Using literature in the social studies classroom is a useful pedagogy that is particularly well-suited in human rights education. Literature can give voice to people who cannot speak for themselves and gives students an opportunity to consider perspectives that are often foreign to them. When used with delicacy and care, these literary…

Barbara Cruz describes how what began as a challenge (i.e., finding or justifying the time to spend on history instruction in an environment of high-stakes testing) turned into a rich learning experience for students using historical fiction. By designing experiences that were literacy centered but based in historical content, this group of…

This article looks at three examples of children's and young adult literature that offer entertaining, accessible, and at times provocative, explorations of the rule of law in very different settings. Lewis Carroll's classic, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," finds Alice confronting a host of procedural irregularities and abuses of power within…

In teaching about Latin America and the Caribbean, bringing a human dimension to the study of the region is essential. Texts on the region can be dull and lifeless or even biased and skewed. Introducing students to the region by exploring prose, poetry, and picture books helps to illustrate the rich diversity found throughout Latin America and the…

Presents an annotated bibliography of 1992 notable trade books selected by the the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children's Book Council. Categorizes books by reading level and subject matter. Includes fiction, nonfiction, biographies, songbooks, and reference works. (CFR)

Provides a bibliography of literature for young adults and selected references on the Great Irish Famine. Presents hints to six riddles of Ireland and includes the answers to the riddles on page 15 of this issue. (CMK)

Presents the award winners and honor books at the elementary and secondary levels for the 2000 Carter G. Woodson Book Awards. Explains that these awards recognize exceptional books that address issues related to ethnicity. Provides reviews of each book. (CMK)

Provides a geography lesson that integrates literature by focusing on the book "Robinson Crusoe." Explains that the lesson consists of three parts that students perform in groups and individually in which they follow the adventures of Crusoe using the ship's log and excerpts from his journal. (CMK)

Believes that encouraging middle school students to explore the idea of a hero enables them to understand themselves and the world in which they live. Discusses reasons for teaching about heroes in the classroom. Describes a study unit on heroes that is student-centered, ongoing and inquiry-based, and incorporates a thematic base and literature.…

The contemporary social studies curriculum remains surprisingly far from gender balanced. Women in the social studies are placed marginally--except for the large number of teachers and teacher educators who happen to be women. Teachers motivated to include women in global education or world history courses confront numerous problems, including…

Uses a fictional account of the Stono Uprising of slaves in South Carolina in 1739 to illustrate to students the dynamic relationship between literature and history. Provides a historical synopsis of the Uprising, points to think about while reading the account, and the story itself. (DSK)

Provides a list of resources to aid educators in teaching about the Caribbean. Includes outreach centers for Latin American and Caribbean studies, publishers and distributors, curriculum resource guides and monographs for teachers, citations of children's literature, and a website providing links to embassies. (CMK)

Briefly reviews over 160 children's and young adults' books published in 1995 containing subject material applicable to social studies. Presents an excellent mix of books for grades K-12 categorized by subject (civil war era, world history and culture, contemporary issues). Annotations include reading level and thematic strands. (MJP)

This bibliographic essay discusses how Australian children's books and adolescent literature reflect Australian society. For example, Australian society tends to be male dominated; problems of a boy growing up in a mainly macho world are dealt with in Southall's "Josh" and "Walk a Mile" and in Phipson's "A Tide…

Discusses the benefits of using adolescent literature in the social studies classroom and the importance of student choice. Describes the creation of a multilevel social studies book room and the use of flexible literature circles in the classroom. Outlines techniques for preparing teachers and obstacles teachers encountered implementing the…