Methods for facilitating students' standards-based consumer literacy are addressed via the use of problem solving with food and product labels. Fifth graders will be able to: (1) provide detailed analysis of food and product labels; (2) understand large themes, including production, distribution, and consumption; and (3) explore consumer…

This article illustrates how community service-learning can be defined and implemented as a group inquiry project in which students apply academic knowledge and social problem-solving skills. The authors examined eleven different community service-learning projects put into practice by elementary and middle school teachers who participated in…

To be successful, the law-related curriculum must help students develop decision making skills, develop empathy, and make ethical judgments. Teaching strategies that can be used in kindergarten and the elementary grades are suggested. (RM)

It is concluded that students must learn that in a democracy settlements, not fixed solutions, must be sought for existing social problems. (SD)

This article discusses techniques for integrating real problem solving and decision making into secondary social studies programs. Approaches to creative problem solving are presented, and various systematic decision making programs currently available for classroom use are identified. (Author/RM)

The complete lesson enables the teacher to relate teaching strategies to levels of cognitive behavior, and stems from the belief that higher levels of cognitive behavior are developed only after a learner first acquires information and then puts that information to use. (Author)

Critical thinking has long been a goal of social studies education, and its importance has been reiterated in documents delineating standards for the social studies. Yet, teaching critical thinking is problematic because there are competing definitions and practices and many barriers to its implementation (Wright 1995; Onosko 1989). In this…

Insights into human behavior, values development, and decision making are available to students through analyzing important decisions of the past, made by individuals who influenced the course of events in each period of our nation's development. (JB)

Curricula involving reflective inquiry are always dynamic, have a problem orientation, afford introspection, require personal decisions, and recognize that living socially is a basic human condition. Such a curriculum, which views education as a liberating force, has its roots in humanism and existentialism. (RM)

Four procedural steps to facilitate a cooperative discussion on social issues are provided. The steps include problem description, policy proposal, prediction of consequences, and evaluation of policies. (DE)

This article demonstrates how teacher-developed simulations can enhance social science instruction. A sample simulation is provided, along with techniques, skills, and learning objectives. (JR)

Social studies educators advocate discussion as an influential instructional method to encourage students to apply knowledge and develop higher-order thinking and understanding. The classroom reality, however, is that teachers only use the discussion method sparingly. Instead, teachers predominantly use a quasi-discussion form called recitation to…

Critiques current models of problem solving for children, maintaining that there is a chasm between the experiences of real-life problem solving and the idealized frameworks that are presented to children. Suggests the use of children's literature as a means to teaching problem solving. Includes suggested readings, and a list of questions for…

Outlines a method for modifying the current social studies curriculum so it can be taught from an issue-centered approach. States that conventional courses in history and geography would be organized around the study of a select number of important issues and illustrates the way these classes would be taught using this approach. (SLM)

Discusses the contributions of issues-centered education to a multicultural education program. Suggests that middle school students will develop an open-ended attitude toward social problems that aids the development of problem-solving skills. Presents an example of a multicultural issue including background information and a script of a class…