A description of Project Preserve, a Colorado high school living history course which provides students with tools to find their roots and understand themselves and their futures, presents a history of the project; details the formation of goals, objectives, and philosophy; and notes the advantages to both students and community. (SB)

This Learning Activity Packet (LAP) is designed to celebrate the life, events, and people of the past using a cemetery as a data source (includes a materials list, activity sheets, objectives, etc.). Journal availability: see RC 503 504. (SB)

Traces the development and decline of communism and radical politics in Sheridan County, Montana, 1918-34. Examines conflicts that split the community into conservative and radical camps (primarily townspeople and farmers, respectively); the school and school board as defenders of conservative morality; intrusions of politics into children's…

Offers suggestions on finding sources on the historiography of local history. Examines books useful to the local historian, including books on local social history and studies on immigrants, minorities, and women. Suggests the use of visual versions of local history. Discusses architectural histories, landmarks, and the use of primary sources. (RW)

Describes a photography and local history project developed by students in a seventh grade language arts class. Discusses the project's success as reflected by student motivation and progress in writing skills. (SV)

Asserts that the value of using pictures and photographs as teaching aids is firmly established. Suggests rephotographing old photographs to produce customized study prints and develop miniunits based on them. Includes a sample unit outline with teaching procedures and three illustrative photographs. (CFR)

Describes a fourth-grade project at Malcom Price Lab School at the University of Northern Iowa in which students write and produce a community brochure about their hometown, Cedar Falls, Iowa. The brochure provides a "kid's eye-view" of Cedar Falls' history, cultural events, and recreational activities and is distributed by local…

Argues that local history collections in the public library can be used by teachers to make their lessons challenging and more meaningful and outlines factors a public librarian needs to consider in developing cooperative teaching programs with schools using primary documents. Sample exercises for fourth and eighth graders are included. (six…

Describes a project in which a group of students wrote and published a history of their high school. Lists objectives of the project, such as developing research, analytic, interpersonal, and communication skills and self-esteem. Includes preparing a blueprint of ideas, researching, writing, marketing, and distributing the school's history. (DK)

Discusses teaching eighth-grade students about the Middle Ages at St. John's School in St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Explores a lesson in Montreal history offered to third- and fourth-grade students at the city's Hampstead School. Describes an environmental education unit for kindergarteners at Montreal's Edinburgh School. (DK)

Describes the Centennial History Project, a local history project at the East Chicago Public Library that encourages its diverse populations to collect information about their social, economic, and political history to be added to the permanent archives. Materials in the collection are described, including letters, ethnic costumes, and oral…

Assesses the academic rigor and cultural diversity of U.S. history curricula in North Carolina's community colleges and universities, focusing on whether survey courses and assignments were comparable at two- and four-year institutions; and whether women's and minority perspectives and local history were included in survey courses and electives.…

Suggests using city directories to integrate original geographic research into the classroom. Explains that using directories allows students to think geographically, teaches map skills, and provides the basis for field experience. Provides a case study of the ethnic patterns using the city directory of Sacramento, California. Illustrates other…

Offers ways to use postcards as a tool to teach local history. Outlines steps for class projects involving field trips and student research. Incorporates innovative methods to teach a community's visual history in which students utilize a wide spectrum of community resources. Provides tips on how to obtain old postcards. (NL)

Reports on a European teachers' seminar. Points out the difficulties of making generalizations about history instruction in European nations. Concludes that it is essential to emphasize societal aspects that bind people together and that national history should be taught in a European and global context. (CFR)