With respect to the execution of the work, it has been the aim of the Author to present a perspicuous view of the events of French history, from the very commencement of the nation down to the present time, avoiding as far as possible the dryness of an epitome, and presenting something more than a chronicle of mere facts and dates. An attempt has…

Outlines six approaches used in a university history course which address the problems of teaching the Hitler period. The assumption underlying all the approaches is that Americans are not entirely different from Germans and that they may be faced with similar moral choices. The approaches avoid the didactic moralism often taught about this era.…

Teachers often play a mistaken notion of lecturing their students about the importance of the past rather than allowing students to discover for themselves the significance of past events. In this article, the author talks about the "detective" strategy he used which strengthens the critical thinking and analyzing skills of his students in their…

Much of what students learn never appears to connect to their lives. They learn facts, they study events, and they read stories of others. Teachers need to help students make these associations, and sometimes that means expanding the curriculum. To help her language arts students make connections between their lives and the realities of life…

National history and collective memory and their impact on adolescents' knowledge and attitudes are the topic of this article. A follow-up study, it examines the long-term impact of a journey to historical monuments. Israeli Jewish high-school students have the option of experiential study, visiting cities and death camps in Poland. The first…

This article discusses a problem teachers encounter relating to how to teach the delicate topics of 9/11 and Iraq war. Five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and in the midst of intensifying debate over the nation's approach to battling terrorism, teachers around the country are trying to determine how, and when, to teach about…

Military activities have played a part in shaping the nature of contemporary Canada. The main books dealing with recent Canadian military history that might be of interest to high school students are discussed. (RM)

This is a book of stories that take place during the American Revolution. The stories are about the conflicts the pioneers had with the Indians and with detachments of the British army during the war. The author has thrown a great deal of spirit and dash into this narrative, which is sure to carry the boy or girl reader on to the end.

Current developments in military history are reviewed; special attention is given to classroom needs. One argument for incorporating a better understanding of war through responsible classroom teaching is that alternative sources of information often used by students to find out about war are so trivial and misleading. (RM)

Describes teacher developed materials that will acquaint secondary students with the human aspects of war. The materials use fiction and the emotional impact of drama. Samples of dramatic scripts developed by the author for use in his school's Remembrance Day are included. (RM)

Historical dramas, especially war dramas, on television are usually superficial; they provide a simplistic treatment of war. The challenge to teachers--i.e., how they can deal with romanticized history on television--is discussed. (RM)

Students immediately think they understand this aspect of the Hitler regime, one in which the "Fuehrer" "says," or dictates, and his minions follow. Their usual view of Hitler assumes a tireless leader who works around the clock to supervise--through the secret state police (Gestapo) and other institution--every detail of…

The topic of the Holocaust has been included in successive versions of the National Curriculum for History where it is currently one of only four named historical events that must be taught in Key Stage 3 (KS3), the other three being the two World Wars and the Cold War (DfEE, 1999). Initial drafts of the 2000 Order for History included the…

"Facing History and Ourselves" aims to promote core character education values and to help middle and high school students develop moral reasoning skills. Students examine historical events, in particular the events that led to World War II and the Holocaust. Teachers participate in professional development seminars and apply the content…

In this article, the author describes how he introduced a history project that blended a book discussion activity and the use of blogs to his eighth-grade class. Over four weeks, his class participated in a lively collective journal centered on an assigned piece of reading: "Guerrilla Season" by Pat Hughes. The historical novel, set…