In fall 2003 New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey and Commissioner of Education William L. Librera asked Achieve to review the new academic standards the state had developed in social studies to learn how New Jersey's new standards compared with those of other states. This summary report outlines the main findings from Achieve's review of the…

This ERIC Digest suggests that traditional assessment techniques must be complemented by new methods that can reinvigorate and improve the teaching and study of history in the schools. Teachers and researchers agree that recall of discrete information and traditional forms of assessment emphasize low-level cognition without challenging students to…

This ERIC Digest describes what primary sources are and how and why they can be used in elementary school classrooms. Primary sources are historical artifacts with which students can interact to effectively engage in active learning. Topics discussed in the Digest include: "What Are Primary Sources?"; "Why Use Primary…

This booklet provides information so that teachers can prepare their grade 5 and above students for a visit to the Cape Cod National Seashore historic site. Pilgrims on the Mayflower landed here in 1620. The booklet contains pre-visit, on site, and post-visit activities, along with a list of educational objectives and materials needed. It also…

Under the light of dawn, Union Admiral David Farragut began his attack on Mobile Bay, Alabama. Aware of the danger near Fort Morgan (Alabama), Farragut ordered his captains to stay to the eastward of the easternmost buoy because it was understood there were obstructions between the buoys. The ironclad USS Tecumseh, unable to avoid the danger,…

This theme based journal issue consists of articles and teaching ideas focusing on the Holocaust and history. This publication contains the following materials: (1) "Multiple Perspectives on the Holocaust?" (Alan Singer); (2) "Responses to 'Multiple Perspectives on the Holocaust'"; (3) "Escape to Cuba: Story of Laura Kahn,…

This book is about women who have made contributions that have changed the world and continue to change lives, sometimes having overcome enormous social obstacles. It examines American history to find women who have invented for fun and profit, invented to make their own lives better, and who, as a result of their employment by the National…

This U.S. history curriculum guide is divided into five main components. The first component is titled "Essays in American History," and is accompanied by a bibliographic essay. The guide represents the "crossroads" model of curriculum development that begins with three strategic junctures of history education: (1) at grades 7…

This U.S. history curriculum guide, based upon historical essays written by Richard B. Bernstein, is intended for students in grades 7 and 8, and is the keystone of the 'Crossroads' project. The guide introduces students to the chronological structure of U.S. history and to the eight overarching themes of U.S. history as defined by the…

Citizens must share a common memory of where their society has been. They also need to enrich their knowledge of the past by absorbing additional information, new to many, about those aspects of U.S. history that have been shaped by Native Americans and by those who came from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This collection of articles taken from…

In kindergarten, students learn the symbols of the alphabet and numeric symbols. This unit is designed to help students understand what patriotic symbols are and that the nation and the state have symbols and icons to represent thoughts, feelings, emotions, and physical objects. Exposure to different national and state symbols helps students…

A course is designed to introduce the student of history to available bibliographic tools. A systematic program through which use proficiency is gained includes varied learning activities and experiences which include preparation of a resource bibliography, a lecture series, use of audiovisual tutorial machines and a systematic program of…

A selective number of general, bibliographic, curriculur, professional and textbook references are introduced as a guide for the history teacher in choosing with discrimination from the wealth of available materials for study of Afro-American history. (SM)

Description of a course built around the question, What is History?'' The methodological principles of selection, causation, generalization, and interpretation are applied. (JB)

A visual approach -- namely, the showing of slides -- is suggested for history teachers who wish to impart knowledge of the historical development of western women and to clarify the roots of feminist discontent today. Slides of paintings, sculptures, and other artifacts showing women in some active situation give students a glimpse of female…