This video guide was developed for teachers and students participating in the Peace Corps World Wise Schools program. The primary purpose of the study/video series is to enhance each class's correspondence with its Peace Corps Volunteer and help students gain a greater understanding of regions and cultures different from their own. The specific…

This study guide was developed for teachers and students participating in the Peace Corps World Wise Schools program. The primary purpose of the study guide series is to enhance each class's correspondence with its Peace Corps Volunteer and to help students gain a greater understanding of regions and cultures different from their own. The specific…

An ecological approach involved making conscious decisions which result in actions that responsibly contribute to the long-term stewardship of natural resources. This activity and resource guide was designed for use by both educators and resource managers to supplement existing courses and programs concerning ecological matters. These…

This practicum aimed to improve global awareness among middle school students. One specific goal was to increase the students' concept of the world and their global perspective. A second goal was to increase the students' geographic knowledge, enabling them to locate sites of current world events and affairs on a map or globe. Students were taught…

This paper reports on an action research project focusing on curricular interventions for improving geographic knowledge and application skills in elementary students. The targeted population consists of third- and fourth-grade students in a middle-class community in southwest suburban Chicago. The deficiency of geographic literacy was documented…

This workbook for use with third, fourth, or fifth grade elementary school students focuses on the people and cultures of four mainland countries of Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. The book offers an introduction for teachers and 14 lessons. Lesson 1 helps students recall what they may already know about Southeast Asia and…

This report of the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE) is organized into seven chapters. Chapter 1 discusses the objectives, rationale, and design of the project. Chapter 2 examines the formative evaluation process that was used to make improvements in the course syllabuses while they were undergoing development.…

Drawing on contemporary research literature, recently developed curriculum guides, and blue-ribbon reports, this digest reviews 10 contemporary trends in K-12 social studies in the United States. Trends are as follows: (1) History, history, and more history; (2) More geography, too; (3) Using literature to teach social studies; (4) Focus on the…

This document presents lesson plans for instruction concerning the history and geography of the continent of Africa. Topics include: (1) "The Challenge of Teaching African History and Culture" (Robert Hamilton); (2) "A Physical Overview of Africa" (Robert Hamilton and Kim Lilly); (3) "A Cultural Overview of Africa"…

How the theme of human movement--migration, and particularly immigration--can be integrated into junior high U.S. history and world history/geography courses is discussed. To avoid turning the study of migration into an unwitting process of reinforcing ethnocentrism, two steps need to be taken. First, the movement of people throughout the world…

To test whether elementary social studies texts have changed in response to the back-to-basics movement, a content analysis was made of selected basal texts series published between 1969-1972 and reissued between 1979-1982. Quantitative data, anecdotal data, and educational criticism were used to compare eight matched text series for knowledge…

Various individuals have expressed the opinion that South African school children are insufficiently trained in environmental education. This study is an attempt to assess the situation in secondary schools under the control of the Transvaal Education Department. Special attention is paid to the teaching of biology and geography as vehicles for…

Recognizing the importance of geography instruction, this packet was designed to provide sources of materials and information to aid the classroom teacher in preparing geography lessons. Global geography and map skills are emphasized. Materials included in the listings are: (1) professional organizations; (2) journals and newletters; (3) ERIC…

The elementary social studies curriculum should be restructured in a way that promotes a broader study of people, places, and events that are distant in space and time. The "Expanding Horizons" framework guides social studies curriculum in New Brunswick, as well as in many other Canadian provinces and the United States. It emphasizes moving from…

This atlas consists of 20 maps, tables, charts, and graphs with complementary text illustrating Soviet government machinery, trade and political relations, and military stance. Some topics depicted by charts and graphs include: (1) Soviet foreign affairs machinery; (2) Soviet intelligence and security services; (4) Soviet position in the United…