The Cape Canaveral endeavor led the author to contemplate the history of cartography and the role of geographers and historians in describing the human-environment nexus. He was especially interested in the depiction of the Americas by world historians and geographers. He wanted to answer the question, "How do world historians and geographers…

Teaching about the Holocaust is an emotional process that can be extremely difficult, especially without the proper resources. Most teachers spend one or two class periods on the Holocaust and usually cram the lesson into a unit on World War II. As a teacher, the author understands that time is short and that it is impossible to spend the…

The question, "What were the causes of World War I?," has become one of the classic historical debates of which there seem to be endless permutations. In the past 90 years historians, journalists, and politicians have offered many more or less rational explanations for the war. Although at least some of the usual "causes"…

Fifty-nine students enrolled in 4 inclusive world history classes in a suburban high school participated in a within participants research design to compare the relative effects of mnemonic strategies and direct instruction on academic performance. Regularly assigned high school teachers delivered instruction during history class periods. Keywords…

Developed through a broad based national consensus building process, the National History Standards project has involved working toward agreement both on the larger purposes of history in the school curriculum and on the more specific history understandings and thinking processes that all students should have equal opportunity to acquire over 12…

Nineteen ninety-two is the 500th anniversary of Columbus's first voyage to the Americas. This position statement challenges educators to participate in commemorating the quincentenary by seriously examining the available scholarship to enhance knowledge about 1492, and in turn, to enhance the knowledge of students. Specifically, educators are…

This paper examines the shortcomings of the area studies approach and the comprehensive chronological world history survey approach to teaching world history courses. The study notes the increasing interdependence of the world and its people and advocates a thematic world history approach. By teaching a few important themes in world history,…

The 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas has raised a debate over how historians and teachers should portray this moment in history. Some view Columbus as a hero whose courage helped to provide a foundation for modern civilization in the Americas, while others see him as a villain who exploited indigenous people and…

The Spanish conquest of Mexico provides the context for this unit, designed for use with students in grades 9-12. It is intended that students will learn about the process of writing history and ways of assessing various historical accounts, and background about the Spanish conquistadors and the vanquished Aztec Indians. The unit contains four…

Provides excerpts from a forthcoming book on how high school-level history textbooks deal with the development and value of political democracy. Criticisms focus on: (1) these texts' choice of topic (particularly their emphasis on the West), (2) their handling of the political ideas of Ancient Greece, and (3) their representation of the meanings…

Argues that history is worth studying because it alone can begin to help us find who we are and what choices we may have before us. Discusses the particular significance of history within self-governing, democratic societies. Asserts that American students must be familiar with history of other cultures and periods before Columbus. (KH)

A world history course is molded around broad instructional goals in which citizenship education can and should be included. Learning activities dealing with ancient Greece illustrate teaching strategies which can be used in high school world history courses to foster citizenship knowledge, skills, and attitudes. (RM)

Upon rejecting traditional world history curricula, which include all chronological developments from cave dweller to 20th century, a course is suggested to study significant patterns of government, economics, revolution, war, major religions, geography, scientific advancement, education, and rise and fall of civilizations. (Author/AV)

Methods and problems of teaching Western Civilization and world history in a non-western society are similar to our own. Alternative methods of structuring a world history course must be found. (DC)

This document consists of the first four issues of a serial publication, "Bringing History Alive in the Classroom!" The volumes focus on: (1) "A Sampling of Renaissance Instruments," which includes: information on Christopher Columbus, Leondardo da Vinci, and William Shakespeare, a timeline from the middle ages through the renaissance, Queen…