A field experiment is described on the use of computer-related instruction at the college level in political science. The program modules are designed to: (1) teach a substantive body of knowledge in an introductory American government course; (2) introduce students to the basic methods of data analysis; and (3) teach elementary techniques of…

This project is designed to help secondary school students prepare for participation in the electoral process as informed citizens. The project has students focus on current events pertaining to the U.S. election process. They study basic government concepts found in the Constitution, such as Separation of Powers, as well as practices that have…

This resource unit, developed by the University of Minnesota's Project Social Studies, introduces eighth graders to political parties and elections. Ways in which political scientists study voting behavior, sampling techniques, problems arising from interpreting findings, and the use of correlational studies are presented. The unit includes an…

This article offers a strategy for using Australian women's history in a United States women's history survey course. To develop the theme of gender relations in settler societies, the author recommends using transnational categories, such as gender frontier and settler colonialism, direct comparisons between Australian and American women's…

This document is a guidebook containing a sequence of learning strategies to teach facts and concepts of voter education. Strategies are grouped into four grade divisions: primary (K-3), intermediate (4-6), secondary (7-9), and high school (10-12). Each grade section is organized into the following order: introduction, strategy, major idea,…

In an experiment conducted under classroom conditions with 8th grade students, the simulation game "Democracy" was shown to be effective at teaching that "log-rolling" is an acceptable part of the legislative process. Two aspects of the game--role identification and game structure--were shown to contribute independently to its effectiveness.…

Three separate teacher and student books for the Project 18 course are included in this packet. The objective is to help students develop a positive attitude and to motivate them toward political participation. Teaching strategies for six sections, which run the gamut from simulation to lecture, focus on practical politics. The six sections are as…

Recommends studying Fannie Lou Hamer's work in the civil rights movement of the 1960s to teach students a greater appreciation of the citizen's role in enforcing constitutional rights. Includes a role-playing activity, discussion questions, and a handout on Hamer. Suggests students will recognize the relationship between the Fourteenth Amendment…

A program description of a social studies curriculum development project supported by an ESEA Title III Grant is presented in this paper. The course, designed for secondary students who will soon be voting, focuses on the importance of active involvement and citizenship responsibility for participation in the democratic process. The major…

This comprehensive resource is an invaluable aid for adding a global dimension to students' understanding of American history. It includes a wide range of materials from scholarly articles and reports to original syllabi and ready-to-use lesson plans to guide teachers in enlarging the frame of introductory American history courses to an…

The primary focus of this legal education module, third of five to be integrated into an 11th grade American history course, is on the relationship of social change and legal change. Students are asked to create a model for evaluating change processes, then to evaluate legal and extra-legal methods of influencing change. The module provides for…

Describes a two-day activity in which elementary students examine voting rights, the right to assemble, and women's suffrage. Explains the game, "Assemble, Reassemble," and a student-produced talk show with five students playing the roles of leaders of the women's suffrage movement. Profiles Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan…

This serial issue concerns itself with several conflicts between individual rights and allegedly wrongful acts that the Supreme Court has not considered previously. The articles on these topics illuminate the constitutional issues of equal protection, due process, and freedom of expression. Specific issues addressed include: (1) equal educational…

This teacher's guide is designed to accompany a series of sixteen 15-minute television programs titled "By the People." The program's objective is to motivate high school students to appreciate the role they can play in their nation's political process. Content of the 16 lesson plans parallels the television material and includes the following…

Utilizes case studies of two southern Indiana local history projects to illustrate methods of conducting local history. The studies examined local voting patterns and researched the legends surrounding a local Civil War colonel. Includes suggestions for planning successful student research projects. (MJP)