How people evaluate primary and secondary sources when considering historical questions was studied by asking eight historians and eight high school seniors to think aloud while reviewing written and pictorial documents about the Battle of Lexington. Differences between the groups are discussed concerning cognitive processes and beliefs about…

Calls for education improvement are often predicated on a decline in U.S. education. Past U.S. high school students' knowledge is examined through U.S. history test data from 1915 to 1925 and national achievement test data for 1932 to 1965. Evidence does not support a decline in student knowledge. (SLD)

Presents an annotated bibliography of books about the voyages of Christopher Columbus for children, preschool to grade seven. Notes that the five hundredth anniversary of the Columbus voyages will occur in 1992 and encourages teachers to anticipate the national commentoration and develop appropriate learning activities. (NL)

Explains a class project in which high school seniors designed a "Trivial Pursuit" game focused on the Civil War. Students developed questions in chronological categories then divided into teams to play the game. Stresses student involvement and active learning while creating and playing the game. Includes sample game card and references…

Develops a series of computer-assisted instructional (CAI) programs as a learning tool to accompany a U.S. history survey course. Divides a 2-semester course into 12 chronological periods. Explains how course structure incorporates rote materials into visually stimulating gamelike scenarios. States that software for the course is available,…

Describes effects of interactive video in the social studies classroom. Delineates basic system components and how they may be used to access multimedia kits or to create teacher-designed systems. Illustrates the method by using kits in a tenth grade world history class and an eighth grade unit on the 1988 presidential campaign. (NL)

Points out there has been an increase in curricular materials for the study of genocide. Maintains that teachers need a rationale for teaching about genocide to help them select appropriate content. Provides examples of rationales from leading educators and delineates three teaching models. Includes curricular resources and an eight-item…

Presents a class activity on the history, causes, and consequences of World War II. Focuses on the development and deployment of the atomic bomb. Utilizes a Video Encyclopedia Program for historical background. Divides the class into groups that are responsible for researching and preparing a videotape on a World War II topic. (RW)

Retells the story of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery (Alabama) bus boycott to reflect more accurately the cultural and historical background of the boycott and the conscious decision made by Mrs. Parks. Accurate examination of the story actually enhances a child's ability to identify with the issues and the protagonists. (SLD)

Asserts that history for primary-level children should be organized around key ideas that characterize the field of history. Maintains that such everyday concepts such as time, change, the continuity of human life, and the past can be taught to young children and can be used as a foundation for later historical thinking. (CFR)

Maintains that social studies teachers have used the traditions associated with civic and religious holidays to teach about historical events and culture. Asserts that holidays are becoming more culturally diverse. Presents a bibliographic essay including recommended children's literature on both religious and secular holidays. (CFR)

Contends that, although Joan of Arc is treated as an aberration by history textbooks, this view ignores a medieval military tradition that provided a context for the acceptance of Joan's leadership. Presents a five-part lesson that deals with different aspects of medieval women's' military traditions. (CFR)

Contends that, although the role of women in the U.S. military and on the homefront during World War II has received increased attention, the service of the civilian women pilots has not been adequately recognized. Presents a classroom lesson on the origins and work of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP's) during World War II. (CFR)

Outlines several realistic, practical, classroom-tested strategies for using computers to augment undergraduate history instruction. These include drawing on databases to provide illustrative examples during class lectures and tutorials centering on research questions to be answered in the computer lab. Describes a class project involving…

Asserts that the most effective use of schema theory in history instruction requires placing students in the decision- making roles of historical figures. A more detailed discussion of the same historical event follows this initial exercise. Students then compare their decisions with their historical counterparts. (MJP)