In this paper I discuss three issues relevant to the ideas introduced by Colucci-Gray, Perazzone, Dodman and Camino (2012) in their three-part paper on epistemological reflections and educational practice for science education for sustainability: (1) social studies of science for science education, (2) education for sustainability or sustainable…

The Curriculum Research & Development Group (CRDG) is a research unit of the College of Education at the University of Hawai'i. Part of its mission is to develop curriculum materials for students in grades K-12. The social studies section of CRDG has been developing curriculum materials on Asia since the early 1990s. As part of a project…

Describes curricular and pedagogical experimentation in humanities and social studies instruction conducted in New Zealand immediately after World War II. Compares such developments with the Freyberg Integrated Studies Project, a later three-year curriculum development and research program. Concludes that the Freyberg model provides support for…

Recent research suggests that there may be systematic differences in instruction and learning associated with particular social studies subjects. The researchers question whether social studies instruction differs across the various subjects that constitute the social studies curriculum. If so, to what extent do these differences have…

How best to prepare beginning tachers and what is meant by an adequately prepared teacher are issues that directly influence the structure and practice of teacher preparation programs. A critical review of recent research (1978-1988) on social studies methods classes, examined those with a focus on overall course design and those that focus on a…

Examines the role of self-directedness or "learning education" in student development. Discusses a study of a group of Moscow (Russia) social science classes. Reports that children who studied a topic as a whole during each class outperformed students for whom the material was divided into separate lessons. Suggests that the holistic…

Educators tend to view curriculum integration as an obviously good idea and thus adopt an attitude of "the more integration, the better." However, the analysis of elementary social studies presented in this report indicates that many of the activities suggested in the name of integration either: (1) lack educational value in any subject or (2)…

From the initial invitation for proposals from the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1962 until their end the reorganization of 1971, 16 "Project Social Studies Curriculum Centers" (PSSCC) existed at universities throughout the country. Social Studies programs came under fire from the educational reformers of the early…

This document briefly introduces and describes the administration of the Elementary School Economics (ESE) program, discusses program objectives, suggests ways to integrate ESE into social studies curriculum, and evaluates the program's effectiveness. In 1960 the Industrial Relations Center at the University of Chicago initiated the ESE program to…

Designed to provide a more positive learning experience in the area of third grade social studies, this project was concerned with improving the effectiveness of textbooks, developing critical thinking skills, providing group learning situations, and using the computer as an educational tool. Chapter 1 contains the outline of the research proposal…

Explains and presents the results of a survey that asked teachers to rank in importance, and provide time spent on, broad topics (rise of fascism) and related subtopics (Hitler's approach to power). Two-hundred four K-12 teachers responded and provided personal information such as gender and class period length. (MJP)

Presents the results of the original "Teaching About World War II" survey conducted with junior high social studies teachers in Japan. The teachers generally condemned Japan's military conduct and favored a variety of instructional materials and strategies. Includes questionnaire, tables, and graphs. (MJP)

Educational reformers have been concerned about an apparent lack of depth in most social studies curricula with the traditional pressure to "cover" vast amounts of content leading to limited student retention of knowledge. Observational studies have analyzed numerous high school social studies classrooms in which teacher-led…