Suggests a technique for using important current events while they are in the news as a way to stimulate learning in the classroom. (TJ)

Suggests that the United States Constitution be taught as a product of its times which nonetheless has evolved over the past two centuries. Recommends that secondary school students be required to read the Constitution, with attention to its brevity and generality, and to relate the document to current political affairs. (DMM)

Student understanding and motivation are increased if history is taught from the present to the past with an emphasis on current affairs and their effect on the student

Outlines method for using the newspaper in the secondary school social studies classroom by comparing coverage of a single major event in several newspapers. Students compare headline, placement, length, pictures, related stories, and editorials. An example of the Iran rescue attempt is provided. (KC)

This response to recent criticisms of the new social studies deals with some of the problems in areas of inquiry, value clarification, humanization, current events, and conflict resolution found in social studies texts. (JR)

The major goal of social studies education is to provide students with the skills and knowledge essential for effective participation in society. As a supplement to more traditional social studies material, newspapers can help students make the connection between the classroom and real life. The social studies activities suggested in this guide…

Discusses how the issues of African hunger may be taught. Notes that this topic crosses disciplinary boundaries and provides background information relative to the hunger situation in Africa. Describes the perspectives on African hunger as being externalist, internalist, or environmental. Suggests strategies for teaching about African hunger. (KO)

Describes the techniques used in a three-week unit evaluating the ways the media (newspapers, radio, and television) communicate. (DD)

A group of outstanding science teachers agreed that student motivation and interest soar when real-life issues are used as themes for study. Illustrates how the interdisciplinary approach works with the issue of smoking. (MLF)

The principle task of the political information session, an important form of communist indoctrination in elementary and secondary grades, is to help pupils assimilate and gain a correct understanding of world events and political issues. Newspaper reading, supervised by a teacher, is the basic activity. (KM)

Includes an excerpt from "Tail Tigerswallow and the Great Tobacco War." Suggests using a similar story to design a social studies lesson to help students ask relevant social issue questions. Employs role playing, simulation, debate, and writing letters to editors in the lesson plans. (NL)

Suggests that an event-based science curriculum can provide the framework for deciding what to retain in an overloaded science curriculum. Provides examples of current events and the science concepts explored related to the event. (MDH)

With proper inquiry into pertinent source material, a teacher can spark discussion and intelligent analysis of current issues on days when planned curriculum is not productive. Preplanning and questions for a discussion on Vietnam are offered as an example for teacher preparation. (DE)

Discusses the issue of terrorism as it exists today and examines progress that has been made toward understanding its dimensions. Suggests how this subject can be explored in the classroom. Dispels misconceptions about terrorism by defining the term, and examines some causes of terrorism and strategies employed by terrorists. (KO)

Suggests that students can learn to recognize media bias by studying media reports of current events or historical topics. Describes a study unit using media coverage of the second anniversary of the Palestinian uprising against Israel. Discusses lesson objectives, planning, defining bias teaching procedures, and criteria for determining bias. (DK)