This document contains five middle school lesson plans that teach about East Asia, focusing on Japan, China, and Korea. Lessons deal with geography, history, cultural comparisons, and trade relations. Lesson plans include background information, materials needed, extension and enrichment ideas, a lesson script, a rubric, a list of resources, and…

This curriculum project focuses on ancient civilizations, especially the various cultures that have inhabited the territory that is now Jerusalem, Israel. The project gives objectives for students to aim for and outlines the following 4-part procedure: (1) Background and Preparation; (2) Archaeology; (3) Group Research Project; and (4) Jerusalem…

This booklet focuses on eight elements of population dynamics: "Population Growth and Distribution"; "Natural Increase and Future Growth"; "Effect of Migration on Population Growth"; "Three Patterns of Population Change"; "Patterns of World Urbanization"; "The Status of Women";…

After the Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson put together his own group to explore the new territory under the leadership of Captain Meriwether Lewis. After receiving training in how to make scientific observations and collect specimens, Lewis and Captain William Clark, and their small group of frontiersmen, set off in 1804 with Sacajawea as…

This paper describes an interdisciplinary project at California State University (Long Beach) designed to increase the attractiveness of the geosciences to underrepresented groups. The project is called the Geoscience Diversity Enhancement Project (GDEP). It is a 3-year program which began in the fall of 2001 with funding from the National Science…

Designed for use with students in grades 6-12, this curriculum guide uses primary source materials from the experience of Peace Corps volunteers in countries, such as the Dominican Republic, to enliven the study of geography, culture, and service. The guide aims to engage students in an inquiry about the world, themselves, and others as they focus…

This collection of lesson plans focuses on the geography and culture of several Asian countries and is intended to be used with students in grades 6-12. Lessons in the collection are: (1) "Keeping the Faith: Comparison of Major Religious Cultures in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam" (Glenda Sullivan); (2) "Namaste, Menyapa, Chao, Bon…

This packet contains the Louisiana state standards-based lessons presented on the Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) series "Reaching for Results: Teacher-to-Teacher." The lessons in the packet are for high school classroom teachers and include necessary handouts and references (the video is not required), as well as detailed procedures…

In this colorfully illustrated kindergarten activity, students read (and re-read) "My Blue Suitcase" (Sharon Katz), as an introduction to traveling. The book uses all of the basic forms of transportation and forms the transportation lesson outline. The activity gives the students the task of learning about each mode of transportation:…

This annotated bibliography offers resources for teaching the social studies for grades 7 through 12. Subject areas include: (1) grade 7 - culture of Canada and Japan, as well as multicultural and bilingual Canada; (2) grade 8 - the geography of Canada, the United States, and the case of Brazil in South America; (3) grade 9 - economic perspectives…

The Water in Africa Project was realized over a 2-year period by a team of Peace Corps volunteers, World Wise Schools (WWS) classroom teachers, and WWS staff members. As part of an expanded, detailed design, resources were collected from over 90 volunteers serving in African countries, photos and stories were prepared, and standards-based learning…

This book presents a variety of social studies activities for elementary students. The activities are divided into broad social science disciplines but can be adapted to an interdisciplinary format. The activities are wide-ranging in ability level and complexity but can be modified to fit any teaching need. Each activity follows the same format…

2005 IPPY Award Winner! Actively engaging students with 36 science-based, multidisciplinary, hands-on activities, this "Guide" is an award-winning learning tool covering the Missouri Basin's hydrology, geology, geography, tribes, settlement, cities, agriculture, industry, recreation, navigation, plant and animal species, issues,…

This is Volume 1 of the Report of the Commissioner of Education for the Year 1892-93, containing Parts I and II. This volume begins with the Commissioner of Education's Introduction. Part I covers the topics: (1) Statistical Summaries; (2) Illiteracy in the United States; (3) System of Public Education in Belgium; (4) Elementary Education in Great…