The Freeman School, originally called the Red-Brick School House, served the community of Blakely Township, Nebraska from 1872 to 1967. It is representative of the one-room schools that once dotted the western landscape of the United States. The Freeman School served not only as an educational center but also as the church, a meeting hall, the…

This teaching resource presents multiple perspectives of U.S. history by introducing the voices of peoples who may feel disconnected from the American Dream. Secondary level students are encouraged to understand how the vision of history is shaped according to who is looking and who is being seen. Organized in seven chapters, the document opens…

Utilizes the 17th-century fur trade rivalry between the French and the English for a classroom experiment in the writing of history. Students produce their own account of a historical event based upon a reading of primary source documents. Peer reviews and teacher comments guide the students through several drafts. (MJP)

Uses microfilm copies of the 1880 and 1900 census records which tallied information about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family to teach about using census data. Suggests activities that develop vocabulary skills, teach document analysis, utilize map skills, and require research and synthesis skills. (LS)

Reports the extracurricular activities of the Civil War Study Group at O'Neill High School (New York) that studies the 124th New York State Volunteers. Activities include battle reenactments, research using primary sources, presentations before school and historical groups, and the preservation and cataloging of a collection of historical letters.…

Discusses the use of hypertext computer applications in history instruction. Describes an Apple HyperCard-based course on Islam using primary sources and cooperative learning. Includes sections on course organization, student evaluation, overall course evaluation, and eight examples of "cards" developed for the course. (CFR)

Asserts that teachers should educate students to use historical research methods, even in the elementary and intermediate grades. Argues that, although history should be taught as a "story well-told," it should also be discovered, just as historians discover it in the course of their research. (CFR)

Reports on CD-ROM product that combines reference and archival material in a low-cost integrated multimedia format. Maintains that, while this project focuses on the Battle of Gallipoli in World War I, the purpose, techniques, and processes can be transferred to other historical topics. (CFR)

Contends that during the Great Depression the federal government gave the visual arts unprecedented support. Presents a classroom lesson on a public controversy regarding a Works Progress Administration sponsored mural in an Idaho city. Includes teaching suggestions, recommended topics for student projects, and four primary sources. (CFR)

Asserts that laser disks and CD-ROMs are causing another wave of technological change in education. Describes the American Memory Project of the Library of Congress, which makes an enormous quantity of materials available to educators. Includes a list of user evaluation sites and telephone numbers organized by states. (CFR)

Discusses Howard Gardner's views regarding students' academic abilities. Describes the use of primary sources in history instruction. Includes a guide for analyzing primary sources for each level from kindergarten through eighth grade. (CFR)

Discusses difficulties in teaching about the Columbian quincentenary. Suggests ways to approach the subject with sensitivity, such as focusing on Columbus the individual or as a part of western European effort to understand the world. Addresses intercultural contact, women's history, world history, and pre-Columbian American culture. Lists…

Suggests methods of teaching about the voyages of Columbus to develop students' knowledge and cognitive skills. Presents five keys to accuracy and balance in teaching about Columbus: emphasize biological and cultural exchange; apply the major geographic themes; examine events in their historical context; present multiple viewpoints; and use…

Describes a year-long elective film course in modern U.S. history for twelfth grade students. Explains course methodology and objectives. Analyzes selected films to illustrate how the course elucidates the consensus-conflict theme in U.S. history since the 1930s and enhances student understanding of Hollywood's perspective on gender, race, and…

Describes the use of poetry in U.S. history instruction. Contends that using simulations, historical documents, and literature help make students keenly aware of conflicts and the human impact of historical events. Recommends that students write poetry related to historical topics and includes five examples of student-written poetry. (CFR)