Discusses different goal orientations of educationists and social scientists as a means of stimulating thinking and action in the realm of social studies curriculum and instruction. (Author/DB)

Identifies diversity of teachers' instructional priorities, student disengagement (boredom), and mediocre teaching as three problem-areas of social studies instruction. Overcoming these problems requires that teachers place depth above coverage, that the school culture be changed to enhance student engagement, and that efforts be made to promote…

Argues that map skills instruction is among the broadest skill applications in the elementary school curriculum. Identifies problems encountered by elementary school children in dealing with maps and describes tasks designed to address such problems. Suggests that what teachers and curriculum developers learn from working with students can be used…

Argues that the greatest deficiency in U.S. education is the development of behavior that is attitude and value-driven, not information-driven. Urges social studies teachers to recognize that middle school education is a moral enterprise and adjust examples, discussion, and teaching activities accordingly. Reviews research and instructional…

Aspects of required teacher competencies and new developments in social studies, lingering conflicts, and suggestions to strengthen the social studies teaching profession are observed in an address by the President of the National Council of Social Studies. (KM)

Discusses California's Technology in the Curriculum Project for History/Social Science which was designed to identify technology resources, both computer and video, that were of appropriate technical quality to support social studies instruction. Explores the matching of television programs to instructional objectives, highlighting the potential…

Discusses the Conference on History, Civil Government, and Political Economy of the National Education Association (NEA), known as the "Committee of Ten" which met in December 1892. Describes the committee's recommendations which, among other things, called for the movement away from rote memorization toward newer educational methods…

Compares inquiry teaching practices with the more recent classroom approaches generated by scholarship on women and feminist theory. Develops the concept of feminist pedagogy and illustrates its practice in a unit on western settlement from a United States history course. (JDH)

Presents a study which identifies experienced classroom teachers' beliefs about what should be included in the geography curriculum. Tables show how questionnaire respondents ranked the importance of specific items in three categories: geographic skills, human geography, and physical geography. Concludes that teacher perceptions must be considered…

U. S. students are poorly prepared regarding map skills and the general field of geography. Research suggests that significant improvement can and should be made in map and globe teaching programs. Sources that describe what to cover at different age and grade levels and that recommend teaching ideas are discussed. (RM)

Describes the recent revitalization of civics education in Australian schools. This approach incorporates traditional citizenship education into a new curriculum that addresses environmental and multicultural issues. Delineates the guidelines and goals of this new curriculum. (MJP)