This document presents a research project that examined the process used by the National History Standards Project to build consensus for the development of national standards for teaching history in U.S. schools. Among the contentious issues on which the National History Standards Project had to reach consensus were: (1) content versus process;…

With the publication in 1984 of "Notable Women of Hawaii," edited by Barbara Bennett Peterson, women's activities and accomplishments began to be accorded their rightful place in the traditional picture of Hawaiian history. Using this book as a text, a 16-week course entitled "Outstanding Women of Hawaii" was recently added to…

Nineteen ninety-two is the 500th anniversary of Columbus's first voyage to the Americas. This position statement challenges educators to participate in commemorating the quincentenary by seriously examining the available scholarship to enhance knowledge about 1492, and in turn, to enhance the knowledge of students. Specifically, educators are…

This quarterly publication of the State Historical Society of Iowa features articles and activities for elementary school students. This summer issue focuses on the topic of lake life. The issue includes the following features: (1) "Where the Lakes Are Map"; (2) "Letter from the Lake"; (3) "Lake People"; (4)…

This study used an oral history method to collect data from contemporary citizens who grew up in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. The primary purpose of the study was to gather historical evidence from those eras and identify participants' life themes and values. A secondary purpose was to implement interdisciplinary collaboration…

This study used open-ended interviews and classroom observations to examine the development of children's understanding of historical time in Northern Ireland. Even the youngest made distinctions among past times, and these differentiations became increasingly numerous with age; students also were able to sequence historic time periods with a high…

This paper assesses current issues in colleges and universities as well as in K-12 schooling, with a focus on the preparation of secondary school teachers. The paper identifies new trends in the changing nature of research and practice as they affect the history profession in the classroom. According to the paper, there are many issues that…

This paper examines the shortcomings of the area studies approach and the comprehensive chronological world history survey approach to teaching world history courses. The study notes the increasing interdependence of the world and its people and advocates a thematic world history approach. By teaching a few important themes in world history,…

The 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas has raised a debate over how historians and teachers should portray this moment in history. Some view Columbus as a hero whose courage helped to provide a foundation for modern civilization in the Americas, while others see him as a villain who exploited indigenous people and…

The Spanish conquest of Mexico provides the context for this unit, designed for use with students in grades 9-12. It is intended that students will learn about the process of writing history and ways of assessing various historical accounts, and background about the Spanish conquistadors and the vanquished Aztec Indians. The unit contains four…

This essay suggests that helping people learn any subject better is a job for everybody who teaches that subject, from preschool to Ph.D. To do the job well at any level requires knowing what teachers and students at all the other levels need to do, and need to have done for them, subject by subject. Most educators have ignored the seamless nature…

Lesson plans for secondary teachers based on documents and objects found in the Hershey Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania comprise the document. The Museum seeks to make its resources available to teachers who are not able to bring their students from the classroom to the Museum. Photocopied reproductions of the documents are provided for the…

Teacher qualifications, course offerings, and enrollment trends in history courses across the United States are described. This journal is available from Ballantine Hall, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47401. (DE)

An introductory history curriculum is described which is topical and question oriented, designed to encourage students to evaluate sweeping social changes instead of a strict chronology of events. A bibliography of recommended texts is included. (NHM)

Discusses the need for Canadians to recognize the significance of their national history as a unifying force. (Text is in French.) (PMP)