times in which it was written, the Constitutional Convention, and how it affects children's lives today are offered. Resources are listed. (MT)

Discusses a number of topics related to the study and teaching of history, the way the author's views of history evolved during his childhood, and the importance of attaining a knowledge and a feeling for the history of humankind. (GT)