Social studies programs have not received the attention they deserve in the last decade. This document is meant to help Massachusetts school districts strengthen the teaching of social studies at all grade levels. The rationale section offers direction about the need for and the primary purpose of social studies education, namely citizen education. The section on teaching social studies at different grade levels clarifies the purpose and scope of social studies education at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Elementary instruction should attempt to develop students' understanding of themselves and their immediate environment. Middle school instruction should expand on what was learned in the elementary grades and demonstrate principles of democracy. High school instruction should attempt to teach students the concepts, understandings, attitudes, skills, generalizations, and specific knowledge necessary for an individual to function in a positive and contributory fashion in a democratic society. The section on subject areas reviews the key concepts and principles of each of the social studies disciplines. The section on effective teaching strategies offers definitions and rationales for several alternative teaching strategies such as critical thinking, guest speakers, independent study, oral history, and student government. These strategies are important because too much emphasis is placed on lectures and textbooks. The resource section is a directory of noncommercial resources that might be useful to teachers. (JB)