Points out the importance of the Tarawa landing in the Gilbert Islands during World War II, and recommends teaching about the event. Provides detailed analysis of the November 21-24, 1943, amphibious assault by U.S. Marines. Examines the rationale for the location, timing, and type of attack. Identifies key personnel. Includes intelligence map of…

Using films to teach historical time periods, people, or events is not a new idea. In this article, the author contends that teachers who use film solely to teach historical facts or to test students' ability to stay awake miss an important opportunity to aid in the development of students' real historical understanding. Instead, teachers should…

This special theme issue of the OAH Magazine of History contains articles that present a variety of perspectives on the Columbian Quincentenary--the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's voyages of discovery. The articles include: "Exploring the Columbian Quincentenary through Historiography" (John Hebert); "Science, Religion,…

This document, from the lesson plan series, "Teaching with Historic Places," examines the Native Americans who lived on the plains along the Knife River in what is now North Dakota. Following an introductory section, the document sets out student objectives, teaching activities, readings, and illustrations. The teaching activity…

This document, part of the lesson plan series, "Teaching with Historic Places," examines the role of rice farming in U.S. history. The lesson, which focuses upon the era of the Southern plantations, includes sections setting out student objectives and teaching activities, as well as notes on visiting the sites. There are subsections of…

This document discusses the movement to bring original historical sources into the classroom. Because students of history need access to sources of information that provide direct or primary evidence about reality, teachers must show that realistic alternatives to the traditional history text exist. In the first section of this paper, efforts to…

This journal issue covers the history of film, radio, and television in Iowa. The first article, "When Pictures and Sound Came to Iowa," summarizes the origin of movies and radio and their early beginnings in Iowa. Using old photographs and measurement charts, the viewing, reading, and listening habits of young people in 1950 and 1958…

Reading past issues of one's school newspaper provides a source from which an era may be studied through student perspectives. The papers afford an examination of World War II, the "happy days"of the 1950s, and the turbulence of the 1960s, as well as an analysis of faculty censorship before that time. (KC)

Excerpts from two propaganda leaflets distributed by Germany during World War I to demoralize American soldiers. Teaching suggestions encourage students to examine the leaflets' tone, guess who the authors might have been, and analyze the leaflets as examples of a propaganda technique. (AV)

Presents 11 ERIC documents selected specifically for secondary and college-level history teachers. Six documents examine the role of history teachers, with materials ranging from a rationale for teaching history to practical classroom applications in the field. Five documents include resources for teaching about the U.S. Constitution. (GEA)

Provides a teaching plan which helps students imaginatively take the roles of leaders in the United States during World War II so that they might more completely understand such difficult decisions as allying with the Soviet Union, relocating Japanese-Americans, and dropping the atomic bomb. Provides a statement of goals and objectives, required…

It is the purpose of the assessed k-12 sequential project to help students develop skills, knowledge, and values. Although the project is structured toward development of the concepts of various social science disciplines, history and geography are the primary subject areas. (SM)

Discusses history teaching strategies which utilize audiovisual documents in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Strategies involve integrating the materials into a lecture course; producing an individual audiovisual program; and providing students an opportunity to interpret documents. (Author/DB)

Illustrates the presence of aesthetic experience in written history by comparing textbook presentations of the United States' 1812 offensive against Canada. The aesthetic dimension of human development is universal. Teachers' responsibility is to consider the aesthetic quality of school experiences they bring about and extend students' range of…

Describes the first map to divide the globe into five symmetrical climatic zones. Discusses Ambrosius Macrobius's map as a statement of earthly limitations rather than physical reality. Suggests its significance for teaching world history is as an example of deductive cartography that influenced and challenged late medieval Christian thought. (DK)