Presents a lesson plan integrating fifth language arts and social studies. Students wrote letters to the editors of newspapers in the 50 states and received hundreds of postcards and letters that were displayed throughout the classroom. Includes photographs of the students and postcards. Suggests that the activity teaches history and geography…

Traces Asian studies' infusion into the curriculum at Columbia University. Attributes the program's development to Wm. Theodore de Bary's influence, including his translating and editing of primary sources. States his work continues to serve as basic texts in Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and Buddhist traditions. Discusses his views on scholarship,…

The senior author of a textbook presenting U.S. and Canadian history in a comparative framework criticizes U.S. history textbooks for their interpretations of Native Americans and for their mystifying tendencies. Explains how "Canada: A North American Nation" presents a more detached perspective and offers a second opinion on some of the…

Illustrates the use of baseball cards as cultural artifacts and how to make sociological inferences and historical generalizations from them. Focuses on Black players and the issue of racial integration in major league baseball. Includes chronologies of racial integration on teams and inductions of Black players into the Baseball Hall of Fame. (NL)

Describes the 75 hours of primary source material compiled on videotape, covering 2217 individual units, and spanning 93 years of world history found in "The Video Encyclopedia of the 20th Century." Presents strategies for using the "Video Encyclopedia" themes for world history, as well as descriptions of sample units contained…

Describes a course project in which students used computers to analyze census data to learn social history. Outlines the research project from the beginning when students drew samples from the census data to the final paper written by students. Argues that the analysis of historical data by computers has many potential applications. (DB)

Asserts that religious sermons are valuable and important historical documents. Maintains that this is particularly true of U.S. history prior to and during the Civil War. Reviews several significant sermons and provides an annotated bibliography of sources. (CFR)

Asserts that most teachers would like to teach about religion, especially in history, but hesitate because they are uncertain about what they can teach legally. Recommends using children's literature to point out how religions affect the way families throughout the world live in their homes and communities. (CFR)

Asserts that patriotic holidays are an important aspect of the social studies curriculum and provide opportunities to study history. Gives a set of questions and answers about the origins of Thanksgiving. Includes references to recommended children's literature related to the topic. (CFR)

Contends that the integration of history and geography has long been recommended by historians and social scientists. Discusses the five themes of geography and how they can be integrated into an effective lesson plan. Provides an annotated list of resources on this topic. (CFR)

Asserts that oral history and children's literature are effective strategies for making history relevant to elementary students. Includes a figure illustrating the webbing approach and 37 recommended children's books. (CFR)

Contends that, despite increasingly sophisticated means of communication, posters remain a powerful cornerstone of many government advertising campaigns. Describes the beginnings and evolution of Smokey Bear from a World War II homefront poster to an ongoing advertising success. (CFR)

Reports on 2 studies of 48 eighth-grade students in which mnemonic devices and strategies were employed. Finds that both regular and learning-disabled students preferred mnemonic instruction to traditional teaching methods. Concludes that mnemonic methods can help improve student learning of historical information. (CFR)

Describes five classroom activities or projects used in Canadian social studies classes. Includes discussions of the use of artifacts, a field trip to Spain, a simulation of the Earth Summit meeting, and the application of mahatma Gandhi's philosophy to current problems. (CFR)

Presents two activities from an "Idea Bank for Teaching Germany and Europe U.S. Classrooms K-12." Includes a role playing exercise involving significant individuals from European history and a student project involving cooperative learning about individual European nations. Provides an address for obtaining a free copy of the "Idea…