The use of digital devices in K-12 classrooms has become increasingly contested with their ubiquity. This study examines policies governing cell phone use in elementary and secondary school civics, social studies, American government, and history classes in the United States. Cell phone policies implemented by teachers differ vastly across and…

This article elaborates a presentation made upon reception of the E. L. Thorndike Career Achievement Award in Educational Psychology from Division 15 of the American Psychological Association. It considers how value aspects of motivation apply to efforts to develop students' appreciation for school learning. Currently, we have only limited…

Outlines the complicated constitutional system on which our country is based. Reviews the system of checks and balances, the judiciary system, and the political system and how they have worked to ensure that the government represents the will of the people. (MD)

This document contains the national standards for civics and government for grades K-12. They are intended to help schools develop competent and responsible citizens who possess a reasoned commitment to the fundamental values and principles that are essential to the preservation and improvement of U.S. constitutional democracy. This document is…

After reviewing both a scientific view and a political view of how American government should be taught, some lessons that political scientists can learn from teaching American government are detailed. The lessons include political inquiry, knowledge about methodology, and insight into the relationship of science and political society. (ND)

Tips for making civics courses interesting include: (1) communicate course goals to students; (2) ensure that what you are teaching is worthwhile; (3) assess what students already know; (4) organize facts around a few big ideas; (5) vary learning activities; and (6) present a balanced view of government's activities. (RM)

Offers a teaching model and describes ways that social studies concepts can be taught using music. Discusses six steps for doing so, and describes three activities for using music in the social studies class. (SR)

There are many available resources, other than textbooks, for studying government. Simulation games are available, both commercial ones and those an imaginative teacher can develop. Newspapers, video tapes, educational films, and computer games are other resources which can be used in government courses. (CS)

What makes a case interesting enough or important enough to be heard by the Supreme Court is discussed, tips to help teachers use a Supreme Court docket in the classroom are presented, and teaching strategies are described. Resources for studying the Supreme Court are also cited. (RM)

Teaching responsible citizenship is a constant and on-going theme in the grade-level settings of the 1981 "History/Social Science Framework for California Public Schools." The topics of government courses at each grade level, 1-12, as proposed by the Framework are discussed. (RM)

Classroom teachers should depart from the accepted practice of placing the field trip at the end of a unit of social studies instruction and, instead, plan the field experience for the first week of activities. Reasons are discussed, and a sample unit on state government for the middle grades is described. (RM)

Teachers ought to be doers as well as teachers. A government teacher discusses how participating in the political process helped his teaching. Learning activities are suggested. (RM)

Suggests ways the U.S. Founding Fathers went about the task of interpreting the Constitution. Discusses literalism, arguments from history concerning original intent, moral reasoning, and the concept of precedent as interpretive techniques used by the founders. Sees this variety of techniques as the basis for the U.S. tradition of discussion over…

The central question of this book is, how can schools that are already overloaded with assignments from society find the time and techniques to produce effective citizens? Six chapters examine this problem. Chapter 1 documents the need for civic education and the problems related to providing an effective civic education. Chapter 2 explores the…

The author examines elementary, secondary, and college level social studies textbooks, to see how they treat the presidency and presents a brief review of findings of student images of the presidency immediately before Watergate and one year later. He discusses four basic conceptual ways for teachers and curricula developers to reconsider the…