When students in a New Jersey public middle school decided to learn about their community's history of desegregation through a unique language arts and social studies project, no one imagined how powerful the experience would be for everyone involved. In addition to researching newspaper articles and historical documents, the students conducted…

In U.S. history classrooms, teachers have discovered that local history offers students richer content, more enjoyable learning experiences, and unique insight into the national character. Using several social studies and geography standards as a framework for planning, this book offers teachers instructional activities for learning more about the…

These lessons are designed to introduce students to the concept of interdependence through the many links that Kansas has with people and nations all over the world. Social, political, economic, and cultural links are explored with lessons for all grade levels. Each lesson is self-contained with objectives, materials, and procedures for student…

This lesson discusses two California communities, Locke and Walnut Grove, that illustrate the experiences of early Asian immigrants and their struggles to find a place in U.S. society. The lesson is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration files, "Walnut Grove Japanese-American Historic District,""Walnut Grove…

The materials in this curriculum book provide examples of strategies and resources that can be used to initiate or enhance existing lessons and units in history and social studies. The material can be adapted or modified. The lessons are designed to encourage students to think critically about frontiers in history, conduct research, interpret…

Lessons dealing with Black political participation in Georgia after the Civil War and during the integration of the University of Georgia are used as examples of values education. The concept of values education, its applicability to elementary school social studies, and reasons for using these examples are discussed. (IS)

Discusses three exercises for a home state course that tap the store of knowledge possessed by a classroom of home state residents. The exercises include a family migration history, a review of a home state novel, and a self-guided field trip. Includes exercise instructions and sample book list. (MJP)

Probes the implications of German reunification for Berlin as a cultural and intellectual center, highlighting how reintegration might affect universities, libraries, museums, and academies. Stresses the nature of the challenge Berlin faces in overcoming some of the darkness in its past and realizing the full possession of its intellectual…

Describes a history program at the Suzanne Middle School, Walnut, California, in which students create, design, and promote local history activities. Emphasizes the accomplishments of the program, including a rise in the school's state test scores from the twenty-second percentile to the ninety-fourth percentile. (RW)

Describes a project in which eleventh grade Idaho students developed a magazine focused on local history and local Indian culture. Discusses interview procedures, photography, and layout. (SV)

Provides biographical sketches of two Revolutionary War soldiers from New England, Joseph Plumb Martin and Seth Bullard. Emphasizes methods that explain how the war was fought and make the struggles real rather than mythical. Recommends using local sources and records and discusses recreated Revolutionary War units. Includes excerpts from Martin's…

Describes a local interpretation program in New England that uses a motorcoach to take visitors on a day-long tour of several sites in the region. Explains how to create similar programs elsewhere and gives advice for preparing for the tour, orienting tour members, interpreting on the road, pacing tours over a day, and stopping at tour sites. (PVD)

Questions how elementary teachers can expand their students' views of heroes and heroines. Includes nine activities designed to enhance students' definition of heroism. Includes a discussion of everyday heroism, political and social activity, and how students can be heroes themselves. (MJP)

Considers autobiographical works by African American authors, Gwendolyn Brooks and Ronald Fair. Incorporates these works into an interdisciplinary lesson plan concerning black themes, personal identity, and urban history. Includes teaching suggestions, lesson objectives, discussion questions, and other activities. (MJP)

Discusses ways of awakening urban youth to the presence of the natural world in the city and thereby fostering their sense of stewardship toward their own place. Describes activities involving observation and exploration of small bits of ground, connection of these micro-environments to larger environmental processes, reflection exercises, and…