This secondary level anthropology textbook emphasizes the comparison of the patterns of culture change which resulted in complex societies (civilizations) in six different areas around the world. The textbook stresses problem-solving and is centered around three questions: In what manner and through what stages did these civilizations evolve? What…

The purpose of this study was to determine practices of methods that secondary school history teachers could use to help their students master special skills needed for effectively reading and comprehending printed materials in their classes. Since a range of eighth grade levels of reading achievement may be presented in a history class which uses…

A structural approach to world history, embodied in a ninth grade required course, is outlined in this course description. The fundamental concept of the course is that history is a process of development, and this process is analyzed in terms of a study of the basic factors in historical development. The most useful of these factors are…

The philosophy and techniques of using local history to make the world more interesting, realistic, and understandable to K-12 students are provided in this third How to Do It Series. Objectives of using local history as a teaching technique are to promote: critical thinking and other cognitive skills; orientation of the present community to the…

Three innovative approaches for teaching California history are described. (DE)

Suggests that character and personality profiles can heighten student interest in history. Provides an outline for writing a report on an historical personality and recommends activities which involve students in simulation and creative writing. (Author/DB)

Suggests that high school history can be more interesting and useful if students are taught to formulate, evaluate, and use historical statements on the basis of evidence available in primary sources. Outlines a curriculum based on this thesis. (AV)

Argues that A level history students are denied any initiative in formulating the questions they might wish to ask. (Editor)

By providing adolescents with the opportunity to interact with a much extended social environment of humans past and distant, the history teacher is able to promote maturity of moral judgment as an important aspect of social development. Some normative data relating to this transition in adolescents are presented. (Editor/RK)

Reviews the political history surrounding the development of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Includes a shortened and simplified version of the major articles of the Ordinance. Identifies three instructional resources for teaching about the Northwest Ordinance in secondary schools. (JDH)

Primary source materials and excerpts from books concerning three types of autocracy--the divine right of kings, benevolent despotism, and totalitarianism--are provided for use with secondary students. Discussion questions are included. (RM)

Provides an extensive annotated bibliography of materials on 18th century Latin America. The bibliography is divided into three sections: An introductory overview; selected topics such as The Enlightenment and women; and major regions. (AEM)

Suggests twelve strategies for helping students read social studies material with greater comprehension. The strategies include simulations, debates, documents, oral histories, current events, and differing accounts of history. (DH)

Presents a lesson which calls upon students to compare Adam Smith's WEALTH OF NATIONS to James Madison's FEDERALIST #10 to see how the ancient concept of individual rights and liberties was used to describe both economic and governmental systems. Presents questions to provide the basis for comparison. (GEA)

Demonstrates specific exercises designed to show students how popular cultural materials can be used as historical documents and the potential pitfalls inherent in this process. Examines Warner Brothers cartoons, relating the plot to the socio-historical roots of the cartoons. Concludes that this technique helps students better understand…