Proponents of writing across the curriculum are quick to clarify that writing to learn is not the same as learning to write; but as flip sides of a single coin, the two support one another. Across-the-curriculum writing finds its merit in removing students from their passivity. Cross-curricular writing activities fall into two groups--expressive…

Describes an introductory undergraduate survey course on European history that incorporates three interrelated sections: constitutional government in Europe, the American revolution, and the French Revolution. The instruction emphasizes the interconnectedness among the events and includes repetition of key ideas and information. Discusses the…

Summarizes an interdisciplinary course that uses humanities resources to illuminate social science concepts related to nationalism and multiculturalism. Combined fiction and nonfiction sources to discuss the determining factors of national and personal identity. Includes relevant examples, as well as a list of required texts, and student projects.…

Focuses on the uses of science fiction to teach sociology and develop critical and creative thinking. Maintains that in the last 20 years science fiction has become concerned increasingly with social themes. Concludes with a detailed description of the use of "The Handmaid's Tale" in an introductory sociology course. (MJP)

Describes the efforts of one elementary art class to move beyond the limits of formalism when examining and discussing art. Guided by the teacher, the class attempted a critical deconstruction of the work of Edgar Degas focusing on his depiction of working class women. Includes three reproductions of Degas works. (MJP)

Describes a high school citizenship class unit that contrasted Aristotle's concept of a public citizen with the actions of Meursault in Albert Camus's "The Stranger." Through writing assignments and class activities, the students connected their own ideas of citizenship, freedom, and conformity with Aristotelian and existentialist…

Describes an interdisciplinary instructional unit using the historical novel "The Killer Angels" to teach about the Civil War. Writing assignments focused on character analysis from the novel bolstered by outside historical research. Student response was overwhelmingly positive. Includes suggested guidelines for developing an…

Provides evidence that sixth-grade students are capable of considerable art historical understanding. Suggests that second-grade students are able to incorporate knowledge of individual artists, and some limited historical perspective, in their consideration of artworks. Includes assessment instrument and statistical tables. (MJP)

This manual describes 18 music-based activities and suggested variations designed for classroom teachers (with little or no musical training) to teach profoundly disabled students more consistent and advanced levels of responding to their environment. Brief suggestions are presented for teacher behaviors, structure of turn-taking, and classroom…

Examines a selective sampling of children's novels that exhibit different views toward slavery and the Civil War, based on gender, race, geographic location, and national origin. Briefly summarizes these selections and discusses their strengths and weaknesses. (MJP)