Classroom activities to help children learn about and celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the United States Constitution are described, including making up a class constitution, teaching about becoming a United States citizen, and researching details of a specific state's ratification of the Constitution. (CB)

Describes a college course dealing with the origins and goals of Soviet foreign policy. The course examines the events surrounding the development of Soviet policy since the 1917 revolution, the domestic factors which influence foreign policymaking, and current problems and policies. (RM)

The author describes how he has adapted the television quiz show format of "College Bowl" to current events study for junior high school students. An insert explains use of the same technique with fourth graders. (SJL)

Examines the origins of the Bill of Rights. Explores the temptation to focus on current problems at the expense of the future. Introduces four articles concerning teaching about the Bill of Rights. (SG)

Argues for increased attention to current events in social studies instruction. Suggests using mass media sources to supplement contemporary affairs teaching. Recommends that teachers create learning centers and display areas; encourage students to maintain current affairs folders, scrapbooks, journals, and learning logs; give current affairs…

Presents background information and teaching suggestions about endangered species for social studies teachers. Discusses political processes, economics, current events, and ethics. Lists resource information. (DC)

Offers a critical look at the media's role in presenting social issues, in particular, the reporting on riots in Los Angeles in spring 1992. Describes the Metropolitan Area Educators for Social Responsibility's Resolving Conflict Creatively Program and efforts to help teachers cope with children's questions and fears. (DMM)

Discusses Ohio University's (Athens) U.S. history contest for high school students. Tabulates student scores; examines them in the areas of chronology, colonial history, constitutional amendments, and knowledge of recent events. Outlines the importance of the test to determine student competence in U.S. history. (RW)

Reviews discoveries and reports of dinosaurs to help put them into paleontological perspective. Proposes that discoveries not be announced from the field, but submitted to professional evaluation and peer review before release to the public. (Author/RT)

Contends that there is a growing trend in moral philosophy to return to the use of examples from everyday life to analyze moral virtue and character traits. Recommends the use of vignettes from well-known literature and actual contemporary events to illustrate moral dilemmas and ethical choices. (CFR)

Describes the German health insurance system which is mandatory for nearly all German citizens. Explains that, along with pension, accident, and unemployment insurance, health insurance is one of four pillars of the German national social security system. Asserts that controlling costs while maintaining high health care standards is a national…

Presents a selective chronology of three aspects of German history since World War II: the origins of the postwar division of Germany; the effects of two major policy decisions by West Germany after 1949; and the unification process after 1989. Contends that France and Germany will remain the core nations in the evolution of the European…

Suggests that students can learn to recognize media bias by studying media reports of current events or historical topics. Describes a study unit using media coverage of the second anniversary of the Palestinian uprising against Israel. Discusses lesson objectives, planning, defining bias teaching procedures, and criteria for determining bias. (DK)

Describes an upper-level undergraduate psychology course in which students applied psychological research to contemporary social issues. Students presented two reports on a controversial issue: one based on media reports and the other based on their own research. Reports that the experience gave students a better understanding of the strengths and…

Outlines a variety of activities incorporating celebration and study of the Olympic Games into the music curriculum. Suggested activities are separated by elementary, middle school, and secondary levels. Includes a list of Olympic music recordings. (MJP)