Describes how a koala hand puppet was used to teach county history as well as reading and writing skills, multicultural awareness, music, art, and self-esteem to third graders in San Diego, California. Activities that involved the puppet are described. (AM)

Discusses how oral history can motivate elementary students in the social studies. Suggests oral history learning activities and procedures to help students recreate events from the past. (CK)

Man's association with animals throughout the history of the United States is emphasized in these social studies activities. (JH)

Provides ideas for using community studies to acquaint students with American history and to help them develop an appreciation of the uniqueness of their own community and the importance of the role that a locality can play within the nation. Lists seven student learning activities and presents suggestions for researching local history. (KH)

An outline for a fourth grade local history course is presented. A historic study of the local community should focus on social/cultural, political, and economic community roots. An annotated listing of three local history books written specifically for children, which have received accreditation, is provided. (RM)

Presents a social studies unit of study that involves having students conduct investigations of events and people in their own neighborhoods. (FL)

Describes a local history unit used to introduce fourth graders in Berkeley, California to history. The topics and activities used to teach the topics are discussed. (AM)

Presents a lesson plan on the San Antonio River missions. Suggests that students will learn about the role of Spanish missions in the history of the Southwest, the psychological and cultural factors that led Indians to accept mission life, and Spanish contributions to agriculture through irrigation systems. Includes student readings, maps, and…

Designed for elementary school teachers in Santa Cruz, California, this book outlines an experiential approach to community study. Because the term community can encompass a scope as narrow as the school or as wide as the region, these guidelines are adaptable to several elementary grade levels. The book is arranged in six sections. The first…

Presents a learning activity to involve 9-11-year-old children in history writing. Children toured Portsmouth, N.H., interviewed residents, inspected historical documents and artifacts, kept field notes, and wrote a final narrative. Applicability to other sites is favorably assessed. Reference materials for a case study of Portsmouth are supplied.…

Oral history can be done without sophisticated technology, involves students actively in history, and generates enthusiasm and tangible products. Eleven projects are suggested, ranging from classroom to interdisciplinary community research. A bibliography cites 19 books about oral history programs for social studies classes. (AV)

Folkpatterns is a 4-H program in which young people investigate folklore, cultural traditions, and local history. These materials include a leader's guide and Folkpatterns activities. The leader's guide provides information for leading a Folkpatterns project and 12 sample meeting plans to be used with Folkpatterns members or to be adapted for use…

These materials discuss the history of Chicago, Illinois, including prominent persons in the city's past, and landmarks for which Chicago is well known. A number of activities are suggested, some of which concern Chicago's industries, historical sites, architecture, newspapers, ethnic groups, and history. A list of books about Chicago for…

This book, part of the Touchstones to Local History project of Russell Sage College, is designed for social studies teachers seeking to incorporate local history in their social studies curricula by utilizing local history materials. Ten forms of historical materials are reviewed in terms of their classroom use: published resources, personal…

Strategies to strengthen elementary students' perceptions of the past are discussed. These include conducting a personal home furnishings inventory, creating a "then" and "now" class museum, planning an "old objects" with "new uses" survey, organizing a grandpa's garage and granny's attic day, and conducting a neighborhood architectural treasure…