When projects are the spine of a course, they are systematically sequenced one after the other, and they do the heavy lifting of the course. They teach its core content and skills. The author has been testing this model of course design for several years, aiming for experiential learning that is tied to deep rather than superficial learning of…

This article presents an alternative structure for social studies. The structure is based on studying people as grouped by culture rather than by political boundaries. Provides an example of how the cultural grouping might change a standard United States history course. (JDH)

A detailed explanation of a strategy for teaching any critical thinking skill is presented. The skill of distinguishing between statements of fact and opinion is used to illustrate the steps necessary to plan for teaching critical thinking. (RM)

The data-gathering model for the National Assessment offers many uses and implications at state and local levels for accountability and curriculum development purposes. (Author/KM)

Discusses how social history lessons fit with relative ease into secondary U.S. and European history courses. A sample lesson shows teachers how to use data on the history of childhood when teaching about the Enlightenment. (RM)

Provides a rationale for teaching about work in the social studies curriculum, despite concerns that career education is faddish and discourages upward mobility for disadvantaged children. A successful model developed by the Illinois Council on Economic Education helps students understand economic processes and the role of work in their lives.…

This article deals with the basic techniques of teaching entire classes to cooperatively develop simulation games. The first section presents a model which serves as a nucleus for developing the instructional strategies in the second section. (Author/KM)

Social education of high school students should consist of a joint practice of negotiation by school adults and students in the handling of real school conflicts. (KM)

Research on teacher effectiveness has provided substantial evidence that certain teaching behaviors are more likely than others to promote student achievement. Described is an instructional design model that can help teachers plan for more effective teaching. Two sample social studies lessons based on the model are presented. (RM)