This article explores student meaning making in a Grade 11 US history unit on the Second World War. The 10-lesson unit was designed as an experiment that aimed to apply an instructional model of historical consciousness to a classroom context. Although the notion of historical consciousness has gained significant interest in the field of history…

For many of the students in the author's American history class, early twentieth-century American history seems far removed from their daily lives. Being first and second-generation American citizens, many of the students do not have the luxury of hearing grandparents and great-grandparents telling stories about FDR and Henry Ford. More…

This teacher's kit contains a series of lessons on black history that can be integrated into regular 8th- and 11th-grade American history courses. Each lesson includes a student card containing basic reading material, with appropriate activities, and a teacher card providing additional information and/or suggestions for class discussion. Although…

Designed for 11th grade U.S. history students, the teaching unit combines the history of the U.S. Capitol building and its Greek and Roman revival architecture to tell the story of the nation's government buildings. While the unit uses the U.S. Capitol, any other public building could be used, such as a state capitol, court house, or public…

Presents an interdisciplinary thematic unit designed for eleventh graders that uses selected chapters of "The Martian Chronicles" to teach frontier history. Maintains that Bradbury's novel enriches students' understanding of the frontier because it compares the interactions between Native inhabitants of Mars and Earthlings to the…

In a study investigating the effects of student engagement in inquiry learning through the development of Web sites, nearly every student reported having enjoyed the project, and the majority scored an A or B for their project grade. However, neither enjoyment nor high achievement on this performance task necessarily translated into high scores on…

The primary focus of this legal education module, fifth of five to be integrated into an 11th grade American history course, is that the law is not an all powerful instrument of social control. Understandings, or objectives, consider the following: that the very nature of some social aims, such as brotherhood, places them beyond the limited…

The primary focus of this module, one of five to be integrated into an 11th grade American history course, is on the question: Is law necessary? Understandings, or objectives, deal with the use of the law as a necessary means of social control over antisocial behavior and dispute resolution; treat the social guidance function of law; examine the…

This elective quinmester course for grades 10, 11, and 12 on labor and management presents a historical analysis of public policy concerning business, trade unions, and collective bargaining. Focus is on the American labor movement, causes and effects of labor-management disputes, and public and private methods and agencies for dispute…

This 4-week curriculum is designed to help 11th and 12th grade students reach an understanding of the history and culture of Vietnam and the roots of U.S. military involvement there, and also to draw lessons from U.S. actions during the war in Vietnam. Students are encouraged to engage in critical thinking, evaluation, drawing conclusions, taking…

This syllabus, revised in 1967, presents a thematic approach to history instruction with emphasis on concept development and relevant understandings. Five major topics focus on these areas: (1) American People (Immigration and Reaction to Immigrants, American Culture Patterns, Population, Civil Rights; (2) Government and Politics (Constitutional…

The primary focus of this legal education module, third of five to be integrated into an 11th grade American history course, is on the relationship of social change and legal change. Students are asked to create a model for evaluating change processes, then to evaluate legal and extra-legal methods of influencing change. The module provides for…

The primary focus of this legal education module, fourth of five to be integrated into an 11th grade American history course, is on the problems of maintaining a system of government in which officials who make, change, enforce, and apply laws do not unreasonably interfere with fundamental values and interests of the governed. Understandings, or…

The primary focus of this legal education module, second of five to be integrated into an 11th grade American history course, is on the five legal tools needed to provided for the needs of our society. The functional analysis of government provided by this module allows students to investigate the various branches of government and administrative…

This booklet presents teacher-developed units of study on the American government for eleventh-grade students. The materials are Part I of a set of classroom strategies intended to help secondary students examine American history in light of the issues identified by the American Issues Forum. Students analyze the U.S. Constitution, draw cartoons,…