Role-play is viewed by scholars as an effective active learning strategy: it encourages participation among passive learners, adds dynamism to the classroom and promotes the retention of material. But what do students think of role-play? This study surveyed 144 students after a role-play activity in a history course and asked them to identify what…

Discusses methods for increasing students' appreciation of and interest in history by incorporating the human element into the narrative. Suggests that this can be accomplished by utilizing diaries, journals, oral histories, and living people. Argues that the brief coverage of events presented in texts does little to give students a feeling of the…

Oral history, a method of collecting historical information through preplanned tape recorded interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge of an historical event, is a viable learning activity at the high school level. This methodology was conceived and later institutionalized by Alan Nevins in the 1940s as a way to counter the loss of…

Recording history is a valuable learning technique in studying immigration or ethnic history. At the University of Missouri in Saint Louis, students develop a questionnaire and then interview first-generation immigrants as well as American-born descendants. Tapes and transcriptions are added to the campus archives. For journal availability, see SO…

Oral history can be done without sophisticated technology, involves students actively in history, and generates enthusiasm and tangible products. Eleven projects are suggested, ranging from classroom to interdisciplinary community research. A bibliography cites 19 books about oral history programs for social studies classes. (AV)

Describes how an interview project used in conjunction with a primary sources based curriculum enhanced history learning. Students were involved in gaining information from community citizens. Outlines the procedures involved in the interviewing process and discusses the benefits to students including increased content acquisition, skills, and…

Describes a high school project to compile a local history, including funding the project, developing interview questionnaires, taking interviews, and compiling the materials. Discusses results of the project for the students, teacher, high school, and county. (DHP)

Sound recordings can be used by social studies teachers to demonstrate shifting public images about railroads in the United States since the end of World War I. Included is a selected list of recordings containing train-related images and railroad-information themes and illustrations from 1920 to 1980. (RM)

Asserts that genograms, a diagram providing basic demographic information about family history, can help engage college students in several sociological issues. Describes a two-step process in which students construct their own genograms and exchange them with a partner for analysis. Concludes with recommendations for grading the genograms. (CFR)

Discusses the use of oral history to enliven, enhance, and supplement the standard social studies curriculum. Presents rationales for using oral histories, methods for classroom use, and suggestions for locating interviewees. Includes an annotated list of oral histories that address social issues. (GEA)

Oral history is but one of several methods of examining history, yet it holds powerful implications as a tool of instruction within the bilingual classroom. The most compelling rationale for integrating oral history techniques into bilingual social studies is that generally oral history has remained virtually isolated from most bilingual…

This practicum was designed to increase student achievement and to motivate 11th grade U.S. history students to consistently complete homework assignments, to actively participate in classroom discussions, and to perform with a passing grade of "C" or above on all examinations. This paper describes the development of a multicultural…

Procedures to help intermediate-grade social studies teachers implement a local history unit are provided. Although intended for teachers in Iowa, the guide can easily be used by educators in any state. The procedures are organized around three major generalizations: (1) buildings and artifacts are resources in explaining the history of a…

Over 50 publications consisting of research papers, journal articles, books, and instructional materials dealing with oral history projects at the elementary school level are listed in this annotated bibliography. The citations are grouped into four categories: growth in cognitive and affective domains, organization format and aids, types of…

Asserts that folktales from around the world can be used in the elementary social studies classroom to teach about cultural traits. Discusses types of folktales and recommends instructional procedures and classroom activities. Maintains that studying folktales can increase children's awareness of moral and social issues. (CFR)