To promote diverse learning strategies, teacher education programs should use their local environments. For example, students in elementary education methods courses at the University of Maryland spend one week in the Mall area of Washington, DC. They must use all the sources in the Mall to research specific problems. (RM)

Identifies writing projects, children's literature, role-playing activities, and community resources that teachers can use in instructing young children about the Bill of Rights. Reminds teachers not to be overzealous in presenting the subject. Suggests that guest speakers and field trips are likely to have a greater impact upon students than most…

In this article, the author describes "community/resource mapping," an activity in which students intellectually engage problems, mine the terrain of their social conditions for solutions, and exercise and accept responsibility for the burden of decision making. The activity, which was developed for use in the public policy sector, can be an…

Contends that barriers to effective education can be overcome by using the community as a living laboratory for social studies learning. Discusses out-of-school learning opportunities that meet four criteria: (1) goal relevance; (2) appropriate level of difficulty; (3) feasibility; and (4) cost effectiveness. (CFR)