Analyzes information in social studies textbooks in the United States regarding the history of the USSR. Identifies major problems, including failure to take the work of Soviet scholars into account, political bias, oversimplification, distortion of the truth and failure to highlight achievements of Russian culture, science, and sociopolitical…

Article examined examples of poor and in some cases bad economics that the authors found in an analysis of some of the American History textbooks found in schools. (Author/RK)

This study, undertaken in 1963, analyzed the references made to religion in elementary social studies textbooks. The report was intended to inform authors, publishers, and teachers and enable them to correct errors, supply omissions, and omit irrelevant material. The textbooks used in the study consisted of 120 elementary (grades 1-6) public…

This report is intended to be used as a tool to aid educators in selecting basic instructional materials that are best suited to their elementary social studies curricula and, especially, to the teachers and learners who will use them. In all, this volume contains comprehensive analyses of ten social studies programs now on the market that…

Discusses the assessment criteria, methodology, findings, and onclusions of Gilbert T. Sewall's 1987 report: American History Textbooks: An Assessment of Quality (SO 018 768). Contends that the report reveals that standard research procedures were implemented poorly, if at all. Criticizes the selection of the review panel and concludes that the…

Criticizes the organization, emphases, scope, and intellectual challenges of basal social studies textbooks widely used in elementary schools. Includes recommendations for improving such textbooks and social studies curricula. (MCG)

Elementary and secondary social studies teachers are first asked to rate their classroom textbooks concerning readability, interest level, quality and quantity of illustrations, clarity, and organization. Techniques that they can use to enrich each of these areas are then presented. (RM)

A major aim of the social studies according to state and local educational goals is to foster students' thinking skills. This study was conducted to determine, according to Bloom's taxonomy, the levels of questioning generated by third-grade social studies textbooks. It examined the extent to which each selected textbook emphasized higher levels…

Publishers' representatives responded to questions concerning textbook content and use and a series of questions are presented which provide an effective means of evaluating textbooks. Analyses of a few of the presently available textbooks and textbook programs reflecting curriculum reform in the social studies are included. (JB)

Suggests that social studies teachers use cloze procedure to determine the reading level of materials they use in the classroom. The method consists of excerpting a 300-word passage from the intended text and deleting every fifth word. Students fill in words through attention to context. (Author/KC)

Stresses the importance of recognizing bias in written language (often referred to as critical thinking/reading) and suggests activities to help elementary school social studies teachers improve their bias recognition skills. A multiple choice quiz is presented in which teachers are directed to analyze bias in quotations from newspapers and social…

Provides a rationale for career education as a criterion for selection of social studies texts. Outlines stages of career education K-adult. Includes a checklist for assessing texts and a statement of NCSS goals relating to career education. (CK)

Safe, noncontroversial social studies textbooks are neither meaningful nor necessary according to many students. As an alternative, teachers can integrate well-written trade books into the social studies curriculum. Well-researched diaries, journals, biographies, and autobiographies should become an integral part of the curriculum. (28 references)…

Textbooks have traditionally been the focus of classroom instruction, however, the role of textbooks has been increasingly challenged by various groups. They have raised questions about the quality and content of textbooks in U.S. classrooms. This document provides a program of a 1989 conference that addressed issues related to the role and…

This publication is designed to provide guidance to secondary teachers, curriculum developers, and geographic educators responsible for selecting appropriate text materials in geography and the social sciences. The most commonly used geography textbooks for grades 7 through 12 are reviewed. The reviews identify major components of sound geography…