The purpose of this guidebook is to give teachers in British Columbia, Canada a practical resource that will help address issues pertaining to the 500th anniversary of the first European contact with the Americas. The document is a resource teachers can use to get students to think about, talk about, or reflect on the 500 years of contact between…

This ERIC digest on a new curriculum project called "Teaching with Historic Places" discusses the program, its products, and how they can be used in classrooms and communities by students, teachers, and other interested groups. The program offers not only educational materials, but also professional training and development for teachers,…

This document, part of the lesson plan series, "Teaching with Historic Places," examines Spanish influences on the history of California through an exploration of one building, Rancho Los Alamitos. Located in the midst of what is now metropolitan Los Angeles, Rancho Los Alamitos began as a simple adobe house on a hill overlooking…

This book provides a general introduction to the skills and tools necessary to navigate the Internet and offers detailed information about the many historical resources available and how to find them. Chapter 1, "Getting Started," is short primer on using the Internet. Chapter 2, "Internet Sites for Historians," directs readers to thousands of…

Seen as a vehicle for transforming the pre-tertiary education and training system of South Africa, the new Curriculum Framework of 1997 looks to empower people for participation in a democratic society. This paper contends that, although the Curriculum Framework policy document articulates the need for a partnership between parents, teachers, the…

While many claims have been made about the benefits of interdisciplinary approaches to science education, the contention is that little empirical data exist either to support or refute the claims. The demands of integrated approaches on students or teachers have not been subjected to either theoretical or empirical assessment. This paper presents…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a literature-based approach to history on sixth graders' achievement, in terms of their historical understanding, and their attitudes. An experimental group receiving a literature-based approach was compared to a control group receiving a textbook-based approach. Both groups were similar in…

This guide is designed for teachers who wish to teach about Marco Polo and his travels to China during the 13th century. The guide was originally developed for use with a television series about Marco Polo; it can successfully be used independent of the series, however. A prologue gives the reader a basic introduction to what is known of the life…

This report summarizes the activities of "Indiana and the New Nation," a 2-year educational program for 30 Indiana teachers. The program sought to enrich participant knowledge and understanding of U.S. history; to find the means of using local historical resources to explore major themes in U.S. and European history; to find ways of…

This paper is a preliminary assessment and proposed plan of action resulting from a discussion of the state of religious history in Indiana schools. A group of teachers, professors, and administrators met informally in these discussions to identify opportunities for change. The group recognized that religion has been a major force in history, and…

Because students should not only know stories about the past, but also understand the interpretive nature of historians' work, this study sought to discover whether instruction can develop elementary students' ability to engage in some aspects of historical interpretation. The study focused on fifth grade students. The research consisted of direct…

This document addresses the importance of teaching contemporary history. The failure to teach contemporary history leaves students ill equipped to deal with the present and the future, and also ensures that they will have little interest in the history of other times. Because memory is the central organizing principle in peoples minds, the…

This paper reviews how history teachers use the myriad of tools catalogued under the rubric of technology. This review is limited to secondary settings, and considers the promise of technology, current practice regarding the use of technology in the classroom, and the possibilities in store for creative teachers through technology like hypermedia.…

This issue of a magazine of Iowa history for young people focuses on early explorers and combined learning activities with informative articles. Sections in this issue include: "Where? What? Who?"; "Maps--long ago and recent"; "Every map answers at least two questions: Where? What?"; "Jolliet and Marquette";…

Part 3 of this five part project asks students of the Tasmanian region of Australia to explore the history of Port Arthur, a 19th century penal colony located in Tasmania. The project is based on three ideas: (1) studying history can be educational and enjoyable; (2) imagination is an essential part of studying history; and (3) history is most of…