Reviews the accomplishments of John Glenn as a pilot, astronaut, senator, and pioneer in relation to his 1998 flight that made him the oldest person to ever travel into space. Includes photographs for students to study, and recommends classroom activities related to Glenn's career. (DSK)

Outlines content of a law-school course in legal scholarship, describes course mechanics, and reports on its success. A section explains why law students should be given additional instruction in jurisprudence, legal history, and social science. Discusses legal education's content and quality, effects of student-run law reviews, and…

Presents observations on the state of democracy, race, politics, and education in South Africa based on a recent trip to that country. Discusses the material and historical realities of race, the teaching of history, possibilities for inclusive histories, and postcolonial politics. (DSK)

Discusses use of the mother tongue in bilingual content teaching as well as in conventional foreign-language classes. The controversy over mother tongue is examined by analyzing a history lesson taught in English as a foreign language. Suggests brief use of the mother tongue can function as a learning aid to enhance communicative competence in the…

Illustrates contemporary approaches to construction technology programs which focus on thematic approaches and learning activities that integrate subject areas. Argues for thematic instruction in technology education and describes scope of programs, methods of teaching, thematic exploration of technology, interdisciplinary approaches, technology…

Describes two books of curriculum materials published by the National Council on Economic Education regarding the Central and East European transition economies: (1) "Economies in Transition: Command to Market" (1997); and (2) "From Plan to Market: Teaching Ideas for Social Studies, Economics, and Business Classes" (1997). (DSK)

Focuses on using an integrated approach to furthering both literacy and social studies goals. Provides an annotated bibliography of children's literature that helps students become informed citizens. Includes suggested activities and discussion questions with each entry and links these activities to goals listed in the national standards. (DSK)

Discusses an activity called "The Dating Game" that is based on Willa Cather's "My Antonia." Explains that students determine the year Jim Burden, one of the main characters, arrived in Nebraska, using historical events in the novel. Reports students learn about life in the plains and national events and trends in the 1880s.…

Outlines a lesson plan designed for an eleventh-grade U.S. history class in which the students learn about the Progressive Era by reading Stephen Crane's "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets." Explains that students analyze point of view, role play a talk show, write an essay, and complete a long-term research project. (CMK)

Contends that poetry is a particularly useful and engaging vehicle for revealing the complexities of a historical moment. Outlines three exercises on poetry and history designed as adjunct activities that may be used with the specified historical periods. Focuses on the experiences of African Americans. Includes three handouts with reading…

Describes how a 10th-grade English teacher brings a historical event such as World War I to life with words and visuals of the time. Discusses World War I poems as products of that era, and helps students realize they have the stream of language inside themselves by journaling, making a "word bank," and writing poems. (SR)

Describes the "Ara Pacis Augustae" that is a monumental altar commemorating the emperor Augustus' safe return in 13 B.C. from his provincial tour of Spain and Gaul. Explains how students in a Roman history class can learn about the culture during the age of emperor Augustus by studying the altar. (CMK)

Discusses the reasons and benefits for using portfolio assessment in social studies and history classrooms. Describes three approaches of portfolio design: (1) assessment portfolio; (2) working portfolio; and (3) showcase or display portfolio. Addresses the challenges involved when utilizing portfolio assessment. (CMK)

Asks to what extent it is possible to identify meaningful and coherent historical periods across the boundaries of societies. Argues that cross-cultural interaction must figure prominently as a criterion in any effort to establish a periodization of world history in modern times. Illustrates a historical periodization based on cross-cultural…

Accepts cross-cultural interaction as an appropriate criterion for periodizing world history, but notes implications of this scheme that may be broader than they appear. Calls for an explicit contrast of periodizations based on different criteria to illustrate their strengths and weaknesses. This is a broad area of research potential. (DSK)