Discusses two resources for helping students understand the Old West in U.S. history. Presents information from a primary source concerning Wild Bill Hickok and a more recent interpretative essay about myths of the Old West. Includes suggestions for classroom activities and topics for student discussion. (CFR)

Describes teaching history to fourth graders using novels and reference books. Notes that students also publish a newspaper and complete an oral history project. (SR)

Describes the founding and evolution of "The Social Studies," by Albert E. McKinley in 1909. Identifies the struggle between historians and social studies educators for the "soul" of the magazine during the 1930s. Concludes that the magazine has served both history education and social studies education well. (CFR)

Analysis of how 29 British history textbooks, published between 1961 and 1971, covered Britain's struggle to enter the European Economic Community (EEC) reveals that these texts display an Anglocentric bias and overemphasize the impact of Anglo-French hostility on the actions of Britain and the other members of the EEC. (IAH)

Suggests the use of key historical antisocial acts to teach social studies concepts as a means of arousing the interest of adolescents. Recommends overcoming initial sensationalism by shifting emphasis to more appropriate interests. Includes discussion of the Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy assassinations and the Rosenberg spy case. Suggests…

Presents classroom activities using banknotes to teach history and social studies. Suggests that students' interest in money can be utilized to teach about geography, national heroes, symbolism, and the image a nation wishes to present to its citizens and the rest of the world. Lists sources for obtaining banknotes and directories to help identify…

Discusses using historiography on the Reconstruction Era as a method for generating classroom lessons in both inductive reasoning and critical thinking. Urges teaching of historical process as well as content. Suggests emphasizing limitations of available historical data and perspective. Recommends presenting students with historical data allowing…

Examines ethnocentrism, focusing on the presentation of the USSR in English history textbooks. Four sections define ethnocentrism and the framework of analysis used, exemplify the framework, relate differences between the text and changes in the projected classroom context-of-use, and discuss theoretical and methodological problems raised by the…

Describes a teacher-developed simulation designed to teach cultural geography to students in the middle grades. Contends that this interdisciplinary activity can be adapted to fit teacher or curriculum needs. Includes student instructions and descriptions of six pilgrimages. (CFR)

Presents a lesson for teaching about the era of the Harry Truman presidency. Includes step-by-step procedures, a bibliography, and an outline of important events during the Truman years. (CFR)

Describes a method for integrating writing into history classes. Suggests keeping writing assignments short and simple, rather than assigning a long paper that will be a burden to the instructor during grading. Discusses journal writing, pretest writing exercises, and microthemes written on a single index card. (DK)

Suggests that using historical novels in a unified studies approach to social studies and reading instruction may enhance students' learning in both content areas. Describes a historical fiction project utilizing three novels pertaining to United States history. Concludes that the whole class instruction unified each class through participation in…

Presents a lesson plan on the slave-based rice plantation economy in South Carolina from the late eighteenth century until the Civil War. Includes objectives, teaching activities, maps, handouts of student readings, photographs, and plans for visiting the sites. Discusses plantation life and the culture of the rice economy. (DK)

Reviews more than 24 books recently published on the topic of Christopher Columbus and the voyages of discovery. Classifies the books as those designed for student use, for teachers and scholars, biographies, and "Columbus-Bashers." Maintains that the different viewpoints of Columbus the hero and Columbus the villain are barriers for…

Discusses the impact that public history activities of the U.S. armed forces has had on military historiography since World War II. Contends that military history was preempted by official histories commissioned by government agencies or the military. Argues that this led to the legitimization of military history at the college level. (CFR)