Designed for 11th grade U.S. history students, the teaching unit combines the history of the U.S. Capitol building and its Greek and Roman revival architecture to tell the story of the nation's government buildings. While the unit uses the U.S. Capitol, any other public building could be used, such as a state capitol, court house, or public…

An elementary school teaching unit uses a visit to a one-room schoolhouse to increase student awareness of what pioneer schools were like. The first section consists of pre-visit activities and teacher preparation suggestions. A description of an early pioneer school is followed by six activities designed to make the visit more authentic.…

Designed primarily for use in the intermediate grades, the teaching unit provides 11 lessons and related activities for teaching students to look at colonial architectural elements as a means of learning about 18th century lifestyles. Although the unit relies upon resources available in Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia, other 18th century cities…

Designed for 7th- and 8th-grade students, the teaching unit demonstrates how blacks lived during and after the Civil War in the first government-provided housing in Freedman's Village. While concerned with local Arlington, Virginia sites and history, the unit provides an illustration of the role of architecture and design on American social…

Engages students in writing their autobiographies through the Family Heritage Booklet, a student-compiled family history social studies project, designed for Texas seventh graders. Includes objectives, materials, and procedures. Contains letter to parents seeking their knowledge on family history. Suggests project boosts student self-esteem and…

Designed for 7th- and 8th-grade students, this teaching unit focuses on the role that Arlington House--Custis-Lee Mansion--(owned by the Washington and Lee families) played both in architectural importance and in history. The unit serves as a vehicle for studying the various roles and cultural distinctions present in antebellum southern society…

This paper is one of a series of ERIC/ChESS publications intended to give practical tips on teaching various topics and disciplines in the precollege social studies curriculum. The tips offered in this publication, written by seven authors, are intended to help teacheres deal with both content and teaching strategies in American history. Each of…

Reviews a series of teaching activities that revolve around family photographs, letters, and artifacts. Outlines how these items can be used to teach recommended National Council for the Social Studies strands and provides classroom examples. Discusses developing a unit of study and includes a form for a Family Artifact Report. (MJP)

Designed for 7th- and 8th-grade students, five lessons using a block of houses in an urban neighborhood help students learn about the history of a neighborhood, the owners of the houses, and the style and architectural features of the homes. Although this unit has been developed for a specific neighborhood, a similar block study could be conducted…

Designed for elementary and junior high school teachers, this instructional guide provides background information on the social, cultural, and historical contributions of American Indians, African-Americans, and Jewish Americans of the middle Georgia area to the life and development of the community and state and to national heritage. A staff…

This workbook provides elementary and junior high school students with an opportunity to trace the social, cultural, and historical contributions of the American Indian, African-American, and Jewish American population groups living in the middle Georgia area. The workbook coincides with the information sections given in the instructional guide,…

Three units comprise the New Orleans Ethnic Heritage Program developed for students in grade 8. Objectives are to increase student appreciation of New Orleans cultural heritage, help them understand their own racial and ethnic groups, and build analytical and evaluative decision making skills. The units are entitled "The Ethnic Heritage of…

A social studies unit and student workbook explore the historical geography of the area of Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia. The unit deals with sequent occupance, a type of historical geography in which students study the same area, the changes in culture, and the changing land use in the area during certain time periods. For each period,…