The author evaluates selected audio-visual materials on early American history. The materials are divided into five categories including general surveys, colonization, life in early America, the Revolution, and the Constitution. (DE)

Discusses the U.S. Department of Education's publication "What Works: Research About Teaching and Learning," focusing on those sections that are most pertinent to the goals and methods of social studies teachers. Reviews and draws implications from its suggestions for improving education at the levels of home, classroom, and school. (AEM)

Describes how the author's opinion of contests for students changed from generally negative to overwhelmingly positive after he had experience with them. Recounts his experiences with the contests and describes the projects entered by his history students. Concludes that contests can work well in motivating students to write research papers. (AEM)

Five "rock music as history" teaching units, each revolving around a particular socio-political theme, are presented. The themes are civil authorities, military involvements, the public education system, railroads, and representative government. (RM)

Major aspects of political education in Zimbabwe (Africa) as they have developed from the colonial period through the Chimurenga, or war of liberation, to the period following independence in 1980 are explored. The focus is on political themes such as power, inequality, community, and ideology. (RM)

Students in grades six to 12 who participate in National History Day may write a paper, develop an individual or group project or performance, or develop a media presentation on the topic of their choice related to the annual theme. Professional historians judge the entries. The program and its benefits are described. (RM)

Eighth graders participate in a mock trial of the Boston Massacre. Throughout the trial, students are given writing assignments based on Bloom's forms of thinking operations. For example, they write argumentative paragraphs as verdicts, write essays comparing and contrasting issues, and agree on criteria for evaluating the actions of both sides.…

In spite of attacks upon the United Nations, even critics admit the world would not be as well off without it. The important work of its humanitarian agencies needs to be more widely publicized. Describes a required global history course in New York as an example. (CS)

Describes the comprehensive curriculum approach and teacher training program on the Jewish Holocaust that has been developed for adolescents by Facing History and Ourselves, a nonprofit organization. Course objectives, problems teachers will encounter, and student response are discussed. (MBR)

Nearly 20 years ago, the first national assessment of student achievement in U.S. history yielded disappointing results. Although policy-makers and researchers expressed great concern about the low scores, the federal government did not undertake large-scale efforts to address poor student performance, and few research dollars were dedicated to…

This lesson describes and discusses the impact on Carnegie Libraries in U.S. history. The lesson plan contains eight sections: (1) "About this Lesson"; (2) "Getting Started: Inquiry Question"; (3) "Setting the Stage: Historical Context"; (4) "Locating the Site: Maps" (Carnegie Libraries in the United States,…

This lesson describes and discusses the Battle of Bunker Hill (Massachusetts), which took place during the Revolutionary War. The lesson plan contains eight sections: (1) "About this Lesson"; (2) "Getting Started: Inquiry Question"; (3) "Setting the Stage: Historical Context"; (4) "Locating the Site: Maps"…

The purpose of this paper was to analyze and critique the proposals made in "The Engaged Classroom" by Sam Intrator to increase student engagement in the classroom. The methodology used was to analyze, compare, and critique the proposals based on educational research on apathy and boredom in the instruction of history. The results were that the…

This case study of an historian high school history teacher is an account of how differing views of the nature of history and historical knowledge influenced the teacher's teaching practice. The two discourse communities the teacher belonged to, that of the university where the degree was granted and that of the school community in which the…

This lesson traces the use of Eleanor Roosevelt's retreat, Val-Kill, a "shack" (actually a stone cottage) built in 1925 on the grounds of the Roosevelt family estate at Hyde Park (New York), and how it nurtured her spirit, personal style, and humanitarian efforts. The lesson explains that Eleanor and her women friends later expanded the…