This paper presents preliminary findings from a study of the historical understanding of secondary students age 12-15 years in Northern Ireland. The study investigated the ideas students had about history, the sources of those ideas, how those ideas related to their sense of identity, and how school history compared to other, less formal…

Historical interpretation is a primary responsibility of the historian in addition to discovery of the factual past. Using historiographical study as one aspect of historical study, a teacher provides a vehicle for understanding and gaining experience in the use of the reflective process. (JB)

Describes a multi-media, open-ended approach to high school social studies that is relevant to any historical period. (AN)

Objectivity should be an aim of all historical study despite the difficulty in attaining it. By measuring events, documents, or personalities against the standards of the era in which they occurred, students move one step closer to objectivity. Study of time perspective is a social studies skill. (Author/VW)

Student understanding and motivation are increased if history is taught from the present to the past with an emphasis on current affairs and their effect on the student

Described is a means of involving high school students by making their history class into a simulated meeting of the United Nation's Security Council. (LS)

Methods for studying the coverage of the same current news story in several newspapers are outlined. Secondary school students critically examine news reporting, detect false or propagandistic reports, and learn to weigh and judge evidence. An example using the Three Mile Island nuclear accident is provided. (KC)

Three basic approaches to dealing with political processes in the secondary classroom are described: (1) questions requiring reflection on personal out-of-classroom experience; (2) simulation of group political decision-making that leads to vicarious suffering; and (3) moving towards real "here and now" consequences of group tyranny. (RM)

Describes three programs offered by the San Diego History Research Center for teaching local history to secondary students. Students tour the Center, use primary sources to write research papers for a contest, and view a slide presentation. (AM)

Explores the implications of using essay writing for teaching students the basic concepts constituting historical-mindedness and suggests six guidelines for use in secondary school and college classrooms. (Author/CK)

Discusses the advantages of using photographs in history instruction and suggests questions teachers can ask to help students analyze photographs. (SJL)

Outlines method for using the newspaper in the secondary school social studies classroom by comparing coverage of a single major event in several newspapers. Students compare headline, placement, length, pictures, related stories, and editorials. An example of the Iran rescue attempt is provided. (KC)

Suggests that social studies students on the high school level can benefit from a study of local government because it is the level of government with which they are already most familiar. Suggests that teachers use a local government unit utilizing research projects, field trips, primary community resource material, and class presentations. (DB)

The author recommends cartoons as a useful teaching medium for junior and senior high social studies. They clarify meanings of historical and current issues through symbolization and caricature. By sketching their own cartoons and writing about the details of others, students can increase their perception and understanding. (Author/AV)