Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to frame Khaled Hosseini's novels, "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns", as literature to expand and enhance the American secondary curriculum with multicultural themes based on Afghanistan as a geographical and cultural place in a dynamic, diverse, and complex world more…

Discusses how the global approach can be used to teach about Japanese culture in elementary and secondary social studies classes. Students compare and contrast Japanese and American cultures. Methods for helping students to become familiar with aspects of Japanese culture are included. (AM)

A study of Japanese ways of coping with pollution, urbanization, and industrialization offers an opportunity for the social studies student to gain intercultural perspectives on the continuing problems of a modernizing society. Three perspectives on ways of coping are presented to illustrate the concept. (Author/JH)

In the cultivation of worldminded attitudes, the social studies teacher cannot assume that student interaction with culturally different art will necessarily enhance empathic cosmopolitan attitudes. Pitfalls to be aware of are cited in this article. (Author/JH)

Identifies common themes underlying various approaches to global education. Four characteristics of global perspectives programs are that they are holistic, humanistic, conceptually based, and issue oriented. Journal available from Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies, P.O. Box 6637, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19149. (AV)

This curriculum project compares Mexican society with the U.S. society. The project takes 4 weeks for classroom implementation, and different concepts are covered each week. A detailed step-by-step procedure is provided for the teacher to follow with 13 suggestions for projects about Mexico. Web sites are identified that offer specific information…

Thais and U.S. citizens have a number of striking cultural similarities. Both prize the freedoms they enjoy, both are quite pragmatic and individualistic, and both disdain pomposity and arrogance. These traits form a kind of common core that helps Thais and U.S. citizens connect in cross-cultural interactions. Nevertheless, there are also…

This publication is a basic "cookbook" for social studies educators who want to plan and organize a workshop dealing with another culture for elementary and secondary teachers. Japan has been chosen as the model. However, most of the suggestions can be used to present a workshop on another culture as well. There are six major sections.…

This curriculum unit introduces students to the topic of minority identity issues in the context of Japanese society, and it is expected that teachers will use this as an opportunity to segue into classroom discussions of minority issues in their own society. The curriculum unit broaches some sensitive and controversial topics that challenge…

Today two opportunities are open to geography educators. First they must respond to the new opportunity to return geography to a place in the preparation of business students. Second, geography educators must take advantage of the current interest in international understanding and global education. New courses and textbooks are needed. (RM)

These lessons are designed to introduce students to the concept of interdependence through the many links that Kansas has with people and nations all over the world. Social, political, economic, and cultural links are explored with lessons for all grade levels. Each lesson is self-contained with objectives, materials, and procedures for student…

Part of an international series of amply illustrated, colorful, small size books designed for children ages 5 to 10, this volume presents information on the life and customs of Australia and what it is like to live on the biggest island in the world. Color illustrations and maps show the habitats of birds, flowers, and animals native to Australia…

The teachers of second languages and the teachers of social studies share a weighty responsibility to help students move toward global understanding and multicultural awareness. Possible areas of cooperation between the two disciplines, as well as constraints, are discussed. (RM)

The story of the conquest of Mexico, Mezo-America, and South America is widely known, and most of the known traditions are referred to as historical events and in the past tense. "El Dia de los Muertos," however, is a perfect example of the blending of two cultures or transculturation. To ignore what California's large Hispanic…

This teaching booklet on Sweden is one in a series of four, developed within the framework of the Associated Schools Project of UNESCO with a view to promoting education for international understanding. The purpose is to enable students to learn more about the lifestyles of their peers in Sweden--their school and family life, aspects of their…