Use of symbolic figures in the college level world history course can provide a vehicle for studying social organization, political movements, and economic institutions of a given period. For example, Zhou Enlai, an activist and leader throughout much of the 20th century, symbolizes the major themes and forces of this era: change,…

Intermediate and junior high school students learn about the social history of Vermont by studying events and trends during a 30-year period of the life of a famous Vermont native, Calvin Coolidge. Although designed for students in Vermont, materials can easily be adapted for use in other states, particularly those in the New England area. In…

With enrollments in the social sciences declining markedly and their educational values being deemphasized, a new approach must be taken to social sciences instruction. Social science courses are antiquated, need revision, fail to offer enough job relevance to draw most students, are taught too conservatively, and no longer enjoy a protected…

Pennsylvania high school seniors who were tested on their knowledge of South Asian geography, history, political science, and culture knew little about this politically important region. The sample included 684 urban and rural students from high and low income families who answered 43 multiple choice questions on knowledge, interests, and…

Provided are 19 sample course syllabi typifying the broad range of courses taught in the field of the history of technology and technology studies. These syllabi are divided into three major sections: (1) world history, covering the history of technology in a western or world context over the period from earliest man and the era of classical…

A teaching technique called guided design is used in this exercise to help college students enrolled in introductory world history courses learn about the Nazi persecution of the Jews. Providing a change of pace to traditional lectures, readings, exams, and papers in history courses, guided design, as used in this activity, confronts students with…

As part of an American History survey course at East Tennessee State University, students conducted research on ordinary objects from homes, barns, and workshops in the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee, learned techniques for displaying and interpreting artifacts, and designed and constructed exhibits illustrating aspects of homelife and work in the…

Nine essays serving as springboards to the study of historical events and cultures focus on the use of memorabilia and primary resources for teaching social studies. Following a short preface by John I. Thomas, Linda Carrillo examines ways in which folk songs can be used to arouse a child's interest in the study of other cultures. In "Using…

This course, one of 16 sequential courses comprising phase one of a part-time Bachelor of Arts degree program in Australian Studies, illustrates that the concept of work has not been a universal or historically consistent category. Some of the distinctive features of work in the Western world are covered, along with some effects of the Industrial…

Intended for primary teachers this booklet contains many hints for enriching classroom activities. It includes 100 ways to "publish" student writing and art work by using student created books, newspapers, magazines, letters, plays, notice boards, assembly reports, art and craft work, tape recordings, writing clubs, and "buy-a-book" days. Also…

The Historica Foundation of Canada has a mandate to provide or support programs and resources for the teaching of Canadian history in Canadian schools. This paper outlines how Historica discovered what was needed and the programs and resources they developed to fulfill their mandate.

There are two distinct sections to this article. In the first part, the author's relates, in a personal way, his conviction that the teaching of history is about the engagement and development of the "historical imagination". In the second part Fielding presents not only many strategies for teaching history but also his analysis of these…

Nathan Cole and Denise Thompson have really thought about Key Stage 3. They have been forced to; they now teach it in only two years. The switch to a two-year Key Stage 3 has made them re-evaluate their entire programme of study, and their rationale for teaching history. The result is illuminating. They argue convincingly that social history…

Mary Woolley decided to make four revision sheets for her lower-band Year 11 set. Each was to help them view their American West study through a different lens. She was rather uncertain, however (and so were the pupils) about her fourth sheet on places. Her reflections on the revision sheet and subsequent reading led not only to a totally new…

Our means of assessment might pose a problem. History teachers regularly set specific targets, with implicit or explicit reference to National Curriculum Levels, which are designed to move our pupils on and make them better historians. How, though, are we to prevent them from achieving their targets in a rather mechanistic way, ticking the boxes…