Describes an instructional unit in which Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier Thesis is applied to Russian history. Suggests that the activities and recommended readings are perhaps best suited to Advanced Placement and honors classes. Includes a list of student readings, teacher resources, and step-by-step teaching procedures. (CFR)

Addresses the current uncertain status of social studies education in the state of Vermont. Reports that the Vermont Department of Education now lacks a social studies consultant and that the state has few professional organizations to assume such functions. Discusses the present state review of social studies education and the reemergence of the…

Points out the importance of the Tarawa landing in the Gilbert Islands during World War II, and recommends teaching about the event. Provides detailed analysis of the November 21-24, 1943, amphibious assault by U.S. Marines. Examines the rationale for the location, timing, and type of attack. Identifies key personnel. Includes intelligence map of…

Discusses a database used by honors high school U.S. history students learning about the Spanish-American War. Reports that the students compiled the database. Includes some of the historical background of the war, questions for study, a database key, and a table showing U.S. senators' votes relating to the War. (SG)

Discusses the sparse coverage of religion in United States history textbooks. Presents four such textbooks' explanations of the stories of Christopher Columbus and the Massachusetts Bay Colonies. Underscores the relative absence of detail about the religious underpinnings of the two historical situations. Identifies other U.S. historical events…

Critiques U.S. military assumptions concerning the war in Vietnam. Discusses the North Vietnamese strategic approach to gaining control of South Vietnam. Traces the history of the Vietnam War, analyzing specific U.S. military operations in Vietnam and reasons for their failure. Contends that U.S. strategic ethnocentrism lead to defeat in Vietnam.…

Presents a lesson plan designed to enhance student understanding of the value of history study. Focuses on David Laushey's 10 values of the study of history. Creates a series of discussion vignettes based on these concepts. Includes questions for study and a list of vignettes for classroom discussion and problem solving. (NL)

Reports results of several surveys that show that social studies teachers would rather teach history than other courses. Concludes that researchers need to ask teachers why they prefer history. Argues that history is important in its own right and as part of an interdisciplinary social studies program. (DK)

Describes the significance of the election of 1800 in the development of political parties in the United States. Contends that Alexander Hamilton's view of the United States Constitution was dangerous for the new nation and led to a permanent split in the Federalist Party. Includes a resource bibliography for teachers wishing to incorporate this…

Briefly reviews 12 available bibliographies of Holocaust literature. Cites publisher information and costs. Evaluates entries on the basis of author's teaching experience and personal experience as a Holocaust survivor. Precedes bibliographical entries with a discussion of the Holocaust and resistance movement, identifying camps and estimated…

Reprints portions of a sailor's diary, kept for two-and-a-half years during World War II. The 21-year-old quartermaster writes about his life on the USS Grimes; hearing of the war's official end; his ship's peaceful landing in Tokyo Bay; and his experiences in Nagasaki in September 1945. (CH)

Describes the use of Charles Minard's graphic of Napoleon's 1812 Russian Campaign as an instructional tool in history classes. Maintains that the graphic, created in 1861, can be analyzed by students to determine six historical and geographical factors involved in Napoleon's defeat. Includes a copy of Minard's graphic. (CFR)

Presents overview of dissension in Democratic Party in United States just prior to Civil War. Maintains that tension between the northern and southern wings of the party had existed since the early days of the Republic. Provides quotes from newspapers of the time and historians that could be used by teachers in preparing classroom activities about…

Provides a narrative (reading level 10.5) for the classroom teaching of events leading up to the Battle of Wounded Knee. Includes an annotated bibliography of primary source materials. Offers in the narrative a historical review of the events leading up to the battle. (NL)

Presents seven annotations from documents found in the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database about the U.S. Constitution that are appropriate for secondary and higher education students. Documents include mock dialogues, teaching with documents, and a discussion on the impact of the U.S. Constitution bicentennial on teaching.…