Drawing on data generated following the 2016 United States presidential election, in this article the author considers how a classroom makerspace made Black girls' literacies visible in new ways. During a six-week integrated humanities unit in a third-grade public school classroom in the Midwestern U.S., four Black girls used making to create a…

Intended for administrators and policy makers, as well as teachers, this digest examines the current state of humanities instruction and the evolving place of humanities in the high school English classroom. The digest first explores differing definitions of the humanities, and discusses reasons for the decline in emphasis on humanities…

This article provides some practical information on use of poetry to teach such subject areas as history, literature, philosophy, social studies, minority and foreign studies, and the social sciences. Reference is made to the Watershed Foundation, which has a large collection of poetry on cassette tapes that feature the original authors reading…

Amidst the controversy surrounding the fate of the humanities in modern society, a program has evolved at Dawson College and four other English "colleges d'enseignment general et professionel" (CEGEP) that features a compulsory humanities core. The original purpose of the humanities program was to provide a broad general liberal arts…

Describes the use of epic poetry in a combined English/history humanities class. Concludes that epic poetry, the combination of history and verse, helps students understand the continuity and meaning of the Western tradition. (CFR)

Maintains that ethics is behavior as judged according to some understood standard. Recommends the use of "occasional" ethics, an informal but reflective approach that can be used in many course designs. Illustrates the concept with examples from the author's instruction in humanities courses. (CFR)

Asserts the view of history as a humanity. Argues that an effective way to organize instruction is to use a variety of books such as biographies, monographs, personal narratives, and novels. Contends that improving historical literacy will help improve overall literacy among college students. (CFR)

Maintains that historical objectivity is a myth and that scholars and teachers should recognize that fact. Asserts that the use of primary sources and oral history focusing on underrepresented groups such as women and minority groups is one way of using subjective materials to achieve objectivity. (CFR)

Describes instructional strategies and content for a course titled "Those Fabulous (?) Sixties." Discusses the course structure outlining four paradigms of social science research and action. Maintains that the course helps students know more about themselves, their values, and their relationships to society. (CFR)

It is argued that the skill for understanding written texts, such as those of the humanities, is more important than facts and knowledge because it lasts after formal education has ended. Therefore its development should be the uppermost educational goal. A technique is suggested to aid college teachers in developing this skill. (JMD)

This set of lessons accompanies a series of 30-minute films for teaching about Germany. Available to educators throughout the United States upon request, the 17 films and accompanying instructional activities focus on culture, politics, economics, society, and sports and are appropriate for middle and high school students. Permission is granted to…

A teacher reflects on his experiences teaching American Indian literature and offers advice to other teachers: (1) clearly defining "Native American literature," noting diversity of Indian nations; (2) teaching works in their cultural context; (3) paying attention to continuance and Native time sense; and (4) being wary of translations. (SV)

Poetry is fundamental. As a response to reality, as an inclination of language, it is basic. If English teachers want their students to become poets or readers of poets or even imaginative and provocative users of language, they have to show them that the language of poetry is theirs, and English teachers can accomplish that task only by endorsing…

West Chester State College's pilot project to improve writing builds on writing skills established in the freshman English courses and extends these skills through writing practice and instruction in the humanities and other disciplines. Obstacles encountered in developing the program, program design, instructional techniques, and spinoff projects…

The humanities, an area of study often left out of the elementary curriculum, is essential as society becomes more global in nature. Because of the time restrictions in elementary teaching schedules, the humanities must be incorporated into the school program, not as an extra class, but as an enrichment of what is already taught. The purpose of…