The overall social studies recommended program is described in SO 000 675; the nature of this guide, and the emphasis and organization of the units are described in SO 000 679. The three units in this part of the third grade course are: Tropical Rainforest, Mountain Communities, and Grassland Communities involving the typical climatic conditions,…

This study is addressed to the individual analysis of 49 packages of materials produced by 42 social science curriculum projects during the 1960's for use by educators in school districts throughout the nation and professional political scientists. Each analysis includes both a narrative description and an information checklist. The narrative…

School security directors, educators, and social scientists met in conference to explore in depth the causes of school crime and to recommend realistic means of containing and minimizing it. The conferees made the following recommendations. All school administrators should set up an appropriate recordkeeping system in order to pinpoint patterns of…

The means and advantages of incorporating participation experiences into an instructional program to promote the development of effective student participant roles are presented in this paper. Several alternative approaches are reviewed historically and three types--observer, action, and competency--are discussed. A rationale for a…

The overall objectives and teaching techniques for the supplementary primary grade social studies units are described in SO 001 457. The specific objectives of this unit for grade three are: 1) to show that ethnic differences are superficial, that we are all human beings and differences are a part of the American heritage; 2) to explore the…

Democracy entails the concept of orderly liberty, a concept that implies both obedience and constructive skepticism. Since teaching youngsters to be democratic citizens is a central concern of civic education, we must be concerned about whether our youth acquire this concept of orderly liberty. Studies indicate that American youth tend to value…

This guide, one of a series in the Quinmester Program, is intended to aid teachers in grades 10 through 12 as they prepare instructional programs dealing with current environmental crisis issues. The aim of this course of study is to help students understand political and economic ramifications of environmental problems and to motivate and provide…

This quinmester course of study for grades seven through nine provides a framework for analyzing election processes in a democracy by investigating democratic societies of the past, and contrasting democracies with totalitarian types of government. Major emphasis is upon analyzing the system of institutionalized political parties, the…

This position paper discusses the general absence of law instruction at the elementary level and presents reasons for including it in the elementary curriculum. Two factors which hamper attempts to provide law instruction are limited economic resources and a general lack of understanding that law-related education could develop democratic…

Researchers have theorized that programs to promote positive citizenship should begin with an opportunity for adolescents to participate in civic activities, such as community service or political volunteering. In this report, the authors expand this theoretical perspective by arguing that programs to promote positive citizenship may need to begin…

For more than 250 years, Americans have shared a vision of a democracy in which all citizens understand, appreciate, and engage actively in civic and political life. In recent decades, however, increasing numbers of Americans have disengaged from civic and political institutions such as voluntary associations, religious congregations,…

Designed to help make the Bill of Rights a living document, the student text (user's guide) describes the history of each right in the Bill of Rights and explains how the Supreme Court has interpreted those rights throughout history. The units trace the history of the Bill of Rights, describe and analyze the first ten amendments, and explain the…

This paper proposes a model in which the rural school becomes an active agent in community economic development through leadership development and civic education. Families, school, and community are the three pillars of public education, and the concept of community engagement is crucial to rebuilding this educational partnership and creating an…

This lesson book presents the curriculum of the Rock and Water program, which aims to assist boys in their development to adulthood by emphasizing the importance of being conscious of their own power and responsibility within society. The program focuses on the process of growth to adulthood via five steps: (1) self defense; (2) standing up for…

Serve-America is a national program that was established under the 1990 National and Community Service Act to involve young people in community service and thereby build their understanding of their communities, sense of social responsibility, and commitment to community involvement. In 1992, a 3-year evaluation of Serve-America was initiated to…