Recent innovations in Web-based technology tools have made planning instruction with technology in mind far more doable than in years past. To aid teachers in planning with technology, tools are organized into five broad categories: communication, collaboration, presentation, organization and critical-thinking. The purpose and potential of each…

The social studies classroom can and should be a place where students learn critical thinking skills, but too often, especially in the middle grades, students are asked to focus on discrete facts on which they can be tested. The purpose of this article is to suggest that sixth graders can learn the critical thinking skills of "historical…

Numerous examples of the origin of surnames in medieval England from patronymics, nicknames, trade names, villages, and home sites suggest a key for interesting students in the social upheavals that evolved from the Norman Conquest and the later rise of cities. (JH)

Reviews "newscasts from the past," a six-part series of videotapes designed to make medieval history come alive for high school students. Includes ordering information and the results of a survey (n = 363) designed to assess student reactions to the format and content. (JDH)

A unit on medieval religion, monasteries, and convents for seventh-grade students is presented. Students converted the classroom into a monastery and experienced as realistically as possible the life and spirit of medieval religion. (RM)