U.S. history is an ideal subject in which to inculcate skepticism and to teach critical thinking skills. High school students who read and analyze rival interpretations of history come to expect that there is more than one viewpoint to most historical topics. Sample lessons are presented. (RM)

This paper presents 10 units in an introductory oral communication course which utilize instructional techniques necessary for student success in attaining 15 course objectives. Each unit consists of a goal statement and sections on objectives, content description, enabling activities, and instructional resources. The time frame for instruction…

Designed for use with the text "Greek and Roman Myths," this junior high school learning activity packet introduces students to mythology and examines the influence of myths on contemporary culture. Over 20 exercises, tagged to specific readings in the text, cover identification of the major gods, the Prometheus myth, the Atlas myth,…

Children can acquire basic skills through social studies content using the traditional early childhood learning center environmental organization. Such learning centers are described and possible social studies units and daily routines and activities that can be used in the centers are discussed. (RM)

This 10-day unit on the French Revolution is designed to help high school students understand the interplay of economic, social, and political forces in the process of revolutionary change, and the development of modern democratic forms of government. Critical thinking and geographic skill activities are employed throughout the unit and include…

The purpose of this unit is to help elementary students make new friends among their classmates and outside the classroom. The underlying rationale is that primary students especially can benefit from the study of the characteristics of friends because they need to learn how to interact with other children, to assist in overcoming the egocentric…

Geography must help students understand the interrelationships of people with each other and with their surroundings. Describes a world geography unit for the sixth grade based upon the climatic regions of the world. By asking questions at increasingly higher levels, teachers can raise students' thinking skills. (CS)

Explores the relationship between current events instruction and economics education and explains how teachers can stress the relationship between these two areas of study and increase students' interest in and understanding of both areas. Suggests how to use a current events game ("The Interwoven Web") to provide important learning experiences…

This four-day unit is designed for use in social studies and/or literature classes at secondary (7-12) and community college levels as a general introduction to conflict on personal, group, and world levels. The unit introduces students to and familiarizes them with the characteristics and mechanisms of conflicts at all levels and with basic…

Designed for use in junior high school language arts classes, this learning activity packet combines the study of prejudice with language arts skills activities. An attitude inventory in which students assess their own prejudices is followed by a selection of short stories, skits, and a poem dealing with different kinds of prejudice. Each reading…

Designed to aid art or classroom instructors in teaching the fundamentals of artistic composition, this learning packet can be adapted to any grade level. Eleven sections cover selection of a subject, choice of a center of interest, types of balance, line of vision, filling space, creation of patterns, value (light vs. dark), and perspective. Each…

A mini-unit introducing seventh grade students to their new school and its surrounding area can be adapted for use in any school. Following a list of learning objectives and evaluation methods, the document provides a short vocabulary lesson and five student activities and worksheets for learning to read school, city, state, and county maps. A…

An eighth grade social studies unit on Maryland geography contains three sections of materials. In the first section, a two-column chart matches grade-level objectives related to Maryland history and geography to specific activities discussed in the second section. A content outline is divided into sections on Maryland as part of the United States…

The Chinese lunar calendar dates back to the second millennium BC. Unlike the western calendar, which numbers the years progressively from the birth of Jesus Christ, the Chinese calendar is cyclical. Each cycle is made up of 12 years--after the 12th year, the cycle is repeated. The Chinese associate each year of a 12-year cycle with an animal, and…

Activities in this elementary unit focus on developing students' locational skills while strengthening their ability to read and follow instructions. Seven maps of varying complexity are accompanied by worksheets containing 8 to 13 direction exercises. Students are instructed to place buildings, landmarks, and labels in accurate locations on each…