The author describes a social studies unit designed to help students develop critical thinking skills. The lessons give students opportunities to analyze multiple perspectives, use multiple sources when conducting research, and construct historical narratives through the creation of a digital historical biography.

Biography has a proven track record of exciting interest in historical events. Barbara Tuchman used it extensively in her best-selling histories, considering it a "vehicle to carry the larger subject," something that "encompasses the universal in a particular... representative." Others favor biography because it "humanizes history," "personalizes…

Presents a lesson plan for a second-grade class project. Suggests that the students will learn to identify the word "famous," complete a timeline for a famous person, learn facts about the person, and express individual thoughts and feelings. Explains the steps involved in the presentation of a living museum where students portray famous…

This booklet, intended for use by educators and by workplace and community organizers, introduces women who have been featured on U.S. postage stamps as well as a few of the women who clearly merit such honor in the future. Postage stamps featuring women have been relatively few and far between and have only skimmed the surface of U.S. women in…

Examines how U.S. junior high school and high school students view success. Includes classroom activities that help set realistic models for success and how people achieve it. Suggests several books that provide examples of success attributions. (LS)

Reading biographies will acquaint students with the contributions of African Americans in science, invention, and exploration. This article provides annotated bibliographies of collective and individual biographies; identifies sources of bulletin board and teaching materials and videotapes; and suggests class activities for individual and groups…

Presents creative ways to integrate social studies and language arts while teaching content and examining historical personalities. Students can read biographies then deliver first person reports while standing behind billboards, write letters in the character of famous people, read poetry with historical perspective, and keep journals from…

In this lesson plan, students in grades 6-8 explore the role and impact of recent First Ladies through research and family interviews, then work in groups to present a documentary portrait to the class. Through these 7 lessons, students will: (1) learn about the political and non-political careers of recent First Ladies; (2) explore the…

Describes teaching method in which a person of the day is featured on a calendar and used as the basis of that day's social studies class. Explains that the strategy introduces authors, artists, inventors, and others and provides matching activities. Suggests the method can incorporate aspects of cultural literacy into social studies, fine arts,…

Prepared for middle school students, this magazine issue covers presidential campaigns, the election process, and Herbert Hoover, an Iowan native. The articles include: (1) "Meet Clara Bell, 1848"; (2) "On the Campaign Trail"; (3) "Caucus Spotlight" (K. B. Brosseau); (4) "Kids Ask the Candidates"; (5)…

This curriculum unit for elementary students contains five short biographies of American women from different cultural groups. (1) Mary Shadd Cary--teacher, newspaper editor, and lawyer--was a free Black active as an abolitionist, a proponent of black migration to Canada before the Civil War, and a suffragist; (2) Frances Willard--teacher and the…

This compendium of information and ideas is intended as a resource for teachers introducing the study of Oregon history to elementary school children. Brief discussions of 42 topics are followed by suggestions for classroom activities using this information. The topics include the various state symbols, Indian legends, the origin of the state…

This lesson plan for students in grades 9-12 follows the guiding question, "How do filmmakers bring history to life, and how does filmed history represent (or misrepresent) historical realities?" Through these lessons, students employ the screenwriter's craft to gain a fresh perspective on historical research, learning how filmmakers…

Provides ways teachers can make U.S. history more meaningful for students. Suggests using family photographs; making family trees; planning activities that focus on commemorative celebrations; creating a time line; reading biographies; and collecting stamps. (GG)

Considers biography-centered learning as a model for teaching social studies in elementary school. Provides a sequence of steps and a description of each to help students read and write biography as a knowledge transforming process. Claims students learn to do research and write, both vital to a democratic society. (NL)