Suggests procedures for using foreign money as a tool for teaching about other cultures. Explains that this group activity allows students to observe writing systems, illustrations, and designs to hypothesize on the perceived importance of the items. Includes a sample handout and teacher's key showing a Korean banknote. (DK)

Discusses the use of primary resources in the teaching of middle school social studies. Describes a lesson in which students were given a copy of the Declaration of Independence, written in everyday language, and were asked to discuss and evaluate it. Suggests another activity based on Thomas Jefferson's writings. (SG)

Argues that the experiences of U.S. women in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries may be uncovered through the colorful legacy of quilts. Outlines the teacher's task in integrating the study of quilts into the curriculum. Presents an imaginary scenario that illustrates the types of comments one might encounter in a classroom…

Offers suggestions for incorporating literature into teaching history. Outlines several activities designed to extend students' understanding of historical events. Includes a suggested reading list of fiction covering various periods in U.S. history for grades 4 through 12. (NL)

Presents an essay and several photographs describing the experiences of U.S. women in the 1940s. Suggests that wartime employment greatly impacted the role of women in society. Describes ways to help students learn how to interpret a photograph and provides questions for classroom discussions. (DB)

Describes the 75 hours of primary source material compiled on videotape, covering 2217 individual units, and spanning 93 years of world history found in "The Video Encyclopedia of the 20th Century." Presents strategies for using the "Video Encyclopedia" themes for world history, as well as descriptions of sample units contained…

Describes a project funded by the Women's Educational Equity Act designed to expand students' male or female self-concept, teach decision-making skills, and increase achievement. Presents two lessons from the project. (CK)

Argues that secondary economics teachers must help students learn to apply fundamental economics concepts to real problems. Advocates the critical thinking approach. Outlines goals, objectives, content, and procedures for an inquiry lesson that teaches the concepts land, labor, and capital through a problem-solving, hypothesis-testing method.…

Describes a series of activities presented at the 1996 Annual Cultural Diversity Celebration. The activities are designed to provide teachers with ideas that focus on family values, traditions, and homes. These lessons teach children that values such as love, caring, justice, and respect for human dignity are universal. (MJP)

Urges social studies teachers to help students understand and identify sociocentric, national bias in the news media. Illustrates how the media fosters "us versus them" thinking and how word choice often reflects bias. Outlines activities to help students recognize bias. Provides weak and strong examples of students' analyses of bias in news…

Describes a curriculum-embedded focus for character education. Outlines a series of character-related topics (justice, responsibility, civic virtue) and combines them with corresponding social studies topics and activities (reviewing the origins of self-government, interviewing community elders) for each grade K-12. Includes reading list and…

Presents a program for teaching social studies through a simulated archaeological dig. Describes an integrated lesson in solving real problems through a variety of disciplines making full use of technology. Discusses objectives, project organization, and the necessary materials. Emphasizes student interest in learning through experience. Includes…