This article describes and compares two principal modes of evaluating social studies curricula: the Curriculum Materials Analysis System (CMAS) developed by the Social Science Education Consortium and a system developed by Elizabeth Vallance. (Author/RM)

A technique is presented for evaluating textbooks, using graphic organizers to represent textbook material so that it can be evaluated according to familiarity, interest, and structural coherence. Two sixth-grade social studies textbooks are graphically represented, and suggestions on using the technique are offered to publishers, state adopters,…

A model of social studies textbook analysis and evaluation is developed in this paper and is applied to the analysis and evaluation of the content on Hawaii in selected elementary school social studies textbooks. Innovative methods of content analysis and evaluation of textbook presentations were developed and applied to the subject of Hawaii to…

This study focuses on two tasks: (1) the development of a general procedure for evaluation of social studies textbooks which could be adapted to any locale, which could be used at any grade level, and which might be applied to other subject areas, and (2) to illustrate the suggested procedure at the fifth-grade level. The procedure involves the…

This collection of materials is designed to assist Indiana educators, administrators, and communities with the textbook selection process. Criteria for making such selections is outlined in the following articles: (1) "Laws, Rules, and Guidelines for Teaching Social Studies in Indiana" (Victor A. Smith); (2) "Indiana's Recommended…

This guide is designed for K-12 teachers, administrators, and local curriculum committees to help them clarify the purposes of social studies and use constructive strategies for instructional improvement. It is based on the ideas that social studies is basic to the education of citizens and that social studies curricula ought to be determined…

A scale, summary sheet, and checklist provide a guide for selecting elementary social studies materials. The checklist is based on trends in social studies as found in professional literature and published social studies materials. It is appropriate for use by individual teachers, curriculum committees, or curriculum coordinators. Aimed at being a…

A brief and flexible overview is presented of the steps that should be taken to revise social studies instruction. The booklet lists 10 steps in the revision process. Each step has a brief commentary followed by questions that a local curriculum planning group may want to consider. Some resources to help answer these questions are included. The…

This case study recounts the attempts of two school districts to improve decision making on the adoption of a new elementary social studies curriculum by using formal evaluation methodology. The study's main objective was to develop a series of criterion referenced (mastery level) tests from a list of social studies objectives to determine whether…