Provides guidelines, activities, and teaching tips for creating and maintaining an open, cooperative, and participating social studies classroom. These guidelines offer support and structure to the students, encouraging them to engage in constructive dialog without fear of undue criticism or rejection. (MJP)

Describes a study where college students studying political geography ranked the geopolitical importance of 55 countries of the world with populations of at least 15 million. The students consistently emphasized the importance of Western Europe, Russia, China, and Japan over less developed countries. (MJP)

Maintains that in the face of today's largely negative debate over immigration, reading fiction about immigrants can provide students with historical background, empathy, and an understanding of different perspectives. Notes that people's reasons for wanting to come to the United States remain fairly constant. Includes a five-item annotated…

Presents an introduction and overview concerning integrating use of the Internet with citizenship education. Briefly reviews Web sites useful for citizenship education. These include Thomas, which provides summaries of bills currently going through Congress, and the Electronic Policy Network. (MJP)

Delineates a number of instructional and administrative strategies for integrating global education into the classroom. Addresses such issues as the organized opposition of some groups, the concerns of parents over subject matter and approach, lack of resources for teachers, and global education for special needs students. (MJP)

Recounts a series of primary grade-level literacy-related activities using Margaret Miller's, "Who Uses This?" The book features the occupational tools of various professions and the activities emphasize word construction and recognition, problem solving, shared reading, and interactive writing. Includes a nine-item selected bibliography. (MJP)

Provides a quick and personal overview of the trends in education and literacy over the last 25 years. Outlines a teaching strategy that has borrowed something from each of the trends. The approach combines cooperative learning with interdisciplinary language arts stations and social studies. (MJP)

Recommends using primary source documents in middle school history instruction and examines several strategies for making them more accessible. Describes a course on 17th-century social reformers that utilized paraphrasing of the historical language used in primary documents followed by focus questions and class discussion. (MJP)

Asserts that social studies often emphasizes abstract concepts illustrated with obscure historical references. Argues that the introduction of feminist issues of social justice, exploitation, violence, and power can galvanize many of the central issues of social studies. Considers the use of language and how it restricts and validates certain…

Provides lesson plans for grades 3-5 mathematics/science; grades 1-5 and grade 7 reading and language; grades 2 and 5 science; grades 3-4 and grades 5-8 social studies. Lists print and nonprint resources and discusses library media skills and subject area objectives, instructional roles, activities, procedures, evaluation, and follow-up. (PEN)

Describes the findings of a questionnaire and interviews to determine the level of understanding, attitudes, and involvement in environmental education and action. Also measured environmental teaching experience, explored perceived needs and demand for future environmental courses, and the involvement of management in responsible decision-making…

Provides a succinct introduction to the history and classroom use of labor folk songs. Presents the lyrics to "John Henry,""Miner's Lifeguard," and "Talking Union," along with some background on each song. Includes a bibliography of books, articles, song collections, labor resources, organizations, and periodicals.…

Presents a lesson plan focused on the events surrounding the 1894 Pullman railroad car strike. Reviews the particulars of the strike (the federal government used armed force to end the strike) and then presents a simulation where students role play members of the investigating presidential commission. Includes related documents. (MJP)

Profiles the efforts of the American Social History Project (ASHP). Since 1981 the ASHP has developed curriculum materials and workshops emphasizing the role of labor, women, and other minority groups in U.S. history. Includes two activities illustrating 19th-century social history. (MJP)

Provides an introduction and overview to the publication "Labor's Heritage." Modeled after "American Heritage," this publication serves as an excellent resource for students and teachers. Includes three activities on child labor that use photographs and other materials from the George Meany Memorial Archives. (MJP)