While the remarkable accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin are unparalleled, the means of their attainment can be considered more accessible to ordinary people and not necessarily attributable to a special genius. The steady development of Franklin's knowledge and skills is traced in light of a new model of "dynamic learning," which is a method…

States that the proper business of social studies is civic education and contends that civic education must take into account the way in which global connections and uncertainties will affect citizenship in the Constitution's third century. Cites the problems associated with AIDS and the Iran-Contra affair as examples. (JDH)

Discusses the problem of language extinction as cultural homogeneity spreads over the earth. Just 600 of the world's 6,800 languages are safe from extinction meaning that they are still being learned by children. Many anthropologists see the decline as analogous to biodiversity loss: it is a form of cultural impoverishment and a loss of our…

This article describes how two independent nations which border the Republic of South Africa have reacted to its policy of apartheid. Malawi has maintained more friendly relations than Zambia but both have had to rely on economic ties and consequently have been unable to actively oppose South Africa's policy of apartheid. (JDH)

Displays the essays and poetry of the first-place winners of the first Michigan Social Studies Olympiad, a competition for fourth through twelfth grade students which had as its theme the celebration of the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution and Michigan's sesquicentennial. (JDH)

Reviews research to answer under what conditions, if any, does homework make a difference in student achievement. Provides a brief history of the homework debate. Reviews 84 homework experiments conduced between 1904 and 1984. Concludes that most studies found homework beneficial. (JDH)

Reviews the historical development of Canadian studies in United States textbooks and other instructional material. Notes common shortcomings and misconceptions of early materials. Describes how an expanded and more even treatment of Canada would improve social studies instruction in the United States. (JDH)

This article reviews recent changes in the secondary curriculum of Nigerian schools, devoting particular attention to social studies and global education. Global education is infused in the curriculum from seventh through twelfth grade. Included is a course outline for ninth-grade social studies. (JDH)

Describes an experienced-based economics program for grades 3-6 composed of two interactive components to learn real-world economics in a meaningful and memorable way. Situations are discussed and positive effects are assessed. (TRS)

Examines Indonesian culture and society which, although consisting of many variations spread across many islands, are nationalistic in character. Discusses the sources of Indonesian cultural values, focusing on Pancasila, the five basic principles of Indonesian society, and how it relates to the individual. (AEM)

Introduces Tough's seven-category framework of children's language and suggests how it can be used as a basis for developing a classroom questioning strategy. Provides a description and examples of each of the seven categories and reports on teacher training results. (JDH)

Briefly reviews the literature on the teaching of social studies to gifted children and reports on a study of the activities of gifted students in Iowa social studies classrooms. (RKM)

Describes the history, planning, and content of the 1984 Global Studies Institute held at New York University. (JDH)

One of the first women in the field of teacher education, Emma Hart Willard trained many young women at the Troy Female Seminary. Willard held an integrated view of social science education. Her interests and views in geography, history, and citizenship education were more typical of the 1960's than the early 1800's, the period of her major work.…

Reviews research on clarity, organization, and pace of presentation in social studies. Provides practical suggestions on how teachers can control each of these factors. Maintains that those who have mastered these techniques contribute much to the successful learning of their students. (JDH)