Discusses a fourth grade class project to write a history of their community. Describes student experiences in learning to take and videotape interviews, preparing a TV newscast about the project, doing research in the county clerk's office and library, and writing the history. Includes suggestions for doing a similar project. (DHP)

Describes a high school project to compile a local history, including funding the project, developing interview questionnaires, taking interviews, and compiling the materials. Discusses results of the project for the students, teacher, high school, and county. (DHP)

Describes several experiential learning projects developed by gifted eighth grade students: drafting a "charter" for governing the classroom, creating a videotaped debate on current issues between generic Democratic and Republican candidates, producing a school newspaper, and researching the history of the school site. (SV)

Reviews and analyzes the social science methodologies used for "disparity studies," studies commissioned by various jurisdictions to prove contracting discrimination in order to establish minority set-asides. Evaluates the historical, anecdotal, and statistical approaches used. Argues that the studies are often skewed to achieve the…

Research indicates that living in company towns created a population lacking in initiative and self-determination. In one community that was a company town until the mid-1950s, key-informant interviews indicated high levels of dropping out, illiteracy, teen pregnancy, poverty, and dependency. However, a survey of high school students revealed no…

Describes activities that enable students to study the history of the Korean War and its impact by researching local history and the popular culture of the time. Explains that students learn how to collect and analyze historical sources that offer different viewpoints. Provides discussion topics and Internet resources. (CMK)

Addresses the Niles Firebrick Project, an outreach program from Youngstown State University that has traveled to nine schools in six Ohio school districts, with a majority of the classrooms visited in middle schools. Explains that the project centers on the use of primary documents about the Niles Fire Brick Company. (CMK)

Describes lessons and units that allow the author's high school English students to make important connections with members of their community, publish their efforts, and thus bridge the gap between young adults and their communities. Describes a "literary cookbook" (published and distributed in their community) in which each student wrote one…

Describes the Southwest Texas State University course "History Practicum: Researching, Writing, and Publishing Local History" that stresses computer proficiency, teamwork, and active learning. Students create and publish a guidebook for a town, city, or historic site in central Texas. Discusses the publication process of "San Marcos: A Guide to a…

Describes a lesson for fourth grade, using Marietta Moskin's "Lysbet and the Fire Kittens," that uses discussion questions and two semantic webs (one of present-day life and another of colonial life in New Amsterdam). Discusses the story and considers using fiction to teach elementary social studies. (CMK)

Presents an art project in which students create postmodern portraits of George Washington in the style of Andy Warhol's pop-art portraits. Each portrait incorporates a fact and six symbols associated with Washington. Describes the project in detail and lists the materials and project objectives. (CMK)

The William King Regional Arts Center (Abingdon, Virginia) shares Appalachian and world cultures with thousands of visitors each year, runs a comprehensive school program staffed by certified instructors and studio artists, and takes art to 93 rural elementary schools in surrounding counties. In 18 months of field work, the center documented the…

Through school-based programs and community interviews, the Northern Forest Center has documented the history of place names in rural eastern Maine. The resulting book aims to move residents beyond local forestry-related conflicts by focusing on shared values, to preserve local sense of place, and to make children want to stay in or return to the…

Reports that English, Italian, and Arabic were the official languages of Somalia 1960, even though 95% of the population spoke Somali. However, under a totalitarian regime that came to power in the early 1970's, Somalia was able to promote Somali as the official language. Offers guidance for implementation of literacy campaigns. (Contains 18…

In creating Australia's first prime ministerial library, a new cultural institution was developed which blends professional practice from the fields of librarianship, education, archives, journalism and museums. The John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library honours the contribution of wartime prime minister John Curtin, works towards the advancement…