This article provides background on the thinking and life of historian Frederick Jackson Turner. Featured is an excerpt from Turner's 1891 article: "The Significance of History." The article includes Turner's definition of history and his views on the relationship between the study of history and citizenship. (JDH)

Military activities have played a part in shaping the nature of contemporary Canada. The main books dealing with recent Canadian military history that might be of interest to high school students are discussed. (RM)

Shows how F. R. Scott's poem, "Laurentian Shield" can be used to teach Canadian history and geography. (RKM)

During the author's first trip to Moscow, a Soviet educator claimed U.S. children were more narrowly educated than in the Soviet Union. The author's conversation with his daughter concerning U.S. schools' negative images of the Soviet Union inspired him to reread American history, examine his own national biases, and confront his ignorance…

Discusses and gives illustrations of how to use comic books to teach history. Explores the historical background of comic books and includes detailed procedures for helping students develop their own history comics. Praises this approach as a way to enliven secondary social studies and motivate students. (GEA)

A teacher recalls how an entire elementary school became involved in the planning of a school-wide celebration and reenactment of the Constitutional Convention. Resource tips and activities are described. (CB)

Urges history teachers to look into the range of tasks they can perform with word processing, database/file managers, and other software. Concludes there are numerous pedagogical uses for computers besides generating short answer tests. (Author/BSR)

Reports the results of a study of the influence of mnemonic strategies on normal schoolwork. Two history assignments were presented; the first required memorization without guidance while the second supported memorization with mnemonic strategies. Concludes that the second assignment produced better memorization and more enthusiasm. (BSR)

Describes how the history of flight can be used to encourage elementary school children to read, discuss, and do research on an aviation topic. Outlines several activities that can be used to encourage student interest. (GEA)

Describes seven resources on curriculum development in social studies found in the ERIC system. Among the cited items are journal articles on various aspects of the social studies scope and sequence and an ERIC document on the role of secondary social studies in developing technological literacy. (JDH)

The article discusses the links between storytelling skills and history, with particular focus on Black History Month, and also lists resources and describes storytelling activities. (CB)

Discusses the dismal results of the 1986 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) appraisal of American high school students' knowledge about history and literature. Explores connections between cultural literacy and students' family background, homework, and television viewing habits. Recommends more and better history and literature…

Examines the process whereby present-day meanings enter into judgments about the history of educational change. Argues that presentism is an unavoidable and perhaps a necessary condition for the study and teaching of history. Considers the foundations of presentism, the presentist implications of concept development, and educational implications.…

Advocates the use of primary sources to increase student interest and learning. Includes suggestions for using local resources in such a program and provides a sample lesson plan. Discusses the importance of student work with unedited materials as opposed to secondary sources. (GEA)

Presents a model for teaching a multicultural high school history course. Discusses the need for such a course and its limitations if the school is not committed to an overall multicultural program. Includes a sample course syllabus and suggestions for activities. (GEA)