Drawing on data generated following the 2016 United States presidential election, in this article the author considers how a classroom makerspace made Black girls' literacies visible in new ways. During a six-week integrated humanities unit in a third-grade public school classroom in the Midwestern U.S., four Black girls used making to create a…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to ask how we can think about critical reflection as a pedagogical practice given the "confessional turn." By the "confessional turn," the author refers to the idea that "subjective, autobiographical and confessional modes of expression" have expanded exponentially across a wide range of social spheres,…

To help high school students understand their political world, particularly in an election year, the article describes a teaching approach based on a comparison of political terminology to the transmission shift on an automobile. (DB)

Examines several generalizations concerning political terrorism that have been inferred from research and suggests methods and materials social studies teachers can use to teach a basic understanding of terrorism. (FL)

Examines the concept of feasibility in the decision making process and presents examples of policies which were unfeasible because policy makers did not explore all relevant policy dimensions. Suggests how to incorporate the political, economic, and technological aspects of feasibility into the political science curriculum. (Author/DB)

Reviews and critiques the major findings in the simulation impact literature, and offers an impact evaluation of the recently developed urban politics simulation, "Urban Policy Game: A Simulation of Urban Politics." Particular emphasis is placed on the variety of learning experiences accompanying role-play simulations, especially verstehen…

Describes how faculty-produced 35 mm slides can be used to enhance student interest in political science in undergraduate college level courses. Emphasis is placed on copying existing photos and on fieldwork where political events are photographed. Information is presented on copyright law, photographic equipment, and slide program technique.…

This article is a report of a campaign game that was formulated in order to introduce the student to the realities of political campaigning. Post-game tests indicated that the game generally increased political interest and had little effect on measured political attitudes such as efficacy, saliency and alienation. (Author)

Examines some considerations that Shakespeare's plays raise for students and teachers of political science. Using the plays "Richard II and III" and "Henry IV, V, and VI," Gleicher discusses the genre of the history play, describes the historical and political position from which Shakespeare wrote, and identifies themes in…

Stresses the importance of Atlantic studies within the framework of United States history, European history, and the contemporary world scene. Ways of integrating Atlantic studies into the high school social studies curriculum are suggested. Topics discussed include objectives, audiovisual aids, supplementary reading material, and global political…

A two-hat debate technique is described in which one author wore a straw hat and spoke in favor of the American system, then donned a beret and argued for the French party system. The technique has been used to examine political issues, government policies, institutions of different nations, etc. (MLW)

Describes a classroom activity to introduce students to pros and cons of recent bottle bill legislation which proposes restrictions on the sale of nonreturnable beverage containers. Flowcharts are used to analyze the problem in a systems format. (Author/AV)

Recent research in civic education suggests much for shaping and focusing secondary social studies methods course work. This Digest: (1) provides an overview of selected findings from recent studies of secondary students' civic understanding and engagement; and (2) offers five research-based suggestions for social studies methods instructors.…

Maintains there is a positive correlation between the study of ideologies and democracy, stressing that political theorists should teach political ideologies. Examines the current debate over the study of ideologies and the history of ideology. Suggests ways studying ideologies teaches students democratic values, and defines democratic thinking as…

Discusses episodes from the history of the Sioux Indians in North and South Dakota and suggests ways in which this information can be incorporated into social studies classroom activities. Information is taken from primary source material in the Educational Division of the National Archives. (Author/DB)