Argues that literature-based social studies provide personal perspectives for examining essential social studies concepts and generalizations. Includes lesson sequences utilizing trade books to teach about poverty, hope, and involuntary relocation for primary, middle, and secondary school students. Briefly describes the books mentioned and…

Summarizes Canadian Native Indian's objections to recent health care budget cuts. For many years Canadian Indians enjoyed subsidized health care that included therapy, prescriptions, eyeglasses, dental, and medical transportation. Details the programs to be cut and laments their passing. (MJP)

This publication shares three "best teaching practices" as identified by the Ohio Literacy Resource Center from responses from Ohio's adult literacy programs. "Identifying Errors in Writing" (Mary Cupilary) is a writing improvement strategy/lesson that involves selecting one sentence from a paragraph written by each student,…

This paper describes a study that examined relationships among students' goals, efficacy beliefs, news-seeking behavior, and current events knowledge. The study expands on previous work on students' achievement related goals by examining the effects of goals and self-efficacy on knowledge of current events, a sub-domain of social studies. A sample…

Rural teachers of vocational agriculture, realizing the need for access to current information in their field, obtained funds for initiating the use of a computerized telecommunications service. The service selected, AgriData Network, includes reports of news, markets, and trends; a collection of over 500 teaching plans in all subject areas in…

This book is one in a series designed to provide access to a wide range of selected articles from magazines, newspapers, and journals. This volume contains 32 articles by environmentalists, scientists, educators, researchers, and writers providing effective and useful perspectives on important topics in the study of environment. Articles included…

OPT, a newsletter consisting of a student and a teacher edition, is published monthly during the school year. Emphasis is upon presenting information and materials on current topics of interest for junior and senior high school students. The periodical, announced here on a one time basis, is unique for the following reasons: 1) it is an…

The purpose of this quarterly publication from the Asian Studies Project is to promote increased attention to Asian Studies in elementary and secondary education. This issue of the newsletter contains introductory comment on current affairs as well as two main articles: "On the Study of World Cultures" by Dr. Kishorkant Yajnik of India…

This course of instruction, intended as an elective course for grades 10 through 12, is one of a series of curriculum guides revised to fit the quinmester administrative organization of schools. The principal goals of the course are to: 1) motivate students, soon able to vote, toward participation in the American political process; and, 2) teach…

The Carver County Library System (Chaska, Minnesota) conducted a project to demonstrate adult educational teamwork between libraries and literacy agents in the Carver-Scott two county area. The project, "National Issues Forums (NIF) for the New Reader," extended educational opportunities that encouraged new adult readers and the public…

Discusses the "flashback" method of history instruction that begins with analyzing specific, current conditions and then traces their historical evolution. This method allows students to feel connected to the subject while participating in its historical investigation. Compares the "flashback" and the traditional chronological…

Argues that the current presentations of "nationalism" in the Alberta social studies curriculum are archaic and irrelevant. Proposes a more inclusive and critical definition of nationalism and provides some supporting references. Includes four student assignments illustrating and teaching this revised approach to nationalism. (MJP)

Urges social studies teachers to help students understand and identify sociocentric, national bias in the news media. Illustrates how the media fosters "us versus them" thinking and how word choice often reflects bias. Outlines activities to help students recognize bias. Provides weak and strong examples of students' analyses of bias in news…

Maintains that the National Voter Registration Act (the Motor Voter Law), which requires states to provide voter registration forms with vehicle registration and at public assistance sites, has increased dramatically the number of registered voters. Discusses legal challenges and answers critics' objections. (MJP)

Designed to aid middle school-aged students to understand better the problems illegal drugs pose for schools, and to provide students with an opportunity to come up with solutions, this illustrated curriculum guide helps students examine the problem of drugs in an imaginary school called Jackson Middle School. Students are asked to work with other…