Unit I for grade six deals with the American Indian in a cross cultural approach. Pupils use case studies to examine the Aztecs, who were later conquered by the Spanish, and the Iroquois, who came into contact with the French and English, as total cultures and draw comparisons between the two. The main part of each resource unit is set up in a…

Four modules of classroom strategies provide suggestions for examining U.S. history in light of contemporary issues. "The Right to Life" uses the Karen Anne Quinlan case as a model for exploring moral, legal, and medical issues related to euthanasia. Students discuss the reasoning and viewpoints of various groups associated with the…

Discusses reasons for studying history. Suggests that compelling arguments for historical study will affect students' attitudes throughout life. Evaluates common rationales for studying history. Includes history as fun, tradition, great ideas, human folly, escapism, and nationalist legitimation. Urges that students be taught history as facts that…

Presents background information on Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Wisconsin could not compel Amish students to attend high school. Outlines a lesson plan for simulating the court's decision. Includes discussion questions that distinguish between the First Amendment establishment and free exercise clauses and…

Outlines a teaching unit, appropriate for grades seven through college, that helps students understand the nature of the United Nations definition of genocide. Questions the adequacy of that definition. Provides four classroom teaching scenarios for a cluster of five to eight class periods, culminating with students writing an essay about…

Asserts that the PBS series "The Civil War" presents historical information that can encourage critical thinking by students. Offers a lesson plan based on one program in the series, "The Cause." Provides questions for student discussion and outlines writing assignments based on the series. (CFR)

Intended to help children sustain gains made in school, this manual consists of simple learning activities that parents can use to engage children ranging from second grade through middle school/junior high school. The description of each activity outlines the purpose for the activity, the materials needed, the duration of the activity, how it is…

Sample lessons and instructional materials from a Japanese bilingual/bicultural elementary school program are presented. The lessons are designed to integrate Japanese language instruction with content instruction, using thematic units related to the core curriculum. The ten lessons are organized by target grade (K-5), and describe classroom…

This issue of "The Goldfinch," a magazine of Iowa history for young people, features articles, stories, and activities concerning the history of persons and institutions that have cared for the children of Iowa. Among the articles included are "What about the Children?""Iowa's Orphan Annie"; and "When Children…

In recognition of the need for suitable materials for the teaching of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to young children, this book suggests model lessons, methods, and activities teachers can use. The book is divided into two sections. Section 1 consists of model lessons demonstrating the use of the newspaper to study the Constitution and…

This teacher's guide provides student objectives, motivational devices, terms and concepts to know, student activities, evaluation ideas, and suggestions for using an accompanying four-part videotape series. An activity for chapter 1, "Differing World Views," divides the class into groups that list U.S.-Soviet differences in economic…

The paper discusses rationales for simulation gaming and describes "Spiegeldorf," a socio-historical game which simulates socioeconomic conditions in early 1930 Germany and Nazi party tactics used to gain mass support. Objectives are to identify characteristic Nazi tactics and points of political ideology, describe German social classes…

After posing the theoretical question of the state's power to conscript its citizens for military purposes, this secondary-school unit examines, in selected periods of American history, cases of citizens who have objected to conscription. The student is invited to see the changing bases of conscientious objection, and to consider the choice…

A study of value change, this unit for college-preparatory students focuses on the ethic of work in America. The student is asked to evaluate the ethic of work from the Puritans to the present and to account for changes in the concept brought about by industrialism and, most importantly, by the depression of the 1930's. He is then confronted with…

Case studies in each of the parts deal with specific problems in the mainstream of United States history and are designed to help the general level student relate the case study and the theme of the past to similar problems today. Each theme deals with the resolution of conflict in historical ideologies. 1) Studies on intolerance in American life…