Suggests the use of picture postcards as a vehicle for teaching geographic concepts. Describes the development of postcards. Discusses the use of postcards for thinking skill development, as a social historical record, and as a study of the images of the places represented on the cards. (DK)

Contends that geography teachers are always looking for ways to excite their students while engaging them in geographic skills development. Describes using "Wanted Posters" as a springboard to geographic learning in middle schools. Includes sources for obtaining wanted posters from government and social service agencies. (CFR)

Suggests a social studies unit on escaping geography. Examines escape from dangerous places including an airliner, hotel fire, or war zone or from a social situation such as a boring speech or party. Describes historic escapes such as the Underground Railroad and the Berlin Wall. Lists learning strategies such as awareness of space and cognitive…

Contends that posters can be a powerful teaching tool in history courses. Discusses the definition, history, and development of posters. Provides approaches to using posters in the classroom, criteria for assessing effective and ineffective posters, and reprints of five exemplar posters. (CFR)

Contends that public monuments and memorials provide excellent opportunities to teach historical geography and community studies. Illustrates this view with examples of monuments and memorials in the United States and other nations. Provides teaching strategies and a four-step process to use memorials and monuments in the classroom. (CFR)

Maintains that much of the high school curriculum, particularly in social studies, contains innumerable facts that have no use except to pass school tests. Reviews research on effective instruction as applied to social studies. Includes 17 characteristics of highly engaging social studies teaching and learning. (ACM)