In Georgia, the recent "Protect Students First Act," or GA HB 1084, states that curricula and training programs should refrain from judging others based on race or advocate for divisive concepts such as "One race is inherently superior to another race," or that "the United States of America is fundamentally racist."…

The Civil War ended in 1865. From 2011-2015, Civil War sesquicentennial events took place around the nation. The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium used the opportunity to feature two exhibits on the critical role that the river played during the Civil War. Both exhibits highlighted contributions to the war effort by the surrounding…

The social studies curriculum travels through time and space and is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. To an outsider, the social studies curriculum is a single line on a program of studies, 45 minutes of a student's school day. Those on the inside, however, know that the field covers history, geography, civics, economics, and much…

In an effort to address severe budget deficits at both the state and local levels, schools and educational programs are being asked to trim budgets. The Advanced Placement Program is one program that will certainly be scrutinized. This article presents a general overview of AP social studies, a brief history of the AP social studies program, and…

"Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization," has much to offer nearly any social studies classroom from 9th grade to college levels. The film is based on Lester R. Brown's book by the same name and is the 12th episode in the Journey to Planet Earth public television series. The film illustrates the complexity of climate change and its connections to…

Students should be taught how to make well-reasoned and analytic judgments about the Nazis. The process of arriving at judgments about the Nazi period should be characterized by a factual knowledge of the Nazi era within a general historical knowledge of the period, sympathy, and an open mind. (RM)

Provides an overview of important social, political, economic, and military events in China during this 150-year period. Identifies five broad eras within the period which teachers should highlight in their classes. (JDH)

Part of the "How to Do It" series available from the National Council for the Social Studies, 3501 Newark Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20016, this booklet describes how to involve intermediate-grade through high school students in reconstructing biographies and discovering history by using local primary source documents. (JDH)

A five-day activity helps secondary students evaluate the qualifications of each major presidential candidate. Ten presidential roles are explained: head of state, executive leader, head of armed forces, diplomatic leader, legislative leader, head of party, voice of the people, protector of the peace, manager of prosperity, and global leader. (RM)

Most of the 11,108 sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) between 1947 and 1966 were explained by the Air Force as astronomical phenomena, aircraft, or balloons. The document from the National Archives produced here for use in secondary classes is typical of those sighting reports. Classroom activities are suggested. (RM)

Third in a series of three posters designed for an energy-enriched curriculum, this poster deals with nuclear energy. Learning activities for secondary students are provided on the reverse side. (RM)

Contains a poster dealing with energy uses for use in secondary-level classes. On the reverse side of the poster, there is a discussion of alternative energy resources. Activities in which students calculate the operating costs of solar-powered cars and the size of solar collectors needed to heat water are included. (AM)

Describes current secondary school courses about religions which are incorporated into the social studies curriculum. Course titles include Religion in Human Culture, Religions of Man, Great Religions, Comparative Religions, History of Religions, and the Bible as Literature. (KC)

Reviews the American Federation of Teachers' (AFT) report, EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRACY. States that while the AFT is to be commended for addressing the goal of citizenship education and furthering the ongoing debate, the report shows evidence of shoddy scholarship, dubious assumptions regarding curricular design, and nationalistic bias clothed in…

Describes a role-playing activity designed to show how the United States began its involvement in Vietnam. Provides sample handouts assigning students to support either the French or Vietnamese side of a debate. The teacher assumes the role of President Truman who must decide which side will receive U.S. support. (GEA)