Students in this post-industrial technological age require opportunities for the acquisition of new skills, especially in the marketplace of innovation. A pedagogical strategy that is becoming more and more popular within social studies classrooms is the use of computer and video games as enhancements to everyday lesson plans. Computer/video games…

Contains five lesson plans designed to help students understand the causes of violent behavior and vandalism and to give them experience in solving problems of real-life situations. Students examine the causes and implications of violence in schools and among adolescents and effect of mass media on violent behavior. (AM)

Briefly presents research studies on efficacy of this method; discusses the teacher's role in inquiry; and provides guidelines for evaluation. A sample lesson plan on the Civil War concludes the article. (JB)

Examines the relationship between teaching content or knowledge, and teaching the skills of critical thinking and problem solving. Presents key strategies to help students understand and develop critical thinking skills. Recommends use of the developmental lesson and provides several model lessons. (LS)

Presents a lesson plan that teaches students about the process of polderization (the reclamation of low tracts of land from a body of water). Illustrates how a country can solve a problem by modifying its environment. Includes background information and worksheets on the application of this process in the Netherlands. (MJP)